Kaneda Copyright Agency {top}

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Copyright FAQ {top}

{FAQ} Do I have to get permission to use a copyrighted work?

In most cases, yes.
The copyright owner has the right to grant those wishing to use his/her work authorization (permission) to exploit the work. So, if you wish to use a copyrighted work, in most cases, you have to get permission from the copyright owner before using the copyrighted work.
Generally speaking, first, you will have to find an author or other rights holders (there is a case where two or more persons are involved in creating a work) and identify the current copyright status, and negotiate with them to obtain permission.
You should know that in some cases, such permission may come from an agent, a publisher, a movie maker, or other organizations (Copyright Management Services such as JASRAC) instead of directly from each individual rights holder.

[Note] The Copyright Act stipulates that a certain work may be exploited without any authorization from copyright owners (See Art.30-50[Limitations of Copyrights]). Moreover, as for works which have been in the so-called “public domain,” you can freely use such works without any permission.