A revised version of the Copyright Act, approved by the Japanese Cabinet on 15 May 2026, marks a shift in how music rights are recognised and rewarded. The reforms expand royalty entitlements for public music plays beyond composers and lyricists, extending them to artists and their record labels. The revised law also allows Japanese artists to receive royalties from overseas plays, which was previously unavailable to them.
Commenting in a recent article from World Trademark Review, Marks & Clerk Partner Catherine Lovrics offers an international perspective on these developments, drawing on her global copyright expertise. She notes that “Japanese artists are increasingly part of the worldwide music conversation”, with the changes “bringing them further into the international fold”. This reflects Japan's growing influence as a “key cultural exporter in today's interconnected music industry”.