Kaneda Copyright Agency {top}

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Copyright FAQ {top}

{FAQ} Can I buy and sell copyright?

Yes.
Any or all of the copyright owner’s exclusive rights, or parts of those rights, can be transferred (See Art.61(1))*[1][2].
An oral contract (a contract agreed verbally) of the transfer (assignment) is legally effective. However, because the existence of such a contract can be difficult to prove, the transfer of copyrights is generally made in writing and signed by the owner of the rights assigned or the owner’s authorized agent.

(ref.) Art. 61(1) of Copyright Act
Copyrights may be transferred in whole or in part.

*[1] Although “registration of transfer of copyright” is not required to make the transfer legally valid between parties concerned, you should know that buying and selling copyrights entails a risk of so-called “double transfer” (you can take advantage of the system of “registration of transfer of copyright” in order to reduce the risk.).
*[2] As for moral rights of an author, you cannot buy and sell these rights.

[Note] You can bequeath copyrights by will.