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At any given moment, a huge number of anime fans around the globe are searching the Internet for pirated videos of the newest and most popular series. Only one of them, though, is going to be getting paid to do so by the Japanese government.
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry is about to add a new element to its anti-piracy tactics. Up until now, the organization has searched for illegal uploads of copyrighted material through automated means, but such methods are proving less and less effective in stopping the flow of unauthorized content. With slight alterations made to the original videos, pirated versions can slip through the ministry’s computer-administered filters, and so its members have decided a more human touch is called for.
Starting next week, the ministry will be employing a specialist to personally search video-streaming and download sites for unlicensed, copyrighted material and determine whether or not its presence constitutes economic damage to the rights holders. In the event that the pirated videos are judged to be harmful, the ministry will then explore what avenues of legal action are available.
While the new countermeasure covers both animated and live-action content, given the far greater international exposure, and thus piracy levels, of anime compared to Japanese movies and TV dramas, it seems likely that the majority of the pirate hunter’s work will involve protecting the economic interests of animation studios and publishers.
Initially only a single such specialist will be employed, and the individual selected is reportedly someone knowledgeable about anime, movies, and how to find illegal videos. No word has been given on whether or not he has to stop watching as soon as he can confirm a copyright infringement, or if he’s allowed to at least keep going until the end of the episode to see how the story turns out.
Source: Yahoo! News Japan via Jin
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© Japan Today
8 Comments
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Nippori Nick
Surely the anime producers should be paying for this..not some "government agency"?
No wonder Japan has such high debt.
KariHaruka
Is the 'pirate hunter' Zoro by any chance?
Kazuaki Shimazaki
They'll spot more, but I think in the end it'll wind up costing industry more than they'll gain. Without the "demoes" provided by illegals, not many people will be willing to invest in say anime. They probably pretended when calculating the supposed losses that if only people didn't watch illegals they'll buy their BD, which is totally unrealistic. If people are allowed to watch, they'll feel inclined to at least give something, so maybe they don't get 50000 yen for 6 BDs (12 episodes) but they at least get a few thousand yen off manga, supporting material ... etc versus getting nothing otherwise.
SenseNotSoCommon
Why is my tax yen paying for this?
nath
Precisely - companies concerned about safeguarding their intellectual property should foot the bill for it themselves. That Japan has a long history of copyright infringement to which the government has turned a blind eye or has refused to prosecute makes this even more galling. I mean, even the 2020 Tokyo Olympics logo was plagiarised...
kaynide
It's not hard, tangible material... So, whats the plan? Google "free anime" and report places that have the videos?
Do they have means to track the original recorder/encoder/uploader? Can they take any legal action against the individuals involved?
Uktimately, what do they hope to do? Lodge a formal complaint?
gogogo
Assumption this person is a male? ahhh Japan.
Cliffy
Is it just 1 person? He/She will have to download them and watch them all? 24 hours a day will not be enough. Besides, some of those anime would not even be known outside Japan if people aboard cannot even see what those are about. They are not like Pixar/Disney which are well known across the gloibe