1 source Jun 17
Japan Passes Amended Copyright Law for In-Store BGM Royalties
Japan's amended Copyright Law, passed on June 17, establishes new rights for performers and record producers to receive royalties when their music is played as background music in commercial facilities like cafes and restaurants.
Reporting from 1 source: KAI-YOU.
Why it matters
The amendment closes a longstanding gap in Japan's copyright framework, aligning domestic law with international norms and potentially opening royalty streams for Japanese performers when their songs are used abroad.
Key Facts
- Previously, only lyricists and composers received compensation for in-store BGM use; performers and record producers had no such rights.
- The law takes effect within three years, with specific royalty rates and collection methods still under discussion.
- A supplementary resolution calls for measures to reduce the burden on small businesses and cultural organizations under the new system.
- The amendment may allow Japanese performers to receive payments when their music is used in commercial facilities in other countries, aligning with international norms.
Previously, only lyricists and composers received such compensation. The law takes effect within three years.
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology confirmed the bill's passage on Wednesday. Under the new law, singers, musicians, and record producers gain rights to compensation when their recordings are played as in-store BGM. The change addresses a situation where, for example, an artist whose song plays in a cafe could not collect royalties from that use. The system is already standard overseas, and the amendment may also allow Japanese performers to receive payments when their music is used in commercial facilities in other countries. Specific royalty rates and collection methods remain under discussion, and a supplementary resolution calls for measures to reduce the burden on small businesses and cultural organizations.
Written with AI by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited. See our editorial policy.
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Sources
- KAI-YOU 改正著作権法が成立 店舗BGMの使用料を歌手や演奏家にも還元