Kaneda Copyright Agency {top}
Copyright Frequently Asked Questions
{FAQ} Why does copyright law exist around the world?
Protection
of copyrights (economic rights and moral rights) and neighboring rights is
essential for enhancing individual creativity, which can lead to development of
cultural industries and promotion of cultural diversity. Rampant piracy and low
level of enforcement of copyright laws destroy the incentives for the creation
and distribution of cultural products. Therefore, almost all countries of the
world have expressed the need for concerted efforts to encourage creativity and
to foster sustainable cultural development.
In
order to make copyright protection sustainable, it is indispensable to maintain
the fair balance between the interests of authors and the interests of the
general public to have access to cultural products, that is, to use or exploit
copyrighted works.
(ref)
Art.1 of Copyright Act
The
purpose of this Act is to provide for authors' rights and neighboring rights
with respect to works, as well as with respect to performances, phonograms,
broadcasts, and cablecasts, and to ensure protection for the rights of authors
and other such persons while according attention to the fair exploitation of
these cultural products, and thereby to contribute to cultural development.