The Optimal Copyright Period for Media Content: The “Gundam” Approach

No.274
October 2006
Research FellowShinya Kinukawa

1. As the issue of difference in copyright terms between Japan and the US (and Europe) receives attention, the argument about appropriate copyright terms increases in importance. The purpose of this essay is to contribute to the discussion of copyright terms from an economic perspective, focusing on media content such as anime, in which Japan is globally competitive.
2. Anime and other such media content enterprises are able to continue producing profits long after new releases through the sales of related products. Such characteristics of the media content business were incorporated into an economic model, and the effects of extending copyright terms on economic welfare are examined based on that model. The results show that extending copyright periods has the potential to have a positive effect on economic welfare.
3. However, whether or not extending copyright terms will improve economic welfare by encouraging investment in media content production is an issue that depends on other economic factors such as investment conditions. Analysis of the model suggests that industrial policy aimed at improving investment conditions and the extension of copyright periods play complementary roles in promoting media content.

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