Japanese To Enforce Tough New Copyright Protections

(got this from the site "Extra Torrent", written by xxxOBSCENExxx )

Japanese Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama has recently decided in favor of the Japanese artistic copyright group, JASRAC (Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers), which has pushed for an extension on "posthumous" copyright protection.
JASRAC

The protections, which are on any composition written, composed, published, or distributed from within Japan, have been increased from a range of fifty to seventy years. The recent decision matches almost all other international standards, and brings Japan front in center in the war against those wishing to illegally distribute music from Japan.

JASRAC was founded in 1939, as the largest musical non-profit copyright association in Japan. It's made headlines in recent years, with news such as demanding the popular video service YouTube to remove over 30,000 videos which featured songs or clips from copyrighted works of Sony Japan, Avex Japan, Pony Canyon, JVC, Warner Japan, Toy's Factory, and Universal Japan.

JASRAC has even taken ballroom dance schools to court in the past, for using copyrighted Japanese songs in it's classrooms, where it actually won a settlement of 50 million yen. The group had stated that "it hopes the ruling will serve as a warning to other schools not to use such music without first gaining permission to do so.

The latest news, will only further broaden JASRAC's reach around the globe as Japan is a key figure amongst international groups such as the United Nations, and JASRAC then can impose it's will onto future copyright and standards events.

During a 70th Anniversary party for JASRAC, the Japanese Prime Minister stated that he was fulling backing the plans which had been brought forth by JASRAC, and other copyright organizations along with music industry affiliates within Japan.

Prime Minister Hatoyama stated that it was only fitting for the extension of the copyright act to be set for 70 years, as it's the 70th anniversary of the organization. He went on to state that his political party, the Democratic Party of Japan intends to dedicate itself to fully revising and reforming copyright laws within it's nation.

Various industry and copyright groups, such as the Recording Industry Association of Japan, the Music Publishers Association of Japan, and JASRAC as well have been lobbying the government since mid 2006 for the finalized extension to occur.

Earlier this year, JASRAC and the other copyright firms in a joint operation, created the Copyright Data Clearinghouse (CDC) of Japan, in order to reduce the financial cost for a license application and to set up an international database of protected Japanese musical art.

JASRAC will remain infamous for going after any company, business, web site, or radio station which uses Japanese music without permission, and can be considered the equivalent of the USA's RIAA. They have their hands deep into the Japanese government's pockets, and intend to fully use that to their advantage.

JASRAC is also one of the first groups to pursue mobile phone ringtones, and copyright them. It is a firm which represent a nearly trillion yen per year industry, and obviously has the capital to pursue any individual it deems in violation of it's protections. Expect to hear more in recent months from this political and industry powerhouse, as they push for global copyright reform.

Secure Living... blech.

Heya. Ya know? I have been here trying to figure out how to get back to the U.S. for years now, and yesterday it finally hit me... America has been sliding into the shitter since I left. Had I known you needed me so much, I might not have left! But seriously, the unemployment rate there scares the crap outta me. 10%?!!? Is this just a number, or does it feel like reality? Also, yesterday I saw that $1 is now only worth 88 yen! That fuckin blows! It really sucks because I transferred money from America to here, and will loose a lot of dough. Last time, I actually made money because it was $1 to 115 yen... what the fuck? Is America broken? Kinda annoying that I ended up being here this long, but it seems like Japan is the more secure choice for the family for now...dammit!

I miss America! I miss Mt. Rainier, and all that good shit. Give America a kiss for me! (sob)

Movie Check In

Been kinda quiet lately... studying again.



I just found out about this movie, "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" and it seems like it was done a while ago...since Heath Ledger is in it... but just nobody wanted to hit the "play" button. I am so looking forward to this...hope it is as good as the trailer.

Looking forward to "Avatar" and I really hope I get to see this one in the theater.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1_JBMrrYw8 this is a link to a large screen version of the trailer.

Dorian Gray...? Does this look fun or stupid? I can't tell.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9h9a3Sx6220&feature=channel

Legion? So...God is a serious dick in this one. But angel movies like the "Prophecy" series can be good...in fact this one really looks like it is trying to play off of that series, but add a bit of good old fashioned ridiculousness plus bad acting! ... but hey, there are wings and that often makes up for silly shit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9mFn9EhgU4&feature=channel
Same actor I don't like there in Legion was in GI Joe and seems to be in Pandorum too. Why do people hire him?

I really wanna see this next one and I think it is funny that I was JUST saying I wish they would remake "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and bloody hell, "The Fourth Kind" is comin'!!! Yowza!! The only BAD part is that the aliens really seem like dicks in this one... bummer huh. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_h0CblQ0sg&feature=channel

Fire! Across the Street.

From this point of view, the fire is 1/2 a block away from my house, but across the street so there is little or no danger for us. Still, this building is long and is only an arm length away from half a dozen homes, one of which is directly in front of our house. I took the last photo from a window in Nami's old house, about 1 1/2 feet from the outside of the burnt building. Everyone was glad that their new houses were made of concrete, and that the firefighters put this out quickly.