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.