Japanese Game Website Owner Arrested For Screenshot Scans

Thanks to 1UP for its news story reporting that the owner of popular Japanese videogame website Gameonline has been arrested for copyright violation regarding unauthorized screenshot scans, since "several hundred [screenshots available on the site] were allegedly found to have been taken from magazines and overseas game sites without the permission of the game publisher, a violation of Japanese copyright law." The story continues by explaining: "Gameonline, one of the most popular game sites in Japan until its sudden closure last month, was a for-profit site that made its money exclusively via advertising. The site's owner had received permission from several Japanese publishers to post screenshots from their games, but other companies, including SNK Playmore, Capcom, Square Enix, and Namco, allegedly found media from their games posted on the site without their permission, leading to today's arrest."

Comments

Seems pretty straightforward

[Tezkah]

I mean, the companies didn't want their games being shown on that website, and the owner didn't comply. There has to be more to this story, because I doubt they'd have him arrested if they had not asked him to take the screens down before resorting to legal action. Then again, Japan has a much different culture and their copyright law seems more strictly enforced than the US. Any one have any experience with Japanese copyright law?

Re:Seems pretty straightforward

[Tezkah]

The site's owner had received permission from several Japanese publishers to post screenshots from their games, but other companies, including SNK Playmore, Capcom, Square Enix, and Namco, allegedly found media from their games posted on the site without their permission, leading to today's arrest.

I dunno, the graphics are some of the best parts of Squenix's games :P

Capcom I could see getting upset, using sprites from 1994 for games a decade later.

I dont why they wouldn't want the hype, but its their product, and they can do with it what they want. Just like Linux people would be upset if someone violated the GPL, even in good spirit (although they, most likely, wouldn't have the violater arrested, but these are companies who probably have a team of lawyers just to protect their "intellectual property")

Videogame

[Molina the Bofh]

In A.D. 2004
War against pirates was beginning.
Pirate: What happen ?
Webmaster: Somebody set up us the DDOS.
Sysoperator: We get connection.
Pirate: What !
Sysoperator: Main screen turn on.
Pirate: It's you !!
DMCA: How are you gentlemen !!
DMCA: All your warez are belong to us !
DMCA: You are on the way to fdisk.
Pirate: What you say !!
DMCA: You have no chance to survive make your time.
DMCA: HA HA HA HA....
Pirate: Take off every zip.
Pirate: You know what you doing.
Pirate: mv zip greatjustice

(all right, I do know DMCA does not apply in Japan.)

Of course...

[b00jah]

Because, damn, what kind of a game developer would want to have their game getting the attention of fans and possible customers? That would be stupid, wouldn't it.