Japan does not recognise copyright in broadcasts. In that country, broadcasters' rights are protected through neighbouring rights as is the case with many other civil law countries.

However, discussions have recently been taking place as to whether Japan should recognise copyright in broadcasts rather than providing protection by way of neighbouring rights. This issue has arisen because of a recent opinion to the effect that copyright is the only effective protection for broadcasters' rights in the digital age.

This article examines the current method of protecting broadcasters' rights in Japan, reconceptualises the nature of broadcasting and considers the possibility of whether Japan can recognise copyright in broadcasts in an effective manner.