Copyright law

Chapter 2.COPYRIGHTSECTION 2. AUTHORS

Article 8 (Presumption of Authorship, etc.)

  1. (1) Any person who falls under any of the following subparagraphs shall be presumed to have the copyright for his/her works as an author:
    <Amended by Act No. 10807, Jun. 30, 2011>
  1. 1. A person whose real name or well-known pseudonym (referring to the stage name, pen name, abbreviated name, etc.; hereinafter the same shall apply) is indicated as the name of the author in a usual manner on the original or copies of a work;
  2. 2. A person whose real name or well-known pseudonym is indicated as the name of the author in the public performance or public transmission of a work.
  1. (2) If the name of the author is not indicated as prescribed under any of the subparagraphs of paragraph (1), the person who is indicated as a publisher, public performer or a person making the work public shall be presumed to have the copyright.
    <Amended by Act No. 9625, Apr. 22, 2009>

Article 9 (Author of Works Made for Hire)

The authorship of a work made for hire which is made by an employee of a legal person, etc. during the course of his duties and is made public under the name of such a legal person, etc. as the author shall be attributed to that legal person, etc., unless otherwise stipulated in the contract or work regulation, etc.: Provided, That in cases of a computer program work (hereinafter referred to as “program”), being made public is not required.
<mended by Act No. 9625, Apr. 22, 2009>

Article 10 (Copyright)

  1. (1) The author shall hold the rights under Articles 11 through 13 (hereinafter referred to as "author's moral right") and the rights falling under Articles 16 through 22 (hereinafter referred to as "author's economic right").
  2. (2) A copyright shall commence from the time of its creation, and shall not require a fulfillment of any procedures or formalities.