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On November 15, 7 of RIAJ’s member record companies sent out letters to 8 Internet
Service Providers to seek personal information such as names concerning 12 users, who have uploaded (made transmittable)
music files illegally on the Internet using file-sharing software.
The 7 companies who claimed the uploaders’ information disclosure this time were Victor Entertainment
Inc., Universal Music K.K., Toshiba-EMI Limited., Warner Music Japan Inc., AVEX Inc., Sony Music Records Inc.
and Defstar Records Inc. These claims for information disclosure of the users’ names,
addresses and etc. to 8 ISPs were made under the Article 4, Clause 1 of the ISP Liability Law by reason that
the said uploads of music recorded in commercial CDs without authorization should have been infringing the
neighboring right (Right of Making Transmittable).
The ISPs will make judgments whether they disclose the uploaders’ information
based on the content of claims by the claimants and hearing from the uploaders.
RIAJ started sending instant
messages (IM) from March this year to call for users’ attention who seem
to be uploading music files illegally on the Internet using file sharing software. The number of IMs sent by
present is over 4 million. Moreover, the educational activities on copyright, such as "Respect Our Music" campaign,
have been carried out since year before last. We believe that the activities should result in giving people
recognition to the illegality of uploading music without authorization.
However, due to there still exist individuals
uploading a vast number of music files repeatedly without authorization of right holders, our member companies
decided to request the users’ information disclosure to ISPs in
order to claim for damages and the requests will be carried out continuously.
To eradicate illegal use of music, RIAJ and our member record companies will take necessary measures and continue
the educational activities on copyrights in close cooperation with the domestic and international related organizations. |
