Japan introduces piracy penalties for illegal downloads

Just wait until someone gets arrested.<p>The technology will change once again to get around the legalese. Also of note, Japan has very strong anti-wiretapping laws[0] that prohibit carriers and other providers from port blocking, tapping or redirecting packets -- the only presumable legal way for these associations to check on downloaders would be to hold illegal content themselves and wait for a Japanese IP address to connect.<p>[0] <a href="http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%80%9A%E4%BF%A1%E3%81%AE%E7%A7%98%E5%AF%86" rel="nofollow">http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%80%9A%E4%BF%A1%E3%81%AE%E7%...</a>

Interesting how this will actually happen, given as all the popular Japanese p2p networks are encrypted - of recent their efforts have not been on downloaders but on uploaders since Perfect Dark is apparently leaking information on the latter.

This was discussed on tv in japan a few days ago and the agencies responsible for tracking people admitted their resouces were limited and they would focus only on people who multiply infrigments.

Dear nineties, please bring my Internet back, the Internet politicians didn't even care about.

It shows how corrupt the Japanese government here is. Not only did they sign RIAA into law with little fan-fare.. they made it a <i>criminal</i> offense by default.<p>If you asked the RIAA exactly what they dream of, this is it.

How much different is this than the laws governed in US today?<p>If someone is downloading copyright protected movies / music, the MPAA / RIAA respectively will come down on them and subject them to fines.<p>Now, I don't know anyone that has actually been convicted of this, however, there are accounts.<p>Any first/second hand accounts?

Seems like a good time to switch to Usenet here then - not watertight but much less likely to get into trouble (at least I'm ready to try that theory). Anyone know a good Usenet provider for Japan based connections?

Haha, I find it funny that they're called the RIAJ, as though they are in collusion with the RIAA.

Well you would not download a nuclear plant ...

So.. Now the Japanese find willing VPN providers in Russia and/or China?<p>Nobody can trust their own government these days. Especially if said laws concern copyright laws.

And so it begins...