Winny copyright infringers ‘should be identified’ : DAILY YOMIURI ONLINE
Japan is figuratively considering bringing back the stocks for copyright infringers:
a report on copyright violation issues concerning the person-to-person file sharing software Winny, proposing that Internet service providers should be required to disclose the identity of customers who have used the software to illegally exchange copyrighted movies and music. …
The service providers are required to protect the confidentiality of communications in line with the Constitution. However, the law stipulating the responsibilities of the providers allows them to disclose a person’s identity in cases where that person has clearly violated other people’s rights.
I don’t know Japanese culture well enough to say how this could turn out. It seems like an obvious effort to shame infringers, but it’s possible that it could have the opposite or even no effect. On the other hand…
Closet pop idols breathed a little easier Thursday after the announcement of a deal between video site YouTube and a large recording rights body, allowing punters to record and post their own versions of songs by major artists like Mr. Children and Spitz without fear of legal reprisal.
Covering songs is a pretty common practice among J-Pop fans, although it appears from this article that lip syncing vids will still be off limits.