Yokohama copyright case
p2p news / p2pnet:- Japan’s Yokohama municipal government is being sued for allegedly infringing the copyright of a painting by posting images for an auction.
“The suit was filed with the Tokyo District Court by the Art Copyright Center, Ltd., based in Nakano Ward, Tokyo, which as the painting’s copyright agent said the city had failed to obtain consent from the painter or the company,” says the Yomiuri Shimbun, going on:
“According to the bill of complaint, the painting was obtained by the city from a resident in lieu of unpaid city taxes. In February, the city began auctioning goods seized from debtors via the Internet, including the painting. Three images of the painting were posted – two of the complete picture and one showing a magnified image of the artist’s signature. In the suit, the Art Copyright Center says the city did not ask its consent to post said images and was guilty of copyright infringement. The firm asked the court to order the city to take the images off the Internet and pay royalties of 170,000 yen (more than $1,490).”
The Yokohama municipal government maintains the images “were slightly blurred before being posted on the Internet, and in the words of an official, were ‘not copies, which need a copyright license’," says the story. " ‘Even if they are seen as copies, they were for reference and still don’t require a license’."
But Atsushi Yamato, an an expert on copyright law, says a copyright license is needed for public auctions as well as in other cases, adds the Yomiuri Shimbun.
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See:-
Yomiuri Shimbun – City sued for copyright infringement, October 14, 2005
October 14th, 2005 at 9:25 pm
This whole “IP” shit-o-polaza is the RIAA / MPAA master’s doing…
They think they can “harmonize” and intimidate the ENTIRE PLANET…LOL, they have one thing coming to them. We know who “you” are…. and we know where your hideouts are… (yes some of it is hidden underground, we know that too!)… and before you make your final offensive, we are coming to get “you”…. LOL…
October 15th, 2005 at 1:27 am
Unfortunately this kind of stuff happens here in Japan all the time .
I remember a few years ago a japanese female recording artist released a CD and on the cover was a man seated on a park bench reading a newspaper way off in the distance. Of course, on the CD cover itself the newspaper is illegible. However, if blown up enough times and held in the correct lighting the name of the paper was visible.
Similar to this story, no “permission” was obtained from the newspaper for its use on the CD cover therefor, a lawsuit incurred and the atrtist and her lable found liable.
With such frivolous cases cloging the courts it is no wonder it takes about 7 years for a case to make it through the legal system here.
Zathras
October 15th, 2005 at 3:16 am
Another victim…
http://money.excite.com/jsp/nw/nwdt_rt.jsp?section=news&feed=dji&src=704&news_id=dji-00100520051014&date=20051014
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hollywood Unions Call For Cut Of Video IPod Pie
Friday October 14, 6:47 PM EDT
LOS ANGELES (AP)–In a show of unity, five unions representing actors, writers and directors issued a joint call for talks to make sure their members get a cut of revenue generated by the sale of TV shows on Apple’s iTunes software.
The unions sent a clear message to TV producers.
“We have not yet heard from the responsible employers of our members,” their joint statement said. “But we look forward to a dialogue that ensures that our members are properly compensated for this exploitation of their work.”
The presidents of unions representing Hollywood writers and actors were lunching at a popular Beverly Hills restaurant on Wednesday when they saw a TV report about a deal to allow episodes of ABC shows such as “Lost” to be downloaded for portable viewing on the new video iPod from Apple Computer Inc. (AAPL) ( AAPL).
In doing the deal with Apple, ABC became the first network to allow viewers to download episodes of their shows the day after they air on TV. Other networks are expected to follow shortly.
The development was news to Patric Verrone, president of the Writers Guild of America, west, and John Connolly, president of the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists.
The two called their counterparts at the Screen Actors Guild, Directors Guild of America and the Writers Guild of America, East, which covers writers east of the Mississippi.
The show of unity was unusual, coming from unions that are sometimes at odds over issues such as royalties from DVD sales.
“We developed a new piece of stationary that never existed before,” Verrone said of the joint statement.
The unions haven’t yet called ABC or its parent, The Walt Disney Co. (DIS) (DIS), to discuss how much of the $1.99 that Apple is charging for a single episode should go to writers, actors and directors.
“The guilds are our business partners, and we always welcome a dialogue with them on any business-related issue that affects their members,” ABC said in a statement.
The groups already have agreements that cover the re-use of their work on the Internet or in “pay per view” models, such as video on demand. The unions also have newer agreements covering work produced for the Internet.
Under the WGA contract, writers are entitled to 1.6% of the license fee paid by networks to the producers of a show. The ABC hits “Lost” and “Desperate Housewives,” are produced by Touchstone Studios, Disney’s TV production arm.
Actors are entitled to 3.6% of the license fee.
A conflict could arise if studios decide to treat the Internet downloads the same as a DVD sale, which might result in lower payments.
“We have to learn more about the actual technology,” Verrone said. “I’m thrilled by the notion I can watch my shows in the palm of my hand, but I also want to make sure we are paid appropriately.”
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 15th, 2005 at 4:35 am
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1112442,00.html
Chinese workers in Israel sign no-sex contract
Conal Urquhart in Tel Aviv
Wednesday December 24, 2003
The Guardian
Chinese workers at a company in Israel have been forced to agree not to have sex with or marry Israelis as a condition of getting a job.
According to a contact they are required to sign, male workers may not have any contact with Israeli women – including prostitutes, a police spokesman, Rafi Yaffe, said.
He said there was nothing illegal about the requirement and that no investigation had been opened.
An Israeli lawyer who did not want to be named said while the contract might appear legal, it would be rejected if challenged in court. “The point is that a Chinese worker will agree to anything and then will not have anyone to help them if there is a problem,” he said.
The labourers are also forbidden from engaging in any religious or political activity. The contract states that offenders will be sent back to China at their own expense.
About 260,000 foreigners work in Israel, having replaced Palestinian labourers during three years of fighting. When the government first allowed the entrance of the foreign workers in the late 1990s, ministers warned of a “social timebomb” caused by their assimilation with Israelis.
More than half the workers are in the country illegally. Israeli police have increased efforts to deport those working without permits because of rising Israeli unemployment, which has reached 11% in recent months.
Advocates of foreign workers, who also come from Thailand, the Philippines and Romania, say they are subject to almost slave conditions, and their employers often take away their passports and refuse to pay them.
Analysts say there is much division within Israeli society over immigration and status, although the conflict with the Palestinians has given it an appearance of unity. Recent immigrants such as Russians and Ethiopians are disliked by older immigrants, and there is much resentment among secular Israelis at the privileges given to ultra-orthodox Jews. The foreign workers are at the bottom of the pile.
October 15th, 2005 at 4:38 am
Not the first time, and definitely won’t be the last.
When will America stop “giving” $3 BILLION+ to Israel to kill/rape/destroy Palestine and wage war in Iraq and Afghanistan (soon Syria and Iran) when 18 million Americans are starving and homeless???
October 15th, 2005 at 11:12 am
A Copyright travesty.
Obviously to sell a painting you own you need to display it, perhaps publicly in a gallery or through a copy on a catalogue or the internet.
Oh, the painter gave those rights to copy or dispaly to someonelse other than the owner of the real painting?
Then art galleries must shut down if they have no legal right (copyright) to display publicly the paintings they are supposed to sell.
Of course if the art galleries shut down, no one will paint any longer…. because the copyright law operates against its own purpose.
Then modern art museums must also be shut down, if they do not own the copyrights or a license thereof for the paintings they have.
Japan, welcome to the American copyright litigation world.
Rafael Venegas
http://www.gvenegas.com