6 Newly established act-related offenses

  The Act for Partial Amendment to the Loan Business Control Act (Act No. 115 of 2006) promulgated on December 20, 2006, in order to strengthen the control over illegal loan, set up a new penalty of imprisonment with work for a limited term of 10 years as the upper limit of the statutory penalty against a significantly high interest-rate loan of more than 109.5 % per year implemented as business, raised the upper limit of the statutory penalty against non-registered business activities from imprisonment with work for a limited term of 5 years to 10 years (enforced in January 20, 2007 in regard to this part), and the title of the Loan Business Control Act was changed to “Money Lending Business Act” (enforced in December 19, 2007 in regard to this part). Further, the same act lowered the interest rate of more than 29.2 % per year which constitutes violation of a penalty clause against a high-interest loan conducted as business (the upper limit of the statutory penalty is imprisonment with work for a limited term of five years) to that of more than 20 % per year (to be enforced on the day specified by Cabinet Order within a period not exceeding two years and six months from the date of its enforcement on December 19, 2007).
  The Act for Partial Amendment to the Act Concerning Elimination and Prevention of Involvement in Bid Rigging, etc. (Act No. 110 of 2006) enforced on March 14, 2007, in order to prevent public sector bid-rigging thoroughly in light of the recent situation of public sector bid-rigging incidents, set up penalties, concerning acts harming fairness of bidding, etc. committed by the employees of government, etc. In addition, the title of the Act Concerning Elimination and Prevention of Involvement in Bid Rigging, etc.(Act No. 101 of 2002) was revised as the Act on Elimination and Prevention of Involvement in Bid Rigging, etc. and Punishments for Acts by Employees that Harm the Fairness of Bidding, etc.
  The Act on Prevention of Unauthorized Recording of Films (Act No. 65 of 2007) enforced on August 30, 2007 in order to prevent damage to the cinematographic industry caused by the distribution of pirated copies of cinematographic works as a result of unauthorized recording of cinematographic works at movie theaters, etc. This act includes special provisions of the Copyright Act where the unauthorized recording of a cinematographic work for a period not exceeding 8 months after the first public showing with an admission fee, even for the purpose of private use, is considered a violation of the said act.