Screen Community Encourages Adoption Of Site Blocking To Protect Creative Content
Experts present strong case at MPA Seminar during Tokyo International Film Festival
TOKYO/SINGAPORE – On October 26, UNIJAPAN and Motion Picture Association (MPA), with support from the Embassy of the United States of America and the Federation of Japanese Films Industry (FJFI), co-hosted the annual MPA Seminar, the Tokyo International Film Festival’s forum for film industry business and policy debate. Held at Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, the seminar presented a strong case for site blocking for copyright infringement in order to better protect creative content in Japan.
Charles H. Rivkin, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America said, “Right now, Japan is poised to become one of the most powerful and innovative countries in the world. You have been for many years a hugely important global content market. With more protection and more accountability – and the legislation to support it – you can build on that momentum. But while government has a role to play, so does everyone with a stake in our online future. We need good people working together from all sectors.”
Dr. Brett Danaher, Assistant Professor of Economics & Management Science at Chapman University, a leading academic on site blocking practices, said, “In a world where debates over copyright enforcement take on almost theological tones, I believe in the importance of data and evidence in shaping policy. It is important that we consider the legal and ethical questions around piracy website blocking, but the evidence suggests that the answer to whether it is effective or not is clear. When only a few sites are blocked, website blocking is not effective at reducing piracy. But when a number of sites are blocked at once, piracy decrease significantly and a number of pirates users turn to paid legal channels and legal consumption increases.”
Tim Anderson, Co-founder and Managing Director of Madman Entertainment, added his perspective as the largest distributor of Japanese anime in Australia: “Site blocking is an essential and valuable tool in the fight against piracy, especially when paired with strong alternatives to piracy, such as VOD services with a large range of titles, great user experience and affordable price options… for many countries to follow this example will deliver substantially more revenue to support the Japanese anime and manga industries, resulting in more investment into production, further benefiting all parties.”
Takayuki Sumita, Secretary-General, Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters, Cabinet Office, said, “We decided to speed up the discussion to introduce tools to combat piracy websites, including site blocking. We have kicked off the new task force to establish site blocking measures, amongst other strategies. The task force recognized that more consumer education is required. There are major misunderstandings about site blocking legislation, so we need to share how effective this measure could be.”
Masakazu Kubo, Director, Board Member of Shogakukan Inc., Senior Vice President of Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions Co. Ltd., quoted the Japan Cartoonists Association’s cry for help – “The reality is that pirate websites are not participating in the creative effort at all, and are profitable. If this state continues, various Japanese cultures will be weakened and will eventually be destroyed. More information about cyber blocking should be shared with the Japanese people to ensure their support.”
Masayoshi Sumida, Professor of Tokai University, Executive Director of Social Science Research Institute, Attorney at Law, said, “Site blocking should be legislated. Even under the current law, a form of site blocking is possible. I have found that blocking for copyright infringement does not contravene the secrecy of communication within the constitution.”
Moderating a panel discussion – How to Best Protect Online Content, Tomohiro Tohyama, Attorney‐At‐Law, Partner, TMI Associates, took an informal vote on whether site blocking should be adopted in Japan, finding a majority supported such action. Tim Anderson suggested that site blocking can assist in educating the public about the negative impact of piracy websites. Audience questions included the query as to whether court ordered site blocking or administrative site blocking is more effective. Dr. Brett Danaher noted that in the UK by 2014 court ordered measures ensured that mirror websites and proxies were also blocked, reducing piracy even further.
Other contributors included Akira Amari, Member of the House of Representatives & Chairman, Intellectual Property Strategy Committee, Liberal Democratic Party, Nicholas M, Hill. Minister Counselor for Economic and Science Affairs, Embassy of the United States of America and Michael C. Ellis, President and Managing Director,
Asia Pacific Region, Motion Picture Association (MPA).
On October 25, the MPA in partnership with TIFFCOM and the Digital Hollywood University (DHU) conducted an intensive one-day film workshop, involving a masterclass moderated by Screen International’s Liz Shackleton and featuring producer André Morgan, and a feature film pitching competition for emerging Japanese filmmakers. Film and television director Noriko Yuasa was presented with first prize for her project Before the Earth Collapses: A Family on Fire. Ms. Noriko will attend a five-day film and television immersion course in Los Angeles to experience the film and television making business in Hollywood. Experienced Assistant Director, Emi Saito, was presented with the President’s Special Recognition Prize for her feature film project Birth Cry in Rainbow Colors, winning a trip to the Asia Pacific Screen Awards that takes place in Brisbane on November 29. The MPA is also proud to support the Tokyo International Film Festival special screenings of Contemporary American Film Showcase at the National Film Archive of Japan.
Access photos to the MPA Seminar, MPA-TIFFCOM-DHU Film Workshop and the MPAA U.S. Embassy Reception.
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About the MPA:
Promoting & Protecting Screen Communities in Asia Pacific
The Motion Picture Association (MPA) and the Motion Picture Association International (MPA-I) represent the interests of the six international producers and distributors of filmed entertainment. To do so, they promote and protect the intellectual property rights of these companies and conduct public awareness programs to highlight to movie fans around the world the importance of content protection. These activities have helped to transform entire markets benefiting film and television industries in each country including foreign and local filmmakers alike.
The organizations act on behalf of the members of the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc (MPAA) which include; Paramount Pictures Corporation; Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.; Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation; Universal City Studios LLC; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. The MPA and the MPA-I have worldwide operations which are directed from their head offices in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. and overseen in the Asia Pacific by a team based in Singapore. For more information about the MPA and the MPA-I, please visit www.mpa-apac.org.
For more information, please contact
Stephen Jenner
MPA Asia-Pacific
(65) 6253 1033
June Tan
MPA Asia-Pacific
(65) 6253 1033