From: Eben Moglen <moglen@columbia.edu>
  To  : <cpc@emoglen.law.columbia.edu>
  Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2005 15:02:07 -0400

Re: "broadcast flag" in Japan

Having just returned this afternoon from a week in Tokyo, including a
discussion at the MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Telecomms) in
which this came up, I would second Jun's sense of its importance.

E


On Saturday, 11 June 2005, ji2016@columbia.edu wrote:

  
  Dear Eben's classmates,
  
  After graduating SIPA this May, I am now going back to Tokyo.
  
  During my two-year absence here, Japanese Government has already
  introduced the same digital rights protection like "broadcast
  flag," for digital broadcasting.
  
  Surprisingly enough, the contents distributed via digital
  broadcasting (regardless of terrestrial, sateliite, or cable) are
  protected by encryption for just recording "once." Plus, those
  copied contents (mostly in DVD-RAM or staff like that) could not be
  shared with peers. Incredible.
  
  I thought I understood the basic legal difference between Japan and
  the US. Still I must say I was really surprised that, with almost
  few public debate, such a important legislation has been introduced
  almost only within the discussion among governement authorities (in
  this case, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications) and the
  incumbent content industry. What a shame!
  
  Hence, for Japanese who have interests in digital copying
  legislation, the decivion on broadcast flag by DC Circuit this May
  moved them as the US democratic conscience protecting the First
  Amendment value. I heard lots of Japanese here admiring the
  decision.
  
  I am not sure how many people would have interests in Japan's case,
  but I would like to report them as much as possbile, in order to
  share the issues and figure out what is the underlying, essential
  problems regardless of nationality.
  
  Thank you for your attention.
  
  Best regards,
  
  Jun
  
  ****************************
  Junichi IKEDA
  MPA, class of 2005
  School of International and Public Affairs
  COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
  
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