[Copyright] Tokyo District Court, 2024 (Wa) 70189 <Nakashima>

日本語原文 / Japanese original

Article information

Article type: Case note

Category: Copyright

Topics: Copyrightability

First published on this website: 2026-11-01

Display and classification checked: November 2, 2026

Originally published on Ameblo: 2025-12-09 (Japan time). Full English translation.

https://ameblo.jp/hideki-takaishi/entry-12949483043.html

[Copyright] Tokyo District Court, 2024 (Wa) 70189 <Nakashima>

*Copyrightability of the program denied (no creativity in expression).

“The plaintiff is understood to assert that two portions of the source code of the program at issue, marked in red, are creative expressions: (1) the portion relating to the function of displaying a drop-down list of product names (hereinafter ‘Portion (1)’), and (2) the portion relating to the function of searching for and confirming a customer's name (hereinafter ‘Portion (2)’). Despite repeated requests for clarification by the court …, however, the plaintiff has not specifically alleged why these portions constitute creative expression.”

https://www.courts.go.jp/assets/hanrei/hanrei-pdf-93669.pdf

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November 1, 2026: First published on this website.

November 2, 2026: Added article information, classification, topics, language navigation, related articles where the same case was confirmed, consultation guidance, and SEO. The original text and first-published date were preserved.