JASRAC Suing Businesses for  Playing Unauthorized Background Music in Japan for the First Time

The Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers (JASRAC) has sued a barber shop in Sapporo and a restaurant in Takamatsu for the unauthorized playing of background music without paying the appropriate copyright fees and JASRAC wants the establishments to suspend the playing of background music and also seeks to collect damages.
This is the first suit for damages in Japan for playing unauthorized background music.
The claim for damages is 30,000 JPY for the barber shop, and 70,000 JPY for the restaurant.
JASRAC first attempted civil mediation and asked the establishments to sign licensing agreements; however, neither of them have responded and have continued to play background music without authorization. JASRAC stated that they had no other option but to file a lawsuit and that the behavior cannot be ignored.