Japan: Agency for Cultural Affairs opened consultation on Draft Cabinet Order Partially Amending the Enforcement Order of the Copyright Act

On 20 May 2025, the Agency for Cultural Affairs opened a public consultation on the Draft Cabinet Order Partially Amending the Enforcement Order of the Copyright Act until 19 June 2025. The proposed amendment aims to revise the regulations concerning the system for using copyrighted works when the copyright owner's intent cannot be confirmed, known as the "unmanaged works adjudication system". Changes include the introduction of a fixed fee of JPY 13'800 per application for using the system and the removal of the requirement to notify the compensation amount when rejecting an application. This change aims to facilitate faster notifications of rejections, particularly in cases where determining compensation is time-consuming. The amendment is scheduled to enter into force on the same day as the revised Copyright Law is enacted.