History of ACCS

Association of Copyright for Computer Software
5F Tomonari Foresight Bldg., 5-40-18 Otsuka,
Bunkyo City, Tokyo 112-0012.

Association of Copyright for Computer Software

1985~1989

Dawn of the era of program copyrights to eliminate illegal copying

Greetings

01

The fact that the Association of Copyright for
Computer Software (ACCS) has been able to reach thismilestone 30th anniversary is precisely thanks to all our
members who have supported us on a day-to-day basis,
as well as the generous assistance and support of the
Agency for Cultural Affairs, National Police Agency,
and other related ministries and agencies, investigative
authorities, and other related organizations. I would
therefore like to take this opportunity to express mywarmest appreciation to you all.
Not stopping at measures against copyright
infringement aimed at protecting copyright forcomputer software, ACCS has since our foundation
been actively working to realize a society that respects
copyright itself, focusing on advertising and educational
activities. Many like-minded companies, organizations,and individuals from throughout Japan and the world
have come together at ACCS, working as one to carryout various activities.
Through the activities in which I have been involved
as the Chairman of ACCS, as well as through my own
company’ s global business expansion, I have keenly
felt that the Copyright Act is at the root of the softwareand contents businesses. Neither creation nor business ispossible unless copyright is protected, and copyrightholders themselves need to work hard in protecting their
copyrights. In the Age of the Internet, however, I am
gravely concerned that awareness of the copyrights ofbusiness operators who handle content is fading.
Looking forward towards the next 30 years, theimportance of copyright shows no signs of lessening.
Companies handing game software, business software,and digital contents—it is my heartfelt wish that you
join ACCS, participating in and supporting ouractivities so that a society in which copyright isrespected may be realized.

Kenzo Tsujimoto
Chairman,
Association of Copyright for Computer Software (ACCS)

Pick
Up

1985

Protection of copyrighted programs under
the Copyright Act
The diffusion of personal computers began before a conclusion could be reached on how to legally protect software, and illegal copies of computer software, particularly
game software, became a problem. Discussions took place
between the Ministry of International Trade and Industry(now the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) and the
Agency for Cultural Affairs about the creation of a legal
system and software under the Copyright Act, which wasamended in June 1985.

1985

History of ACCS

Revision of the
Copyright Act, etc.

▶ Established within the Japan Personal
Computer Software Association (JPSA)
as the Association of Software Legal
Protection Supervision Pick Up▶ Protection of
copyrighted
programs under
the Copyright Act

1985

Establishment of the Association ofSoftware Legal Protection Supervision
At the time, there was one industrial organization forcomputer software, the Japan Personal Computer
Software Association (JPSA) (now the Computer
Software Association of Japan (CSAJ)). However,
because it became necessary to further strengthen
copyright protection for computer software with theamendment of the Copyright Act, the Association ofSoftware Legal Protection Supervision was established
as a separate organization within JPSA. This
organization later developed into the Association of
Copyright for Computer Software (ACCS).

Changes ininfringement
crimesPick Up

1986▶Provides support in
the detection andexposure of the saleof pirated items instores▶ Joins the Anti-Counterfeiting
Association (ACA) as the Associationof Software Legal Protection
Supervision▶Provides support in
the detection andexposure ofunauthorized rentals
by stores

1987

1989

Sale ofpirated items
in stores▼

Unauthorized
rentals bystores▼▶Petitions theCommittee forInquest of Prosecution regarding case ofunauthorizedsoftware copying andcase not being
prosecuted

1988

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Support of measuresagainst infringement▶ Creates a five-inch floppy disk version▶Provides support in
the detection andexposure ofunauthorized rentalsof video gamesoftware by storesof the “Illegal Copying Prohibition
Mark” (the ACCS symbol) Pick Up

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02

Pseudorentals bystores▼1989

Creation of a five-inch floppy disk version of the “Illegal
Copying Prohibition Mark” (the ACCS symbol)
In response to the spread of illegal computer software copying, illegal operators
were investigated. Police departments throughout Japan provided cooperation in
detecting illegal operators, and the number of court cases increased. At thesame time, following licensing of the “Illegal Copying Prohibition Mark”
developed by JustSystems Corporation (which was already an organization
member) all member companies began displaying this symbol from June 1989
onwards as a means of expressing their intention to never recognize or accept
illegal copying. In 1998, the symbol was registered as a collective trademark.

1990~1995
Becoming an independent
incorporate association andestablishing measures against
infringement

1990

History of ACCS

▶ Separated from the JPSA andchanges its name to the Associationof Copyright for Computer Software(ACCS) Pick Up▶ Conducts internal SAM (software
asset management) seminars forcompanies

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03

Member companies expressed the opinion that the organization
should be more vocal towards the Agency for Cultural Affairs, which
oversees the Copyright Act, including in regard to amending the Act,and the Association of Software Legal Protection Supervision
separated from JPSA, becoming an independent organization. The
name of the organization was changed to the Association of
Copyright for Computer Software (ACCS) at an extraordinary general
meeting held on September 10, 1990. Approval for establishment
was given by the Agency for Cultural affairs, and the ACCS was bornas an incorporated association at the inaugural general meeting heldon July 18, 1991. At the suggestion of the then Deputy
Secretary-General the abbreviation “ACCS” , pronounced the sameas “axe” , was adopted.
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1992

Support of measuresagainst infringement

Changes ininfringement
crimes▶ Provides support in
the detection andexposure ofpseudo-rentals ofvideo gamesoftware by stores

Pseudorentals bystores1991▶ Receives approval from the Ministryof Education, Science, Sports andCulture to become a corporation▶ Begins dispatching instructors to
educational institutions

1992

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Commencement of holding copyright classes
for parents and children (—2009)▶ Publishes “Basic Course on
Copyright in the Multimedia Age”(–1998) Pick Up

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1993

▶ Office relocated to Otsuka, Bunkyo
City, Tokyo (present location)

Sale of pirated
items misusing
computeronline services

▼

1994

1995

▶ Commences holding copyrightclasses for parents and children(–2009) Pick Up▶ Joins the Copyright Research andInformation Center (CRIC)▶ Receives a Cooperative Service
Award and Letter of Appreciationfrom the Chiba Prefectural Police,
and a Letter of Appreciation from the
Ichinomiya Police Station, Aichi
Prefecture

1994

Having been convinced of the importance of diffusion andeducation being carried out in parallel with protection against
copyright infringement ever since the time of its establishment,
ACCS sent instructors and provided classes on copyright toinvestigative and educational institutions.
ACCS also poured its effort into seminars, proactively holding
seminars aimed at businesses in particular that were taught byguest lecturers such as lawyers and other experts on topics
including not only copyright knowledge but also
copyright-related laws, contracts, and software asset
management (SAM).
Copyright classes for parents and children were held during thesummer school holidays every year with the cooperation ofmember companies with the aim of raising children’ s awarenessof copyright protection from a young age in order to create aworld free of illegal copying.

Publication of “Basic Course on Copyright in theMultimedia Age” (—1998)“Basic Course on Copyright in the Multimedia Age” was published asa textbook providing easy-to-understand explanations of information
related to the protection of software rights. Widely used for training
and study purposes, the textbook underwent several reprintings andwas published up until 2008, with the title changing to “Basic Course
on Copyright in the Digital Age” in 1999.
Various other copyright textbooks were published, including“Introductory Course on Copyright for Creators” (2009, 2013),“Understandable Copyright: Basic Creative x Business Knowledge(Illustrated)” (2010); and “Textbook for The Examination of Copyright
Proficiency for Practical Business” (2015, 2020).

▼▶ Presents lectures for investigative
organizations

1990

Separation from JPSA and change of name to the
Association of Copyright for Computer Software (ACCS)

Revision of the
Copyright Act, etc.

▶ Provides support in
the simultaneous
detection andexposure of salesof pirated items via
personal computercommunication▶ Provides support
related topreservation ofevidence in thefirst case of illegal
copying withinorganization

Pick Up▶ Case of pirated
Windows95 copies
being soldSale ofpirated items
misusing theinternet▼

1995

Provision of support for preservation ofevidence in the first case of illegal copying
within organization
The Osaka District Court has filed a petition by three businesssoftware makers, including ACCS members, to carry out
evidence preservation procedures for computer software thatappears to be illegal copying within the organization ofcompanies in Osaka City. Preserving evidence for violations of
copyright law in computer software is the first procedure in
Japan, and ACCS cooperated fully in making this allegation,
including close contact with the three companies andconsolidating evidence for a year.
As a result of the evidence preservation procedure, many
copies (installation) of the software subject to the allegation anduse in business were confirmed, but only a small number oforiginal software discs and license agreements could be
confirmed, which is illegal within the organization. I was able toconfirm that the copy was done.
Since computer software does not take time to erase, there is aslight time lag between the delivery of the decision and theactual verification, and the evidence can be erased in that time,
so it has been said that it is difficult to preserve evidence, but
we have a meeting with the Osaka District Court. We came to
implement it by repeatedly gaining understanding. Even now,there are many confirmations of the actual usage of software in
the organization (installation status and license confirmation) by
the evidence preservation procedure.
This case did not lead to a proceeding, and the settlement wasreached when the other company admitted the illegal copy, paiddamages, and built a subsequent management system.

04

1996~2000
Responding to the widespread
everyday violation of copyright
infringements arising from thediffusion of the Internet

1996

Revision of the
Copyright Act, etc.

History of ACCS

Support of measuresagainst infringement▶ Additionally produces an “Illegal
Copying Prohibition Mark” CD-ROM
versionChanges ininfringement
crimesSale ofpirated items
misusing theinternet

▼

1997
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▶ Launches/joins the Network Music
Rights Conference (NMRC)

Commencement of measures against the sale ofpre-owned video games

05

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1997

▶ Provides support in
the detection andexposure ofunauthorized
reproduction of civilengineering estimate
modification software
Pick Up

1998-2011

Provision of support for the exposure of agroup of foreigner street vendors selling
pirated goods in Akihabara, Tokyo
This was a case in which a group of foreigner street vendors
was handing out fliers advertising “preowned software” in theelectric town in Akihabara, Tokyo, and selling more than 200
types of pirated business software on the street. The
perpetrators in this case divided up their roles into “handing out
fliers” , “soliciting customers” , and “delivering pirated goods” .
Five foreign nationals were arrested. Between 1998 and 2011,
a further 11 similar cases were detected and exposed, with
ACCS providing cooperation such as conducting fact-finding
surveys and examining pirated goods on-site. Today, selling on
pirated goods on the street has been eradicated.
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1999

Protection of technological protection measures

1998▶ The ACCS Piracy Hotline (now the
Copyright Hotline) is created▶ Provides support in
the detection andexposure of sale ofpirated items by agroup of foreign-national street vendors
in Akihabara, Tokyo(1998–2011)Illegaluploadingmisusing theinternet▼

Pick Up

In order to prevent illegal copying of copyrighted goods thathave been digitalized, such as game software, software
manufacturers implemented technological measures such as
copy guard. However, copy guard cancelers and other devices
for circumventing technological protection measures became
available, preventing the expected effects of the protection
measures. Accordingly, regulations related to technologicalprotection methods were prescribed under the Copyright Act.
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Up

1999

▶ “Basic Course on Copyright in the
Digital Age” published (–2008;
Seventh Revised Edition/Second
Printing)▶ “What is License Management ofComputer Software?” published

Provision of support for the detection andexposure of the modification and unauthorized
reproduction of civil engineering estimate
programs
This was a case in which an employee who had quit took thecompany’ s civil engineering estimate program with them withoutauthorization and then partly modified and copied the program attheir new place of employment for sales purposes. Following
preservation of evidence by the courts, this case was exposed as acriminal case.
In such cases, not only is it difficult to obtain evidence, but also
perpetrators tend to carry out “hidden infringements” such aschanging programming language or adding partial modifications. In
this particular case, legal action was taken, ringing warning bells for
copyright infringement.

▶ Commences measures against thesale of pre-owned video games▶ Granting ofrights of public
transmission

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1997

Video game software CD-ROMs and cartridges were being repeatedly
sold as preowned products. Sensing the danger that new products
may not sell because of this, video game manufacturers filed lawsuitsin Tokyo and Osaka seeking to stop preowned video game storesfrom selling preowned video games.
ACCS provided support by presenting the Copyright Council of the
Agency for Cultural Affairs with opinions regarding rights of
distribution and holding briefing meetings and symposiums on theissue of selling preowned video game software.
Beginning with the filing of lawsuits with the Tokyo District Court andOsaka District Court in 1998, this battle continued right up to theSupreme Court, but unfortunately the April 2002 judgement of theSupreme Court determined that, of rights of distribution regarding
video game software, the right of ownership transfer was exhausted,rejecting the video game manufacturers’ claim.

▶ Establishes the ACCS website

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▶ Receives a Letter of Appreciationfrom the Sendai-Minami Police
Station, Miyagi Prefecture▶ Becomes the first Japaneseorganization to receive a Businesssoftware Alliance (BSA) SoftwareChampion Award

2000▶ “Copyright Infringement on theInternet: Analysis of the Current
situation and Implementation of
Criminal Proceedings” published▶ Receives a Letter of Appreciationfrom the Nishinomiya Police Station,
Hyogo Prefecture▶ Protection oftechnologicalprotection
measuresPick Up▶ Provision of support
in the first lawsuit for
an illegal copying
within organization
Pick Up▼▶ Revision of the
Unfair Competition Prevention
Act (protection oftechnologicalrestriction
measures(access control))▶ Strengthening ofpenalties forcorporations

Sale ofpirated items
misusing
internet▼
auctions▶ Provides support in
detecting andexposing illegal
uploading from the
Famicom Kessitai
website Pick Up

Illegalscreening offilms bystores▼

1999

Provision of support in the first lawsuit for
illegal copying within organization
Seven business software manufacturers, including ACCS
members, filed a civil suit seeking compensation for damages
under the Copyright Act against a company with headquarters
located in Tokyo. This civil suit filing, for which ACCS provided
support in order to protect copyright, was the first case in Japan totake drastic measures against illegal copying of business software
within an organization. A settlement was reached when thecompany in question admitted to the illegal copying and paidcompensation for damages.
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Up

2000

Provision of support for detecting and exposing
illegal uploading from the Famicom Kessitai website
This is was a case in which Famicom Kessitai (Famicom Suicide
Corps)—a website posting the provocative declaration “Uploading[software] helps manufacturers acquire new customers”—wasestablished and the four founders were arrested for illegally
uploading large quantities of game software. The case was
detected and exposed soon after Rights of Public Transmission
had been allowed and became a case example providing a
glimpse of the importance of rights with regard to the Internet.

06

2001~2003
Promoting measures against
file-sharing software and in favorof appropriate use
PickUp

History of ACCS

2001

2001

07

Support of measuresagainst infringement

Changes ininfringement
crimes▶ Act on Copyright,
etc. Management
Service is enacted▶ Provides support for
the first exposure ofillegal uploading
using “WinMX”
file-sharing software

Illegalscreening offilms bystores▶ Appointed as a special member of the
Copyright Subdivision of the Cultural
Council (––present)

Formulation of “Software Asset Management thatCan Be Implemented Immediately”
Working in cooperation with ACCS members, while pursuingmeasures against cases of illegal copying within organizations,
ACCS discovered that there were more than a few cases in which
the cause of the illegal copying was the organization’ s insufficient
SAM. Accordingly, ACCS compiled SAM items and methods into amanual entitled “Software Asset Management that Can Be
Implemented Immediately” and subsequently held regular “SAM
seminars” based on this manual aimed at business operators andstaff responsible for SAM as well as sending copies of the manual tocompanies, groups, and local government bodies with requests thatthey implement SAM.
As the result of these activities, the need for organizations to
implement SAM became common knowledge virtually throughout
society. Furthermore, there was a decreasing trend in both thenumber of incidents of information about illegal copying being
reported to ACCS and the scale of unauthorized use of software,indicating that the diffusion of SAM bore fruit in the form of
preventing illegal copying.

▶ Compiles “Software Asset Management That Can Be Implemented
Immediately” Pick Up

Revision of the
Copyright Act, etc.

Pick Up▶ First time criminal
charges are laidagainst “manga café”
operators forunauthorized
screening of video
game software▶ Appointed as an expert member of
the Information Subcommittee,
Copyright Subdivision of the Cultural
Council (one term)▶ Appointed as an expert member of
the International Subcommittee,
Copyright Subdivision of the Cultural
Council (––present)

2002▶ Appointed as an expert member tothe Agreement and Distribution
Subcommittee, Copyright Subdivisionof the Cultural Council (two terms)▶ Appointed as an expert member tothe Copyright Education Subcommittee, Copyright Subdivision of the
Cultural Council (two terms)▶ Appointed as an expert member to
the Judicial Relief System subcommittee, Copyright Subdivision of the
Cultural Council (two terms)▶Launches/joins the Content Overseas
Distribution Association (CODA)▶ Act on the
Limitation of
Liability for
Damages ofSpecified
Telecommunications Service
Providers and theRight to Demand
Disclosure of
Identification
Information of theSenders (Provider
Liability LimitationAct) is enacted.

▶“Introduction to Information Ethics
2002” published▶ First “Fact-finding Survey on Use ofFile-Sharing Software” (–2014)▶ Provides cooperation for theexhibition “20th Anniversary of theBirth of Famicom: Level X TV Games”
held by the Tokyo Photographic Art
Museum▶ Supreme Court decision on lawsuit
against the sale of pre-owned video
games (1998–2002)

2003▶ The ACCS Shanghai Officeestablished▶“Information Ethics Q&A by
Minami-sensei and Yoshiko-sensei”
published▶ Personal information leaked anddiffused from the ACCS-operated
website▶ Provides support in
the detection andexposure of the firstcase of uploading
using “Winny”▼

Illegaluploadingthroughmisuse offile-sharing
software

▼

Pick
Up

2001

Provision of support for the first exposure ofillegal uploading using “WinMX” file-sharing
softwareFile-sharing software enabling the exchange of files between
users without passing through a server became available atthe beginning of 2000, leading to the illegal distribution ofmany kinds of copyrighted items. With file-sharing software,
there is no network manager, and so conventional measures
such as issuing takedown notices cannot be implemented.
Furthermore, the number of file-sharing software users grew
because the software is highly anonymous and can be used
free of charge, making this software extremely problematic.
In response, the first arrests for illegal uploading of businesssoftware using “WinMX” file-sharing software were made in
November 2001. Following the illegal uploading of gamesoftware using “Winny” in November 2003 and a criminal
lawsuit brought against the developers of “Winny” , ACCS
subsequently provided support to member companies aswell as investigative organizations investigating Japan’ s firstcriminal case involving the illegal uploading of anime using“Share” in May 2008. Furthermore, the police implemented asimultaneous crackdown on file-sharing software users every
year between 2009 and 2016. In May 2008, the “Consortium
against Copyright Infringement via File-Sharing Software(CCIF)” was established through coordination between
copyright organizations and telecommunications carriers.
CCIF introduced a mechanism for sending warning email tousers of file-sharing software in 2010, and by 2020 has sent
more than 100,000 warning e-mails.

082004~2008
Measures against
infringements in collaboration
with business operators
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2004

2004

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09

In 2005, ACCS formed an alliance with Sanno University fordeveloping and implementing lectures in “Contents
Business/Information ethics” subjects, providing operational support.
As a result of this alliance, Sanno University newly established a“Contents Business Course” , and ACCS continues to provide
cooperation for the university’ s copyright-related educational activities.
Furthermore, in 2006 ACCS arranged with Yamaguchi University toprovide external instructors to teach certain university courses, with
ACCS staff teaching lectures and creating educational videos. ACCS
also cooperates in activities to convey copyright education methods toother universities.
ACCS also cooperated with the National Institute of Technology,
Sendai College, providing advice on copyright-related issues andcompiling copyright-related educational materials. With regard to
Cyber University and Waseda University, ACCS provided advice

2005▶ The ACCS Shanghai Officeestablished (–2009) Pick Up

Changes ininfringement
crimesOrganized saleof pirated items▼
Illegal uploading
through misuseof file-sharing
software▼▶ Establishes a comprehensive alliance with
Sanno University for developing andimplementing “Contents Business/Information Ethics” subjects Pick Up▶Provides support in
the detection andexposure of a groupmaking over 200
million yen from thesale of pirated items

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Up

▶ Establishes/becomes a member of theCouncil for Intellectual Property (CIPP) Pick Up

2006▶ Provides training for Metropolitan
Police Department investigators
Pick Up(–2015)In order to nurture police investigators who are knowledgeable
about protection of intellectual property rights and othercopyrights, ACCS provided training to police investigators at
the request of the Metropolitan Police Department from 2006
until 2015.
Having returned to the Metropolitan Police Department after
completing the approximately three-month ACCS training
course, police investigators continued to play active roles
throughout the Department, with many handling criminal cases
involving ACCS members.

▶ Receives a Letter of Appreciationfrom the Iwaki Central Police
Station, Fukushima Prefecture, andthe Fukui Police Station, Fukui
Prefecture

Pick
Up▶ Strengthening ofpenalties▶ Utilizes “information
sharing schemes” for the
first times and provides
support in the detectionand exposure of sale ofpirated items in auctions▶ Organization that
produced and sold illegally
modified ROMs forpachinko machines
referred to prosecutors▶ Provides full support in thedetection and exposure of
the sale of pirated items
by street vendors in
Nipponbashi, Osaka2007▶ Appointed as an expert member of the
Subcommittee on the Protection and Use ofPreviously Copyrighted Items, Copyright
Subdivision of the Cultural Council (two Terms)▶ Concludes a MOU with the Societa Italiana
degli Autori ed Editori (SIAE) regarding
measures against pirated items

to promote copyright education.

▶ Begins cooperating with Cyber University withregard to copyright processing/education(–2010)2005▶ Concludes MOU agreements with the China
Software Alliance (CSA) and Korea Software
Property-rights Council (SPC) regarding SAM

Launch and membership of the Council forIntellectual Property (CIPP)▶ “Basic Lectures on Copyright for Creators”
published

2008

Complies the “Information Ethics” leaflet
Pick Up

Cooperates with the Manseibashi Police
Station, Chiyoda City, and the Manseibashi
Crime Prevention Society to erect standing
signboards in Akihabara Pick Up
Launches and joins the Consortium
against Copyright Infringement via
File-sharing Software(CCIF)▶ Provides support in
the detection andexposure of the firstcase of uploading
using “Share”▶ Provides support forfiling a lawsuit
regarding majikongame copiers

2006

Provision of training for Metropolitan Police
Department investigators (—2015)▶ The ACCS website URL changed

also working in cooperation with various other educational institutions

As a measure against the sale of pirated goods via Internet auctions,
ACCS and YAHOO Japan Corporation constructed a special
countermeasures scheme, collaborating in its implementation.
Based on this scheme, in 2005 multiple right holders and telecom
operators worked together to establish the Council for Intellectual
Property (CIPP) in order to implement measures against
infringements on intellectual property rights, and the CIPP
successfully achieves results.
ACCS has long served as a Right Holders Coordinator for CIPP,
moderating Council discussions among right holders and telecom
operators from its central position.

▶ Strengthening ofpenalties▶ Begins holding information safety
education seminars in collaboration
with educational institutions (–2018)

related to the protecting the copyright of educational materials, while

Pick
Up

▶ Symposium to consider information
ethics and e-Education held

Support of measuresagainst infringement▶ The ACCS website attacked by acomputer virus that has infected thecomputer of a Winny user

2005

Establishment of a comprehensive alliance with
Sanno University for developing and implementing“Contents Business/Information Ethics” subjects

Revision of the
Copyright Act, etc.

▶ “Manga: Dangerous Games in the Age of
the Internet and Mobile Telephones (JuniorHigh School/High School Edition” publishedEstablishment of ACCS Shanghai Office (—2009)

ACCS established its first overseas operational base, the ACCS
Shanghai Office, with full-time staff assigned by 2009, and support
was provided to Chinese businesses that become members. In
addition, educational activities regarding the importance of software
asset management (SAM). were conducted for the local offices ofJapanese companies.

History of ACCS

2008

Compilation of the “Information Ethics” leaflet
Illegal uploading
misusing
video-sharing
websites andonline storage▼

In 2000, the Committee for the Promotion of Information Ethics
in Schools” was established and began disseminating andteaching information about “information ethics” , which wereguidelines for appropriate behavior in the information society.
In 2008, a leaflet entitled “Information Ethics” was compiled
from information on the content and activities that had been
disseminated up until that point in order to further promote
dissemination of this information.

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Up

2008

Cooperation with the Manseibashi Police
Station, Chiyoda City, and the Manseibashi
Crime Prevention Society to erect standing
signboards in Akihabara
In response to the selling of pirated goods on the streets,
ACCS cooperated with the Manseibashi Police Station,
Chiyoda City, and the Manseibashi Crime Prevention Society
to produce signboards printed in Japanese and Chinese
warning sellers of pirated goods and urging buyers to be
cautious and erecting the signboards in ten locations aroundthe Electric Town in Akihabara.
In November 2013, the four entities again worked jointly incarrying out a campaign to re-erect the signboards anddistribute crime prevention fliers.
Similar efforts were also carried out in Shinjuku City, with
ACCS working jointly with the police to carry out educational
activities, leading to the eradication of sales of pirated goodson the street.

10Multi-layered copyrightprotection through relevant laws
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2010

History of ACCS

2009

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This was a case in which a junior high school student was arrested
for illegally uploading manga published in Weekly Shonen manga
magazines in video files, like a kamishibai picture-story show, via themedium of YouTube.
This junior high school student sent notification of updated
information on the posted video via blogs and SNS in order to guideaffiliated advertising, and the posted video was replayed more thaneight million times in total.
By simultaneously being the first time illegal uploading on YouTube
was detected and involving the arrest of a fourteen-year-old boy, thiscase had a huge impact on society.
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Up

2010

▶“Illustrated Guide to Copyright”
published

2010

Provision of support in the first criminal case of
detection of corporate use of pirated software forbusiness purposes

This was a case in which a corporation was discovered to haveobtained pirated graphics software and have been using this softwarein business activities such as producing catalogs. Knowingly
obtaining pirated computer software and then utilizing it in businessactivities is deemed to constitute infringement under the CopyrightAct, and this was the first time that this regulation was applied to
expose such illegal activities.
This case served as a huge warning against the purchasing of
pirated software as well as illegal copying within an organization,
which is a classic example of use of pirated software for businesspurposes.

▶ Downloading
excluded from thesphere of
reproduction for
private use andillegalized;
advertising acts
deemed to constituteinfringement
Pick Up2010

Provision of support in the first case of detection ofillegal video uploading on YouTube

11▶The Committee on Measures against
Infringement, Committee on Legaland General Affairs, and Committee
on Public Relations established▶Receives Letters of Appreciation fromthe Aomori Prefectural Police, Iwate
Prefectural Police, and Hokkaido
Prefectural Police Joint Investigation
Headquarters

Partial illegalization of downloading andadvertising acts deemed to constitute infringement
Knowingly downloading music or videos distributed illegally on theInternet (illegal downloading) became an infringement of copyright,
even when the music/video was to be used for private purposes, inJanuary 2010, and furthermore became eligible for criminal
punishment in October 2012.
Furthermore, in 2010 submitting pirated goods for sale in an
Internet auction became regarded as an act of advertising and thus a
copyright infringement.

Revision of the
Copyright Act, etc.

Support of measuresagainst infringement

Changes ininfringement
crimes▶ Provides full-nationwide support in thedetection andexposure of P2P
file-sharing software

Elaborate saleof pirated
items▶ Provides support in
the first case of
detection of illegal
video uploading on
YouTube Pick Up▶ Provides support in
the first criminalcase of detection of
corporate use of
pirated software forbusiness purposes

Pick Up▶ Unfair Competition
Prevention Act
revised (strengthening of regulations
concerningtechnologicalrestriction measures)

2011

2012

▶Begins conducting crime prevention
campaigns in collaboration withinvestigative organizations (–2018)▶Vehicle theft prevention campaign(conducted jointly with the Toyohashi
Police Station, Aichi Prefecture)2013▶ Anti-Counterfeiting
Trade Agreement(ACTA) concluded▶ Provides support in thefirst case of detectionof the sale of majikongame copiers andinfringement of the
Unfair Competition
Prevention Ac

ACCS smartphone website developed

Pick Up

2014
2015▶Begins joint campaign with Japan
Customs to prevent counterfeit items
entering Japan (–2017)▶“Business Copyright Certification
BASIC:Official Textbook for Beginners”
published▶ Publishing rights
for e-books
implemented

Illegaluploadingmisusing
overseas
servers▼

Use of pirated
items forbusiness
purposes▼▼▶ Criminal penalties
set for somecases of illegal
downloading▶Begins cooperating in intellectual
property education at YAMAGUCHIUNIVERSITY

Illegal uploads
misusing
video-sharing
websites andonline storage

Use of content
via illegalmeans/methods

Pick Up▶Becomes a general incorporated
association▼▼

2009~2015▶ Provides support in
the detection andexposure of twocases simultaneously(pirated businesssoftware/uploading)

Pick
Up

2011

Revision of the Unfair Competition Prevention
Act (strengthening of regulations concerningtechnological restriction measures)
In order to strengthen protection of technical measures for
copyrighted items, the Revised Unfair Competition Prevention
Act was enacted in December 2011 and the Revised
Copyright Act was enacted in January 2012.
ACCS participated in the councils assembled by the Ministryof Economy, Trade and Industry and the Agency for Cultural
Affairs to consider revisions to these laws, pouring every
effort into amending the laws.
Pick
Up

2013

Provision of support in the first case of
detection of the sale of majikon game copiersand infringement of the Unfair Competition
Prevention Act
Nintendo DS was installed with technological restriction
measures, but it was possible to circumvent these restriction
measures and play with pirated game software by usingmajikon ( “magic computer” ) game copiers.
Enactment of the Revised Unfair Competition Prevention Act
in December 2011 introduced criminal punishments for theact of providing majikon. In accordance with the revised law,in May 2012 criminal charges were brought for the first timeagainst a website that had purchased imported majikon at astore located in the Electric Town in Nipponbashi, Osaka, in
July of the previous year. In investigating the circumstancesof the sale, ACCS found that ingenious methods had been
used, such as selling the internal main unit of the majikon(circuit board) and the storage cartridge separately, insideand outside the store.
Following the exposure of this illegal activity, ACCS worked
together with police and customs officials in many areas tohold multiple events aimed at widely disseminating
information about the problems of majikon and pirated gamesoftware, pouring effort into educational activities.

12

2016~2020
Toward the growth of culture up
until now and from now on
Pick
Up

2017

2016

Provision of support for the detection and exposure ofillegal uploading using “Haruka-yume-no-ato”
This was a case in which manga works were illegally uploaded using“Haruka-yume-no-ato”—a “leech site” that listed file information for
illegal uploading of publishing content—and those who uploaded theworks as well as the “Haruka-yume-no-ato” operators were arrested.
In addition to summarizing the case, ACCS provided cooperation inclarifying the situation by, for example, calculating that there had
been approx. 73.1 billion yen in manga damage caused over theprevious year through the “Haruka-yume-no-ato” site.

Pick
Up

13

Revision of the
Copyright Act, etc.

History of ACCS

▶ Provides support in
the detection andexposure of sales ofmore than 100
million yen inpirated items on
shopping sites▶ Begins working with the National
Institute of Technology as a copyrightadviser▶ Executive Director Kubota becomesa specially appointed professor at
the Intellectual Property Center,
YAMAGUCHI UNIVERSITY▶ Provides support in
the detection andexposure of illegal
uploading via“Haruka-yume-no-ato”

2017Pick Up▶ Copyrightprotection periods
extended;
regulations
concerningtechnologicalusage restriction
measures
implemented;
certain copyright
infringements
made subject toprosecution without
the need for a
formal complaint by
the injured person
or right holder.

2018

2018

Extension of copyright protection periods;
development of regulations concerningtechnological usage restriction measures; andcertain copyright infringements made subject toprosecution without the need for a formal
complaint by the injured person or right holder
With eyes to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) going into effect,
domestic laws were modified. The Copyright Act underwent various
revisions, notably (1) copyright protection periods were as a generalrule extended to 70 years; (2) technological measures that restrict
usage of copyrighted items, etc. (access control) became protected
while acts aimed at circumventing such measures were deemed to
be infringements; and (3) certain acts of copyright infringement weremade subject to prosecution without the need for a formal complaintby the injured person or right holder. The TPP went into effect inDecember 2019 as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement
for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
Furthermore, the Unfair Competition Prevention Act was revised in
2019. Specifically, revisions included (1) protecting access control
set for game software saved data, etc.; as well as (2) regulating theprovision of devices or programs for circumventing access control forthe purpose of changing saved data as well as the provision of
circumvention services; (3) regulating actions to illegally provide
identification codes (serial codes, etc.) necessary for using businesssoftware, etc.; and (4) adjusting access control definitions inaccordance with actual situations. The Copyright Act also underwent
similar revisions.
Subsequently, a “proxy” modifying saved game data on behalf of aclient and a company providing “modification tools” for changing data
were arrested for infringement of these laws. Moreover, the seller ofillegal product keys disabling business software licensing
authentication via internet auctions was also detected and exposed.
In addition to disseminating information about the changes to therelevant laws, ACCS cooperated in the first arrest to take placefollowing the legal revisions, issuing notices regarding the “proxy”
and product key provider, as well as conducting fact-finding surveys
and technological verifications.

Support of measuresagainst infringement▶ Provides support in
the arrest of operatorsof a game bar illegally
screening videos

Pick Up

2020

Illegaluploadingmisusing
overseas
servers▼

2018

Provision of support in the arrest of operatorsof a game bar illegally screening videos
In this case, the operator of a so-called “game bar”—aneating/drinking establishment where video game devices andsoftware for home use are used for business purposes bymaking them available for customers to play with, thereby
screening the videos without authorization—was arrested.
ACCS alerted the game bar operator to the infringement,
sending them a warning letter jointly with the copyrightowners. However, the unauthorized video screenings
continued, indicating malicious business operations, and so it
was decided to take criminal action.

2019

Conclusion of an agreement with the Japan
Federation of Certified Administrative
Procedures Legal Specialists Associations
and Yamaguchi University regarding
comprehensive cooperation on raising publicawareness of copyright▶ The Comprehensive
and Progressive
Agreement forTrans-PacificPartnership (CPTPP)
goes into effect

2019

▼

Pick
Up

Pick
Up

Pick Up▶ Flexible rights
restriction
regulations
implemented

Use of content
via illegalmeans/methods

Pick Up▶ Unfair Competition
Prevention Act
revised (regulations
related totechnologicalrestriction measures
are strengthened)▶ Concludes an agreement with theJapan Federation of Certified
Administrative Procedures Legal
Specialists Associations andYamaguchi University regarding
comprehensive cooperation on
raising public awareness of copyright

Changes ininfringement
crimes▶ Provides support for thedetection and exposureof illegal uploading via“Manga-mura”
Pick Up▶ Provides support in thedetection and exposureof the first case ofmodification of saved
data by proxy ininfringement of the
Unfair Competition
Prevention Act▶ Provides support in thedetection and exposureof corporations providing
tools for modifying
saved data

In May 2019, the Japan Federation of Certified Administrative
Procedures Legal Specialists Associations, Yamaguchi
University, and ACCS concluded an agreement regarding
comprehensive cooperation on raising public awareness of
copyright with the aim of carrying out educational activities
nationwide in coordination with certified administrative
procedures legal specialists who are active in each region.
While promoting human resources training and developmentof educational materials, we presented symposiums aimed at
educators as well as lectures and workshops for educational
institutions, explaining why copyright education is so importantand about respect for intellectual property in addition toconveying information about the Copyright Act.

Pick
Up

2019

Provision of support for the detection andexposure of illegal uploading using“Manga-mura”
In this case, manga were illegally uploaded to the Internet
between July and September 2019 using the “Manga-mura”
website, which enabled manga to be illegally uploaded andread free of charge, and those who uploaded the manga andthe site operator of “Manga-mura” were arrested.
Using overseas servers, “Manga-mura” was a large-scale
illegal website that was accessed 600 million times in 6
months at its peak. ACCS worked in cooperation withmembers and investigative organizations.

14

ACCS Gallery
Publications
Copyright-related textbooks that have been publishedby ACCS.

Fliers/booklets
Reminders

Software asset management (SAM)

ACCS prepares and distributes reminders regarding the illegality of
copyright infringements that have caused major problems in order todraw attention to proper use of copyrighted items.

These publications are formulated and distributed with the aim of preventing illegal copying within companies, schools, or other organizations
as well as promoting across-the-board implementation of software management.

1990

1994

1999

2001

2001

2001

2005

*Years shown are the years of publication.

1989

1989

1991

General Education
These publications are prepared and distributed for a broad general readership with the aim of diffusing and providing education about
copyrights and information ethics.

16

15

1994

2004

2011

1998

2007

2017

1999

2008

1990

1993

1997

2001

2001

2002

2003

2004

2004

2005

2005

2006

2008

2010

2019
※*Years shown are the years of publication.

A2 poster
2005※*Years shown are the years of publication.

About ACCS
ACCS is a corporation that was established with the purpose of protecting the rights of the owners of copyright for
copyrighted items that have been digitalized, such as computer software, as well as conducting activities aimed at
diffusing information and educating the general public about copyright and contributing to cultural development in society.

At ACCS, we believe that balance between “Implementation of laws and excising of rights” , “Dissemination/education” ,and “Protection through technological methods” is essential in order to realize a society in which not only copyright but all
intellectual property rights are protected appropriately, and we carry out a diversity of activities accordingly.

Main Activities

Flow of Activities

Activities such as conducting
copyright-related surveys andresearch, and providing policy
recommendations

Activities providing support formembers to exercise their rights
in response to copyright
infringements■ Gathering information/ conducting fact-finding

surveys regarding copyright infringements■ Considering measures to counteract

new copyright infringements■ Providing information on copyright■ Considering and disseminating

measures to prevent illegal use ofsoftware within organizations, etc.

17

activities of members, relatedorganizations, and related government
ministries and agencies, etc.

■ Proposing policies and measuresinfringement to member companies andinvestigative organizations■ Cooperating with investigative organizations■ Cooperating and supporting therelated to revisions of the Copyright Act
and other laws related to intellectual
property, etc.

■ Considering and discussing rules foruse of music in game software

Activities aimed at disseminating
information, providing education,
and advertising about
copyright

about copyright through the distributionof posters and fliers, etc.

■ Promoting education and advertising

about copyright through news releases,
cooperation with news interviews, andwriting articles■ Dispatching instructors and holding

seminars

Support for criminal actions

Committees

Board of Directors

The purpose of thiscommittee is to maintainan overall understandingof the status of ACCS’ sactivities so that theBoard of Directors andother committees canfunction efficiently.

●Identify/consider issues●Summarize requests for legal revisions

Not possible/difficult to implement
measurers under present laws

Committee
on MeasuresagainstIllegal
CopyingwithinOrganizations

Committee
on MeasuresagainstOverseas
IssuesDissemination of Information/Educational Activities

・Request cooperation ofbusiness operators

Committee
onMultimedia-related
Legal
Affairs

Committee onMusic-related
IssuesCommittee on
the Promotion ofInformation
Ethics in Schools

Committee on the
Diffusion and Education
about Copyright andInformation Ethics

Support for civil actions

Legal revision process

Request legal revisions

・Send reminders to users

Committee on Software
Security Issues

Committee on Network
Music-related Issues

Lobbying for legal revisions

Cooperation with investigative
organizations

Secretariat

Legal Affairs
Committee on
Game-related
IssuesCommittee on GeneralMultimedia-related Issues

Steering committee●Consider countermeasures

18

Infringement Countermeasures

Committee on
General
Network-related Issues●Gather information/conduct fact-finding surveys

Possible to implement
measures under present laws

ACCS Committees

Committee on
Network
Infringement-related
IssuesACCS Committees■ Collaborating with educational

institutions

General Meeting

1993
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020

Social situation / Provision of information on an everyday basis /Consultations with members, etc.

■ Promoting education and advertising

Organization of ACCS

Operations

Issues related to content protection, such as infringement of rights

Committee on the
Promotion of
Digital Information
Protection
Technology

Committee on Measures against
Infringements

Committee on Legal and General
Affairs

Committee on Public Relations

The purpose of this committee is toefficiently and intensively consider andformulate infringement countermeasuresin light of the ever-increasing number andcomplexity of copyright infringements.

The purpose of this committee is to carefully
observe trends in deliberations on legal
revisions, such as revisions of the intellectual
property legal system, and consider issues,
survey laws and regulations, and provide
policy recommendations so that theeffectiveness of the measures against
copyright infringements implemented by
ACCS can be ensured.

The purpose of this committee is toensure consistency of information
disseminated by ACCS (messages,
opinions, etc.), providing education
about copyright by ensuring that
information effectively reaches its
target audience.

・Create schemes for resolving
issues at councils of rights
holders/telecom operators(CCIF, CIPP, etc.)

Intellectual Property
Policy Headquarters
Agency for Cultural Affairs
Diet members

Submit public comments

Strategic policies and summaryIntellectual Property
Strategic Program
・Participate as expert
member・Group hearings
・Submit public comments

Instruction on deliberation topics

Copyright Subdivision of the
Cultural Council

Legislation
PR/Education

News releases related to arrests
Compilation of pamphlets and other educational content based on arrests
Seminars and lectures on legal revisions

ACCS from a Data Perspective
Performance providing support for criminal cases
by infringement situation●■ Sale of pirated items not using the Internet (street vendors, direct mail, etc.)●

Number of criminal cases supported bysoftware content

Pachinko/educational
materials/other46

Sale of pirated items using the Internet (personal computer communication,■ auctions, websites, etc.)
386■ Illegal uploading using file-sharing software (P2P)

18％

16％

■ Illegal uploading other than that using P2P (servers, video-sharing websites, 78
etc.)

45

Visual works

18％■ Other (illegal video screening, use of pirated items for business purposes, 54
infringement of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act, etc.)

Business Software& Car Navigation

821

Total

Games

Publishing212■ Unauthorized rentals

4％

44％

（1985-2020）（1991-2020）

Trends in the number of criminal cases supported by infringement situation●(No. of cases)

150■Illegal uploading (P2P)

120■ Sale of pirated items using the Internet

90■ Unauthorized rentals■Sale of pirated items not using the Internet

60
19■Other■Illegal uploading (other than P2P)

20

30
0

(Year) 1985-1989●

1990-1994

1995-1999

Support for measures against illegal
copying within organization
Performance
Total no. of cases in which■ information was provided

3,512cases■ Total no. of cases settled

1,060cases

Total settlement amount

11,319,598,431yen■ Total settlement amount

10,648,729yen●

2000-2004

2005-20092010-2014

Dispatch of instructors
Number of dispatchments
Lecture/class location

School/education-related institution

National
government
ministry or agency/
Local government
body/Organization

Companies

Total

Number of
dispatchments

868

487

317

1,672

（1997-2019）●2015-2020（1990-2019）

Support in measures against illegal copying within organization: Trends in
information provision, settlements, and average settlement amount

Association of Copyright for Computer Software

1,400

No. of cases in which information was provided

1,200

5F Tomonari Foresight Bldg., 5-40-18 Otsuka, Bunkyo City,
Tokyo 112-0012.
phone:03-5976-5175 fax:03-5976-5177
ACCS Web https://www2.accsjp.or.jp/

1,000
800

400

600
400

200
(Cases) 0

Published: September 12, 2020

1,600

No. of settlements

600

200
(Year) 1997〜2000“the 30th Anniversary

Average settlement amount

1,000
800

ACCS 30th Anniversary Commemorative
Publication

2001〜2003 2004〜2006 2007〜2009 2010〜2012 2013〜2015 2016〜20190(Unit:10,000yen)ⒸAssociation of Copyright for Computer Software 2020
Printer: DAIICHI PRINTING CO., LTD.

History of ACCS

Association of Copyright for Computer Software
5F Tomonari Foresight Bldg., 5-40-18 Otsuka,
Bunkyo City, Tokyo 112-0012.

Association of Copyright for Computer Software