It turns out that YouTube movie clip uploads could put a person in the custody of the police.
In Japan, three people have been arrested after the authorities alleged that they uploaded a short version of a film on the platform.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - MARCH 23: The YouTube and Netflix app logos are seen on a television screen on March 23, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. The Government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan passed a new law on March 22 extending the reach of the country's radio and TV censor to the internet. The new law will allow RTUK, the states media watchdog, to monitor online broadcasts and block content of social media sites and streaming services including Netflix and YouTube. Turkey already bans many websites including Wikipedia, which has been blocked for more than a year. The move came a day after private media company Dogan Media Company announced it would sell to pro-government conglomerate Demiroren Holding AS.
The Japanese local police accused three citizens of violating the intellectual property laws of the Asian country, as per CNET.
It has been common for YouTube users to see short clips of their favorite movies, even those they have yet to watch.
However, Japanese users have their own version of movie clips that goes by the name "fast movies." It included some scenes and images from blockbuster flicks, coupled with a summary of its plot.
These videos usually last for 10 minutes or less, squeezing an hour-long story into it.
It is illegal as the copyright of the clips and images belongs to distribution companies in Japan. Additionally, Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs told CNET that their copyright laws ensure that the rights of copyright holders are unharmed.
In other related news, YouTube TV now offers offline viewing and downloading.
YouTube Movie Clips: Japan Arrests Three Citizens
According to Japan Times, the local police have apprehended three suspects of the "fast movies" scheme, which included Takayuki Suga from Tokyo, as well as Nana Shimoda, and Kenya Takase who both lived in Sapporo.
The Asian news outlet noted that such an arrest is the first involving "fast movies" on YouTube.
In total, the accused suspects have summarized five movies that local film distributors own from the span of June 7 to July 21, 2020.
However, the Miyagi Police Department suggested that the suspects have already uploaded about 100 shortened movies on the internet.
YouTube Short Version of Clips Crackdown
The Japanese police have discovered the proliferation of said movie clips as early as July 2020. With the help of the Content Overseas Distribution Association, they were able to track down who were behind these uploads.
The Japanese association said that 55 other YouTubers are uploading "fast movies." With all of the videos combined, it has already garnered 477 million views in total. As such, the damages have ballooned to a whopping $866 million.
Elsewhere, here are the TV shows and movies that faced the wrath of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, leading to their delay.
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Written by Teejay Boris
