Copyright
This introduces books and websites for learning about the copyright of artworks and license indications related to their publication and use. The primary audience consists of practitioners and researchers involved in the exhibition, digitization and publication, and secondary use condition indication of artworks at museums, universities, and research institutions.
1. Guidebooks
Kōno Masamichi, The Japanese Council of Art Museums. Genba de tsukaeru bijutsu chosakuken gaido [Practical Guide to Art Copyright]. Revised new edition. Tokyo: Bijutsu Shuppansha, 2019.
Focuses on matters related to art museum operations.
Agency for Cultural Affairs, Copyright Division. "Copyright text."
A comprehensive guidebook by the Agency for Cultural Affairs Copyright Division. The content is updated periodically, so it is recommended to check the latest version when using.
Shimada Makoto. Art law nyūmon: Bijutsuhin ni kakawaru hōritsu no chishiki [Introduction to Art Law: Legal Knowledge Related to Artworks]. Tokyo: Keio University Press, 2021.
Contains copyright-related descriptions in "Chapter 9: Origin, Duration, and Attribution of Copyright in Art," "Chapter 10: Art Museum Activities and Copyright," "Chapter 11: Artists' Rights Regarding Copyrighted Works," and "Chapter 12: Contemporary Art and Copyright."
Inter-University Research Institute Corporation, National Institutes for the Humanities, DH Rights Issues Support Tool Study Group. Digital humanities (DH) kenkyū ni kansuru kenri mondai gaido [Guide to Rights Issues in Digital Humanities (DH) Research]. 2024.
Introduction to various rights issues to be considered when digitizing and publishing research resources, with Q&A collection.
Fukui Kensaku, supervisor. Sudo Masahiko, chief editor. Kenri shori to hō no jitsumu [Rights Clearance and Legal Practice]. Tokyo: Bensei Shuppan, 2019 (Digital archive basics; 1).
Focuses on matters related to digitization and online publication.
Kato Moriyuki. Chosakukenhō chikujō kōgi [Lectures on Copyright Law]. 7th Revised Edition. Tokyo: Chosakuken Jōhō Sentā, 2021.
A detailed commentary on each article of the Copyright Act.
2. Q&A Collections
Agency for Cultural Affairs, Planning and Coordination Division, Museum Promotion Office. "Museum DX purakutekaru gaido [Museum DX Practical Guide]." Agency for Cultural Affairs, Planning and Coordination Division, Museum Promotion Office, 2025.
Contains explanations about copyright and secondary use condition indication in "Question 10: What should we be careful about when publishing digital archives?" "Question 11: What things need to be decided for publication?" and "Question 20: Please tell us how to publish 3D data."
Agency for Cultural Affairs. "Copyright Q&A"
Copyright Information Center. "Copyright Q&A"
3. License Indication
Digital Archive Japan Promotion Committee, Practitioners' Study Committee. "Dejitaru ākaibu katsudō" no tame no gaidorain [Guidelines for "Digital Archive Activities"] (Web Version). 2023.
Includes explanations about conditions (secondary use conditions) indicating how third parties can use digital data when published.
Cabinet Office Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters, Digital Archive Strategy Conference and Study Group on Promoting Digital Archives. Dejitaru ākaibu ni okeru nozomashii niji riyō jōken hyōji no arikata ni tsuite [On Desirable Secondary Use Condition Indication in Digital Archives] (2019 Edition). 2019.
Explains copyright and other rights that may arise in digital content—not in the original works or materials that were digitized—when museums and other institutions publish digital content they have created.
Sudō Masahiko. "Dōkō rebyū [Trend Review: Rights Statements and Trends in Rights Indication in Japan]." Current Awareness, no. 323, 2020.
A compact explanation of Creative Commons and Rights Statements.
4. Other
Bijutsu no chosakubutsu tō no tenji ni tomonau fukusei tō ni kansuru chosakukenhō dai 47-jo gaidorain [Guidelines for Article 47 of the Copyright Act Regarding Reproduction Associated with Exhibition of Artistic Works, etc.]. 2019.
Guidelines established among related organizations on the rights holder and user sides (Japan Artists Association, Inc., Japan Art Copyright Association, Japan Photographic Copyright Association, Japan Museum Association, The Japanese Council of Art Museums, Japan Book Publishers Association). Establishes agreements on "limits deemed necessary" in the law.
The Japanese Council of Art Museums. "On the Results of Consultations with the Japan Art Copyright Association (JASPAR) Regarding Article 47 of the Copyright Act." 2020.
A document presenting the views of the Japan Art Copyright Association (JASPAR), which is not included in the above six organizations.
Tama Art University Art Archive Center. "Article 47 of the Copyright Act and the National Museum Collection Search 'SHŪZŌ'." Kawaguchi Masako.
Explains Article 47 of the Copyright Act and related guidelines.