Re: [tlug] Fair use effects on the economy

["Lyle H Saxon" <llletters@example.com>]

On 9/14/07, Shin MICHIMUKO <smitimko@example.com> wrote:
> I can say that Japanese copyright law is more restrictive and it's
> preventing many opportunities in Japan to create a YouTube type services
> or implementing search engine type services.
>
> When I was trying to develp some search engines, there were always a
> discussion like why we can cache the contents and it would be illegal in
> Japan.

This is both interesting and disturbing to read.  I ran into a similar
situation of an imported idea being much more strictly adhered to here
(in an out-of-context way) when I was writing an article on the 2005
Aichi Expo.  It was a simple thing, but I called the Expo organizers
and asked them for the phone number for the Italian pavilion and was
told that they couldn't give out that information as it was "kojin
johon"(!!!).  Personal information?!  The Italian pavilion's phone
number at the International Expo?!!  I don't think so!  Better safe
than sorry is the underlying thought I suppose, but still....

Lyle