27 authors including a children's writer, Miyoko Matsutani, a poet, Shuntaro Tanikawa, a psychiatrist, Inada Nada brought suits before the Tokyo District Court on June 21, 2007, against Sapix and Nozomi Gakuen, two major exam preparation companies and the affiliated firms which have published and sold learning materials using copyrighted works without obtaining consent from the authors. The authors have demanded injunctions against publication and sale of the learning materials and the right of transfer. The JVCA members have also questioned a violation regarding the right of recitation against Sapix, because Sapix has prepared a compact disc with an oral reading. And the authors have demanded a suspension of publication and have further sued for damages against Nozomi Gakuen.
Sapix has used the unauthorized study materials in their classes. For this reason, Sapix was sued for damages by 32 authors such as Miyoko Matsutani, Inada Nada, and Kappa Senoo on September 3 and by 25 authors such as Shuntaro Tanikawa, So Kuramoto and Mikiko Sugi on September 13.

The JVCA will continue to investigate and inspect copyright infringement by the educational industry including exam preparation companies.

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