Minamisoma city in Fukushima prefecture announced on the 25th of January that it is facing a compensation claim due to the unauthorized use of illustrations in its 'Odaka Reconstruction Action Plan,' related to the lifting of evacuation orders that arose from the Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident nearly nine years ago. The city received a notice requesting 2.67 million yen from the copyright representative of the illustrator whose work was used without permission.

According to city officials, the illustrations in question were downloaded from the internet, and the staff who created the materials did not realize that using them would incur licensing fees. After consulting with legal experts, the city was informed that, although the infringement was not intentional, it did constitute a violation of copyright laws. As a result, city officials have been advised to seek an amicable settlement with the claimant.

The city plans to enter into negotiations regarding the compensation and will include a budget proposal for payment in the upcoming fiscal year council. Furthermore, all problematic illustrations were removed from public documents by January, ensuring compliance with copyright regulations moving forward. This incident highlights the challenges faced by municipalities in navigating copyright issues, particularly in digital contexts, and the importance of proper attribution and licensing in public communication materials.