Each country has its own laws, residents are expected to know them, and above all apply them, even if they may seem absurd, surprising or simply different from other countries. But Shinobu Yoshida knew exactly what he was doing by posting videos of gameplay monetized by Steins;Gate: My Darling’s Embrace on Youtube.
Aged 53, the Japanese has just suffered two years’ imprisonment and a fine of one million yen (approximately €6,300) for uploading videos of Steins;Gate: My Darling’s EmbraceA visual novel edited by Spike Chunsoft. Because yes, the fact of uploading copyrighted content, in this case video game sequences, and monetizing the video is completely illegal in Japan. CODAthe organization in charge of the fight against piracy in the Archipelago, explains that in addition to this, sharing content from a visual novel, a type of 100% narrative game without reality gameplay, would dissuade future players from buying the game, having already seen the story for free on video. Another element which did not help the case of Shinobu Yoshida, the latter also had uploaded videos summarizing the entire plot of anime Spy × Family And Steins;Gate (the complete box set is €44.95 on Amazon), again by spoiling the scenario and above all by monetizing them.
The national daily Asahi Shimbun (translated by The Verge) explains thatthis is a first in Japan, but the case of Shinobu Yoshida could serve as an example in the future. Provided that justice accelerates the pace, the videos of Steins;Gate: My Darling’s Embrace had been posted online in 2019 and the defendant was arrested last May, to be tried only this week.
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