PART Recent Trends and Developments in Government Policies in Education, Science and Culture
Chapter 8. Promotion of Culture
5 Policies Concerning the Japanese Language, Copyright and Religious Affairs
(2) Development of the Copyright System
The copyright system is aimed at specifying and protecting the
rights of authors of printed materials, performances, recordings, broadcasted
programs etc. and at ensuring the legal and proper usage of these cultural products.
The system provides an important basis for the nation's creative cultural activities.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs has been endeavoring to take
legislative action and other measures to update the copyright system on the basis
of the deliberation by the Copyright Council. In FY 1991, a partial amendment
to the Copyright Law was made, for granting rights in regard to the lending of
foreign records and for prolonging the period of protection of neighboring rights.
(This amendment was enforced on January 1, 1992.) With regard to copyright issues
arising from the development and spread of private recordings, videotape recording
and other ways of using literary, musical and other works, the Agency will request
the Copyright Council and other related organs to give necessary consideration,
taking into account international trends, and carry out reforms within the copyright
system one by one as conclusions are reached in such organs.