chosaq

More clarity on the scope of the reverse import ban bill

Last week, I quoted Asahi Shimbun, which stated that, with the reverse import ban bill becoming reality, Japanese recording companies producing CDs by overseas artists might be able to force a ban on imports of all cheaper foreign-made CDs.

An article in Wednesday’s Japan Times however shows that that will not be the case.

Revisions to the Copyright Law to block the import of Japanese music CDs manufactured overseas will not affect CDs from Western countries, two major CD retailers said Tuesday.

In other words, even when the reverse import ban is enacted, Japanese consumers will still have the choice between the directly imported and cheaper version of a foreign CD and its more expensive domestical version (which sports a Japanese translation of the lyrics, etc.).