On March 2021, 3, the government approved a bill to amend the Copyright Law so that a part of the library's collection could be digitized for research purposes and sent to users by e-mail.Until now, we could only provide paper copies, but we aimed to improve convenience in the digital age.
According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, sending emails must not unduly undermine the interests of copyright holders and do not interfere with the legitimate electronic publishing market.In addition to requesting the library to take measures to prevent data leakage, it will oblige the local governments and universities that set up the library to pay compensation.
Until now, the destination of out-of-print material data of the National Diet Library has been limited to libraries, etc., but this will be made available to users directly and posted on the website.University researchers will have the data sent to the nearest library, saving them the hassle of having to go there and browse.
In addition, researchers will be able to make the necessary copies for their own use, as well as show them publicly on displays and the like under free and non-profit conditions.
As the times change from paper to digital, the spread of the new coronavirus infection has made it difficult for research to go to the library and browse the materials.At the same time as protecting copyrights, the Agency for Cultural Affairs was considering amending the law in a working group of the Council for Cultural Affairs in order to make it possible to change the viewing method according to the times.
