After the revision of Copyright Law in Japan, the use of YouTube and other video sharing sites in the country is likely to be minimised.
Japan’s House of Representatives passed the revision that makes illegally downloading copyrighted video and audio files punishable by up to two years in prison or a maximum fine of 2,000,000 Yen ($25,106 U.S. dollars), Mashable reported.
Japan’s House of Representatives passed a revision to the country’s Copyright Law on Wednesday that could severely limit its citizens’ use of video sharing sites like YouTube and the Japanese-based Nico Nico Douga, according to an ITmedia report.
A 2010 revision to the Copyright Law already made downloading pirated content illegal in Japan, but this is the first time penalties have been assigned.
The new provision will go into effect Oct. 1.
Attorney at law Toshimitsu Dan points out that the revisions effectively make three acts illegal: ripping and copying of copy-protected and encoded materials (which are no longer covered by a personal use exemption); the sale of software and hardware that circumvents copy protection; and the intentional download of illegally uploaded materials
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