Japanese gamers apparently face arrest if they lend their games to friends – police recently executed a search warrant based on the unauthorised lending of 5 games, charging the lender with copyright infringement.
Police raided a Kobe hotel after discovering they had freely provided Wii and PS3 consoles and games to guests, confiscating games and consoles as evidence.
The hotel, “Swing,” is accused of lending the games to at least 5 customers during 2010. In an unusual application of copyright law, police are charging the hotel with copyright violation, specifically the “screening” the games to guests without permission from the copyright holder.
Police are also investigating whether they were secretly operating a love hotel, another very serious crime.
Commercial game rental itself is illegal in Japan, but as freely lending a game to another party may constitute “unauthorised display,” gamers are also wondering if they face arrest for merely lending games to each other.
In particular, this rather draconian interpretation of the law suggests that virtually the entirety of Japan’s manga cafe industry is in fact illegal, as they likely do not seek permission from every copyright holder of the products they lend to customers on their premises.
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So the police couldn't arrest the guy on love hotel charges so they make up some BS excuse to put him in jail? Obviously a perfect example of bias law enforcement.
LOL What a stupid copyright law!
"John, remember that game you borrowed from me last Friday? Well, I'm gonna have to ask it back before the cops come. I'm SRS, John! and no I don't care if you haven't reached the perfect ending yet. I want it bac-"
*door breaks down*
"NPA! Freeze!"
"Shiiii-"
*jumps out apartment window*
[BAD END]
PS: Remember to save regularly
Thanks, I needed some lulz and you gave it.
I'm seeing three Kyons right now!
Yoshii-kun, I just saw that perfect ending 10 minutes before you arrived.
NPA! Freeze!
Ah! Stupid copyright law!
*Jumps out of the window safely*
*slams the gavel thrice*
"I hereby sentence John to 24hrs of leek probing sessions without the possibility of recess, on the charges of negligent manslaughter and for being an accessory in the death of Yoshii-kun"
Any last words?
*raises gavel*
*wake up on the floor*
*a girl with a gun talks to him and says he is dead*
What the fuck is with this shitty law? Whoever signed that crappy law doesn't know anything about entertainment or even heard of it.
What the fuck is going on Japan? Are you becoming fucking China? Stop it!
This post reminds me of my former university making an event where my former schoolmates played Tekken 6 on PS3. I wonder if the university will get raided for that.
Why did you change your avatar, Yoshii-kun?
Neonie, blame their dumb government. They don't know a thing or two about entertainment.
This post reminds me of my former schoolmates hosting an event in our university where they played Tekken 6 on PS3 last year. I wonder if they, and the university, are going to get raid for that.
@dia A New Year calls for a new dress and a new haircut ^^
My Philippine government wouldn't so foolish as to make an idiotic law like that.
No wonder Operation Payback [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Payback] was born.
maybe not, but they would follow and exceed ishiharas example at the slightest provocation
assumptions about countries i dont know much about aside...
clearly governments incited by companies around the world are trying to usher a new age of feudalism with governments as kings and companies as aristocracy
and aristocracy is always one breath from overthrowing the king
Copyright is the devils work
Rise up my brothers and fight the power
"Rise up my brothers and fight the power"
Join the Pirate Party
Next people will be arrested for buying games to give to people as birthday/christmas presents.
@Yoshii-kun "Will Miku being the one probing me with a leek?" ^_^
I guess I know 1 place I won't be playing any multiplayer games or lending games to people at...
Just another stupid ass law, etc. that Japan has created, oh the torture...
That remind me tha Anti-piracy campaigne parodie on one episode of the british comedy serie "IT Crowd"...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcJtk6_6lgs
that was good!
i'm at a loss for words. this is in the upper echelons of stupidity.
Its actually normal. While it might be fine to borrow a friend a game if your a company you run a business and that would be a same as renting out games which must be done through rental copies not retial.
Its the same practically everywhere in the world, dont mix business laws with non business laws, they arent the same.
Next thing you know, people will get arrested by the Official Thought Police for thinking about games and sharing those thoughts with their friends. How dare they think about anything!
facepalm.jpg
Commercials and online ads could get you arrested. You're sitting at your computer enjoying the preview screenshots of a new eroge when suddenly BAM the police break in and arrest you for enjoying the games copywritten material without paying for itl
Next thing you know you will be arrested for rape...for fapping to porns without getting consent from the pornstars first...
And the saga of Japan eating itself continues.
Ishiara syndrome?
Actually, Nintendo pushed for strict anti-rentals laws way back when. They should try to repeal it now. I think it actually hurts the gaming culture than not.
It hurts the whole economy. Piracy=Publicity and dumb businessmen refuses to accept it.
I can just imagine someone somewhere trying to find ways of charging people for crimes, and saying "oh they have a ps3, bet they borrowed/lent a game at some point."
Disgusting.
Wait though, as long as you keep everyone who you lend to quiet there's no problem. I mean how are they going to prove anything without a confession?
wouldn't be too surprised if that's pretty close to the truth.
it's not like that doesn't happen in the West.
DAs in the US will slap on extra BS interpretation charges just to fluff up a case and bring it to trial all the time.
Unfortunately, as much as I hate to admit that.... you are absolutely right. Really, in ANY country with 'law & order', the police and prosecutors have a bad habit of doing that.
One of the main reasons why I say they should stick to ONLY laws that enforce the 4-5 true morals, and that is it FOREVER!
"Commercial game rental itself is illegal in Japan, but as freely lending a game to another party may constitute “unauthorised display,” gamers are also wondering if they face arrest for merely lending games to each other."
whats wrong with sharing games between friends?
How can Japan call itself a democracy when it continues to act like an Oligarchy?
oh the hypocrisy~
@Yden 19:17:
"Wairo"
probably guy wasn't paying police a cut .
Thats basically it in a nutshell. Love when they make shit up.
Getting arrested for lending games? Are you fucking kidding me? That is the most retarded thing I've ever heard. The guy who made this law definitely had a dick up his asshole or something, because this is really GAY!!!
Times like this I'd hate to live in Japan. I couldn't imagine not being able to rent video games or not have Netflix..
They are allowed to rent videos, and even books...
Yes,those items are rented outside the place and taken into houses while the games rented are still in the hotel.
What, EVEN books ? You DONT SAY !!! I never dreamt about being able to rent books...they were always just outside my reach. And you say i can actually rent them in Japan ? Oh, what a blessed place that must be !
I've heard of a magical kingdom where you allowed to borrow books for free. Recently they've even added music and movies to the list of items they lend.
@anon(20:05): Library card
You might be doing a wrong interpretation of the word 上映(screening); manga do not need a "screen" so permission isn't needed.
this copyright nonsense is getting ridiculous
That's it, I'm moving to Japan.
They obviously have no crime over there if this is what's keeping the police busy.
Wrong, it's just they don't have the balls to face serious criminals. Or even barely serious criminals.
The word is called "sarcasm."
Look it up, it's in the dictionary.
you gota admit saracasm over the internet is hard to read? maybe put like
*sacrasm
at the bottom or something?