FAQ - Q1

Q1. Can I use works of others as educational materials without authorization?

When you create a work, the Moral Rights of Authors and Copyright (Property Rights) is granted automatically, and it's protected under the Copyright Act. Therefore, when using another person's work as part of educational materials, in principle you must obtain authorization; however, there are Exceptional Rules (See Q4Q5Q8) which allow us to use copyrighted work without authorization. Also, if part of the Copyright (Property Rights) for papers which you wrote and published is transferred to an academic association or publishing company, unless it falls under these exceptional rules, you must obtain authorization from the transferee.


Q1. Can I use works of others as educational materials without authorization?
Q2. What is "copyrighted work"?
Q3. What should I do when using foreign copyrighted works as educational materials in Japan or using Japanese copyrighted works as educational materials abroad?
Q4. Do I need to obtain prior authorization to use copyrighted work evenin academic institutions such as universities?
Q5. Can I use a DVD I purchased or a video published on the web for classes?
Q6. What should I do to obtain authorization from copyright owners?
Q7. How can I obtain authorization when using charts etc. published in academic journals as educational materials?
Q8. How can I distribute educational materials including works of others on a website?
Q9. Can I modify and use the copyrighted works of others(e.g. figures and tables)?
Q10. How can I indicate my sources?
Q11. Can I translate and use the copyrighted works as educational materials?
Q12. What should I do with regards copyright processing to publish a recorded lecture?
Q13. Do you have any questions about copyright, which don't relate to digital educational material development?