It is significant that an internet service provider has taken a step forward in driving out piracy websites.
The NTT group has announced it will forcibly block access to three malicious piracy sites that post popular manga and other content online without permission. The company has stressed it is a "short-term emergency measure."
One estimate shows that the damage from copyright infringements by the three websites amounted to 430 billion yen for a six-month period from September last year. Given the serious situation, blocking access to the sites is an unavoidable step.
The move is in response to the government's call for internet service providers to take voluntary action. The government said it plans to consider responses at a public-private consultative body if similar sites are detected in the future.
Cutting off access to individual piracy websites is important, but there are limits to what this approach can achieve. There is more than one method that allows users to browse piracy websites by slipping through the blocking system.
It is also essential to implement measures such as asking companies that store pirated data to delete them and urging advertisers to stop sponsoring piracy websites. Combining these measures would enhance the effectiveness of eliminating malicious websites.
Legal framework needed
Copyright is the foundation of creative activities. Creators are supported by profits from their work. If readers can read their work at will without paying for it, publishers and other entities that sell their work cannot maintain their business.
It will ultimately undermine even the public's right to know. Piracy websites pose a serious problem that is not limited to manga.
The Japan Internet Providers Association and other organizations oppose blocking access to websites. This is because it is feared that freedom of expression, which is guaranteed by the Constitution, as well as the secrecy of communication, under which the contents of communications should not be revealed to third parties, could be infringed.
Needless to say, freedom of expression must be respected as much as possible, but it should not be discussed on the same footing as websites that provide content by improper means.
The government has asserted that even though the blocking might be illegal, it fulfills the condition of "necessity," which makes it permissible under the Penal Code. Similar measures have been taken against child pornography sites.
Britain and some other countries have blocked access to certain sites based on the law. It is necessary for Japan to have a legal basis for blocking access to sites. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga has expressed a positive stance toward establishing a legal framework, saying, "We will accelerate discussions on the matter."
Publishers should strive to open websites that offer services at affordable prices and are easy to use. It is hoped that users will become aware of the need not to browse piracy websites lightly.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 25, 2018)
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