[Copyright] Tokyo District Court, Reiwa 5 (Wa) 70125 <Presiding Judge Takahashi>
更新日：2 時間前
Article information
Article type: Case note
Categories: Copyright / Other Japanese law
Main topics: Personality and publicity rights / Defamation
First published on this website: October 1, 2026
Case reference (as stated in the original): Reiwa 5 (Wa) 70125
Display and classification checked: October 1, 2026 (not a revalidation of the legal analysis)
[Copyright] Tokyo District Court, Reiwa 5 (Wa) 70125 <Presiding Judge Takahashi>
Notifying YouTube of copyright infringement, invasion of privacy and defamation through its notification forms regarding uploaded videos was held not to constitute a tort interfering with expressive activity.
1. Google carefully reviews takedown requests, sometimes requesting additional information or rejecting requests. Videos are therefore not removed unconditionally.
The notifications alleged infringement of publicity and portrait rights and described corresponding facts (unauthorized use of names and facial photographs). Using the copyright form because no appropriate form could be found was not immediately unlawful.
2. Under Google's terms (Community Guidelines), Google may, at its own discretion, remove or otherwise act on videos that the individual finds uncomfortable or damaging to their reputation, even if the legal requirements for invasion of privacy or defamation are not satisfied.
3. Because the notifications had a corresponding factual basis (display of names, language calling someone a fraudster, etc.), they could not be characterized as deliberately based on false facts. They were not found to have been abused solely for an improper purpose, such as harassment.
Original article: https://lnkd.in/g4k2yt4A
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Updates and corrections
Substantive corrections and additions are recorded separately from classification, related links and display changes.
October 1, 2026: First publication of the author's original LinkedIn text on this website. Article type, categories, topic tags, sources and consultation navigation added.
2026-10-01 | Display maintenance: added case references stated in the original or language-alternate metadata; not a revalidation of legal analysis.
2026-10-01 | Name notation: replaced verified Japanese-script personal names with Roman-letter forms in this English article and its navigation. Legal analysis and original publication date unchanged.
