Discussions Regarding Comprehensive Antipiracy Measures Enter the Final Stage

 ■Discussions Regarding Comprehensive Antipiracy Measures Enter the Final Stage

The Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters Antipiracy Task Force could not reach a consensus, but discussions continue among the committee to reflect the content of these discussions on the Intellectual Property Promotion Plan, which is the Japanese government’s action plan.

A council was held to bring an end to this.

A comprehensive set of measures was proposed during the previous council.

This involved the following 3 points and 10 categories excluding blocking.

1: Immediately do what can be done.

　Education and awareness of copyrights, promotion of official distribution, establish an organization for countermeasures, enhance international cooperation and execution, countermeasures on search sites, countermeasures for advertisement drafts, filtering, and access warning methods.

2: Prepare for implementation and bill proposal.

　Access warning methods, countermeasures for leech sites, and prohibition of downloads of still images that infringe on rights.

3: Assess the situation while observing the effect of other efforts and the harm being caused.

　Blocking.

There are 10 categories listed above, excluding blocking. The plan involves clarifying the actions to be executed for and the competent authority in charge of each category.

The parties involved were asked about their thoughts.

A publishing company reported on “MANGA Plus,” for the transmission of official content. Popular works, including ONE PIECE, would be transmitted for free with advertisements in Japan and 170 countries simultaneously.

The Japan Cartoonists Association presented their opinions. First, they would like to enhance official content, regulate advertisement drafts, and regulate leech sites. Once the boundaries for illicit activities are set properly, regulation on downloads would be assessed and uploading would be cracked down on tightly.

The cartoonist Ken Akamatsu stated that “it was reported that there was conflict surrounding the prohibition of downloads, but I appreciate the measures,” and pointed out that countermeasures for leech sites would be welcomed, but there should be limits to the range of the prohibition on downloads, and there are concerns about access warning methods and blocking.

There was a general consensus regarding the direction and priority of official content, education, international cooperation, and countermeasures for leech sites.

This brings this round to an end. This will be utilized to formulate the Intellectual Property Promotion Plan.

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Comprehensive Antipiracy Measures Are Under Review

 ■Comprehensive Antipiracy Measures Are Under Review

We discussed the situation regarding antipiracy measures among the Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters Committee. 1 year has passed since the announcement of emergency measures by the Japanese government.

Although a consensus could not be reached regarding the opinions of those in the Task Force, the office proposed a comprehensive set of measures based on the items that were discussed. The proposal involves 3 layers.

1: Immediately do what can be done.

Education and awareness of copyrights, promotion of official distribution, establish an organization for countermeasures, enhance international cooperation and execution, countermeasures on search sites, countermeasures for advertisement drafts, filtering, and access warning methods.

2: Prepare for implementation and bill proposal.

Access warning methods, countermeasures for leech sites, and prohibition of downloads of still images that infringe on rights.

3: Assess the situation while observing the effect of other efforts and the harm being caused.

Blocking.

There are 10 categories listed above, excluding blocking. The plan involves clarifying the actions to be executed for and the competent authority in charge of each category.

Discussions regarding revision of the Copyright Act, which includes countermeasures for leech sites and prohibition of downloads, in the Council for Cultural Affairs became complicated, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs decided not to submit a bill, as agreement could not be reached with the Liberal Democratic Party either. Regarding the matter, it was stated that “Preparations for submitting a bill will continue while carefully listening to the voice of the people.”

Because blocking and prohibition of downloads are also very difficult issues, I believe it was also suitable that opinions would be split in the council. As a democracy, it is justified for legislation to make the intentions of the government pause. We have yet to reach a proper resolution to the issue regarding intellectual property and IT. We may need to be prepared to continue a rapid process of trial and error.

The EU published the names of companies as part of a watch list of malicious entities involved in piracy. There was agreement on a copyright directive involving restrictions on digital usage rights for educational purposes and the duty to obtain consent from those with the rights to platform content. The office reported that activities are becoming advanced.

The Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts, and Telecommunications explained the filtering measures based on reform to the Act to Prepare an Online Environment for the Youth. The Task Force that I serve as the chief investigator for has also been discussing this issue and plans to move forward with this in conjunction with antipiracy measures. There was also a report that an effort would be made to build a cooperative relationship between the communications industry and rightsholders.

Attorney Fukui reported that there is a desire to build a forum for tens of interested communications and publishing companies to discuss measures. Will it be possible to mend the relationships that were cracked in the Task Force to move forward? Nongovernment support is sought.

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Now Is the Time for Online Safety and Security Measures for the Youth

 ■Now Is the Time for Online Safety and Security Measures for the Youth

I will serve as the chief investigator for the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts, and Telecommunications Task Force for Preparing an Environment for Safe and Secure Internet Use by the Youth.

The Act to Prepare an Online Environment for the Youth requires mobile phone companies and agencies to check for the youth, explain filtering, and implement measures to activate filtering and has been revised to include tablets in the requirements for filtering.

Promotion of the use of filtering is also emphasized in countermeasures against pirated sites. High School Plus allows the partial use of social networking services, and over half of filter users select it.

It is seen as having had a certain effect in response to the need to emphasize both social networking service usage and the guarantee of safety and security.

Smartphone usage rates are 96% for high school students, 58% for middle school students, and 29% for elementary school students (as of 2017). The number of youths who have been harmed through social networking services is showing an increasing trend.

The usage rate of smartphone filtering has remained at 44%. The most frequently cited reason for not using filtering is “proper internet usage by children can be managed without filtering (26%).”

Among children 90% use LINE, 30% use Twitter, and 20% use Instagram. Over 90% of guardians admit that their children use social networking services.

Guardians are interested in and concerned about “smartphone dependency,” “the effect on education and grades,” and “the effect on the body and health.”

Many tend to believe that household rules regarding “usage time” and “spending” are important.

There was also a discussion about permission to bring smartphones to school.

There have been incidents in which everybody uses the device of a child with loose filtering, resulting higher usage fees for these children. It was mentioned that new measures, such as enforcing filtering and increasing literacy, will become needed.

Furthermore, if BYOD (bring your own device) systems, in which students study on their own devices, are to advance, there may be a need to discuss the use of filtering as a prerequisite. As the computerization of education moves forward, online safety measures at school appear to be headed to the nest stage.

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The Learning of Tomorrow Discussion at the Council for Regulatory Reform - Part 2

 ■The Learning of Tomorrow Discussion at the Council for Regulatory Reform - Part 2

　What must be done in the future is to promote the learning of tomorrow. The world is 2 laps ahead. It has gone beyond digital education using computers and smart education using BYOD and the cloud and is entering the learning of tomorrow and EdTech using IoT, blockchain, and AI.

　The learning of tomorrow is based on super-smart technology, such as IoT, blockchain, and AI.

There is a possibility that it will bring about change that makes us reevaluate the content, environment, and evaluation of learning, such as regarding subjects, exams, and schools themselves.

　In terms of subjects, AI is likely to realize super individual learning across subjects. Therefore, curriculums must be reworked. This could lead to an examination of the content and existence of grading and fields of academic guidance.

　In addition, the accumulation of all academic history using blockchain will likely eliminate the need for testing. The state of entrance exams will be examined.

　As a result of these changes, it will likely become possible to design an educational environment that goes beyond the frames of academic years, schools, and educational institutions. There is a chance that the state of the school system itself will be examined.

　China has included the usage of AI for education in its national strategy and is collecting data about children’s facial expressions and academic history by setting up cameras and sensors in classrooms for use in an overhaul of education. Their plan is to expand this educational environment on a global scale. In South Korea, which took the first step in digital education, the government has also carried out advanced development of teaching materials and educational environments with an eye on the global market. Japan fell behind to companies in the United States and China in AI development and is also falling behind to the world in the computerization of education. However, the future of Japan is not bright if it continues to rely on the rest of the world in this field.

　Under these circumstances, this proposal is for the construction of a platform that connects the industry and academia to “introduce” super subjects, super exams, and super schools. The idea is to create a world-class cutting-edge stage for learning through an association of educational institutions inside and outside Japan across early childhood education, primary and secondary education, university, and lifelong learning and private companies.

○Funnel all technologies that comprise digital, smart, and super-smart elements

○Enhance the link between industry and academia

○Design a new educational environment where students are the drivers

○Flexible operation that goes beyond the frame of school, involving grade skipping, credit transfer, and course completion certification

○Prepare virtual and real educational environments in various locations through online and remote learning

○Develop next-generation educational systems, services, and materials and expand them overseas　

○Positive usage of educational history and other data

Through the above, super-smart human resources that carry the next generation will be nurtured.

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The Learning of Tomorrow Discussion at the Council for Regulatory Reform - Part 1

 ■The Learning of Tomorrow Discussion at the Council for Regulatory Reform - Part 1

　At the Cabinet Office Council for Regulatory Reform, I spoke on the theme of “Infrastructure Development and Advanced Innovation Toward the Learning of Tomorrow.”

　In 2010, activities to advance computerization of school education began. Development of the 3 points of “1 information device per person, wireless LAN in classrooms, and digital textbooks in all subjects” were raised. At the time, these plans received strong opposition from the government and the academic world for being premature.

　In 2012, there was a proposal to prepare a system for digital textbooks, and bills were drafted. This led to an increase in actions by companies and municipalities, an environment using radio wave usage fees was successfully prepared. After 6 years, laws were revised to enable digital textbooks. Requirements for education about programming became part of the Japanese government’s policy.

　A nonpartisan “Parliamentary Association Aiming to Promote ICT Usage for Education” was also formed in the Diet. There were 83 participants, including former ministers from all parties. Nongovernment advisors like myself were also involved in the process, as we formulated and established the “Act to Promote the Computerization of Education.” Through comprehensive measures, including the formulation and implementation of promotion plans by municipalities, major development of the computerization of school education can be expected, such as with advanced utilization of local financial measures that municipalities had been entrusted with.

　However, Japan is still a developing nation in terms of the computerization of schools. There is 1 computer for every 6 students in elementary school. This had been 1 per 7 students 10 years ago, but the goal of 1 computer per student is still far away. It could even be said that Japan is an underdeveloped nation.

　Among OECD nations, Japan has the lowest rate of students who use computers and the internet inside and outside school.

The ratio of students who use computers at school for group assignments is 82% in Norway and 7% in Japan, with the OECD average being 45%. The ratio of students who use the internet for schoolwork is 94% in the Netherlands and 44% in Japan, with the OECD average being 86%.

　What must be done now is to prepare an environment for digital education. Digital textbooks and programming are not possible without computers and the internet. I believe it would be best to promote the preparation of computers and the internet through measures under the Act to Promote the Computerization of Education.

　What must be done next is to prepare an environment for smart education. Now is the time to advance toward an age of bring your own device (BYOD). The opportunity to approve the presence of smartphones in school has finally arrived, but the government must take initiative to revise rules at schools to allow students to learn using smartphones. In addition, there is a need to use and standardize the cloud for all devices to be able to be used for learning through BYOD.

　There are additional issues, as this cloud must have tight security, and schools must be connected to the cloud. The computerization of school affairs, which affects how faculty members work, has stalled, as the culture still involves the use of FAX. Usage of the cloud is extremely limited. Regulations and guidelines for each municipality should be revised, but the national government must provide guidance and work toward introducing schools to the cloud.

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Now Is the Time for a Sharing Economy Policy

 ■Now Is the Time for a Sharing Economy Policy

The “Sharing Economy Evaluation Meeting” was held by the Cabinet Secretariat IT Headquarters.

The biggest issue for the sharing economy is to improve the users’ “sense of assurance.” It is important to enhance safety and assurance measures. However, this requires costs and could serve as a barrier to entry that benefits existing major players. Regulations on platforms have been advanced to promote growth with self-regulation serving as the axis for sharing economy policy. I believe that a good effort is being made in this region of policy.

According to PwC, recognition of sharing economy services increased from 31% in 2017 to 42% in 2018, although utilization experience was 13%. Shared services for goods, means of transportation, and locations have recognition of over 60%, but for sharing skills, recognition is less than 40%. This demonstrates how it is an area of growth.

I believe that services involving the sharing of skills and time, which everybody has, have the most room for growth. People have hopes for the sharing economy in the context of economic growth, as the market is said to be worth 1-2 trillion yen, but there are also economies that shrink due to optimization and alternative markets. Finally, it is not reflected in GDP. How can it be measured as an economy?

According to “Digital Capitalism,” people have felt that their living standards have improved since around 2010. Although GDP is stagnant, the quality of life has gotten better.

Clearly, this is the result of IT growth and the sharing economy. However, it is difficult for this importance to be recognized because there are no ways of indicating this as an economy.

In the sharing economy, there is a possibility that producer surplus and GDP will go down. Conventional economic indices will move in a negative direction. On the other hand, there are no indices for subjective elements like consumer surplus, the feeling of a good deal, and satisfaction.

Because it increases these elements, I believe that the sharing economy has not been assessed properly.

The white paper on telecommunications made an effort to measure consumer surplus, but there is still a shortage of research. This would be impossible to do in Japan alone, as there is a need to gather international wisdom. Perhaps this would be a good theme for Japan to present to the G20 or OECD. I believe that preparing an environment for business ventures and establishing an international index would be a good theme for policy.

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Start of a New Round for the Intellectual Property Promotion Plan

 ■Start of a New Round for the Intellectual Property Promotion Plan

A new round begins for the Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters Committee. I will serve as the Joint Chairperson.

I would like to explain the government’s side first.

○(Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology) Support the founding of a “professional university” that is linked with the industrial world in order to nurture human resources for Cool Japan.

　iU is also a professional university. I see that the positioning was to take on the education of human resources for Cool Japan.

○Establish a content ecosystem.

　This involves various budgetary measures, such as crowdfunding and new forms of fundraising, business examination of blockchain usage (Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry), support for the overseas transmission of broadcasting content (Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts, and Telecommunications and Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and the collection of information on rights for music (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology).

○Countermeasures against piracy.

　Evaluation of countermeasures against leech sites and prohibition of downloads (legislation for blocking is not listed) (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology) and other measures for Cabinet Office; the National Police Agency; the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts, and Telecommunications; the Ministry of Finance; and the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry.

○Strategies for new information goods, such as data and AI

　Guidelines for the Unfair Competition Law and contracts for data usage rights (Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry) and principles for database and data exchange markets (Cabinet Secretariat).

　To add, the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry will put together approved principles for information entrusting. Based on these principles, the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts, and Telecommunications will begin demonstrations. This connection was not seen during the war between the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.

There were many opinions from committee members.

・Amid the conflict between the United States and China, is Japan’s sense of impending crisis showing? How can we stand up to data hegemony? Can we speed up the process?

・The conflict between the United States and China is an opportunity for Japan. We must come up with a thorough intellectual property strategy.

・Top government officials in the United States and China speak about intellectual property. Japan should do the same.

・In terms of the current account balance, income for intellectual property is increasing. Protection in foreign countries and ASEAN is important.

・There are few success cases in China. The country must offer support to build a good relationship.

・Protection between multiple countries is important. Even if China is not in infringement, they will imitate in each genre. China will become strong in Cool Japan content someday. Regulations on anime and games will also be strengthened. We must seriously engage in joint production with China.

Japan’s stance is in question during the conflict between the United States and China, as the EU demonstrates a strong stance. This will become a significant strategic theory.

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The Possible Future of Sports and Technology

 ■The Possible Future of Sports and Technology

Sports-Tech Future Conference was held at Waseda University.

How will technology and digital elements contribute to growth?

This event involves thinking together with the competent authorities and venture capital firms.

I addressed the conference.

This is multiplication between sports, technology, and the future. Following TV, the internet, and smart devices, the next wave of technology is approaching.

The Japanese government has a policy in place to grow the sport industry to 15 trillion yen, which is triple the current value, by 2025, but I can sense an unlimited future that cannot be measured by expansion of the industry.

Technology is wide-ranging. It enhances physical functions like the Major League training brace from the Star of the Giants did.

It forms the body itself like the prosthetic legs and wheelchairs do for Paralympians.

Strategies are analyzed using AI. People enjoy matches using VR and IoT.

For esports, which I am involved in, technology is the key player that forms the sport itself.

The Tokyo Olympics present a great opportunity. All super-smart technologies will be utilized at once.

The Olympics and Paralympics will be based on AI, IoT, robots, drones, VR, AR, 4K, 8K, 5G, big data, and blockchain.

Sports seeks technology, and at the same time, technology seeks the opportunities provided by sports.

Super-smart technologies, such as AI and IoT, are called the fourth industrial revolution or Society 5.0.

The former is a German concept that is based on the Industrial Revolution since the 18th century, while the latter is a Japanese concept of a society that follows in the footsteps of hunting, agriculture, industry, and information. It is more of a shift in civilization rather than an industrial revolution.

I relate more to this. We are presently at the point of this shift, and I would like to merge this with sports.

Due to the evolution of AI and robotics, a super-bored society will come. The importance of sports will increase.

There is talk of esports becoming an official Olympic sport.

Now that various issues have been resolved, esports are becoming very popular in Japan this year.

This is a result that is easy to understand regarding how business is a product of the multiplication of sports and business.

This form of multiplication between sports, technology, and industry is taking place everywhere.

This is a twofold opportunity, as it combines the opportunity of a major wave of technology approaching and the opportunity of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics happening. Our will to utilize this opportunity is being sought.

Let’s gather wisdom and take action.

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