The nation's four Internet provider organizations have agreed to forcibly cut the Internet connection of users found to repeatedly use Winny and other file-sharing programs to illegally copy gaming software and music, it was learned Friday.
Nice. But this is not all. Here's the Japanese idea of due process:
The Internet provider organizations have, however, judged it possible to disconnect specific users from the Internet or cancel provider contracts with them if they are identified as particularly flagrant transgressors in cooperation with copyright-related organizations, according to sources.
...
According to the new agreement, copyright organizations would notify providers of Internet protocol addresses used by those who repeatedly make copies illegally, using special detection software. [...]
So, basically, if Mr. Yamada works for RIAA(J), and Mrs. Tanaka refuses to have sex with him, he uses Sony's spyware to look up her IP, enters it into the database and presto: instant leverage. Way to go, Japan.
It's quite amazing that the idea of "Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers" and "Association of Copyright for Computer Software" being real criminals does not enter the Japanese mind. Instead they are concerned about... privacy. No, seriously:
Resorting to cutting off the Internet connection of copyright violators has been considered before but never resorted to over fears the practice might involve violations of privacy rights and the freedom of use of telecommunications.
Score one for America. Of course there's this whole mass-filing by RIAA and bankrupting students thing that we have. But like I said, MPAA/RIAA are the real criminals. At least we realize that much.