Laws and Rights in Design

Published September 15, 2026

This note is a reference on laws and rights relevant to design. Focusing on websites and advertising in Japan, I have put together a broad overview of where laws and rights intersect with production. Please treat it as a starting point for research, not legal advice. If you are unsure about a particular situation, consult the client's legal team or a specialist in the relevant field as needed.

※ Based on laws, official materials and other sources as of September 15, 2026. Applicability varies by industry, region, medium and type of transaction.
※ This article is an AI translation of the Japanese original.

Differences among laws, rights and standards

The rules involved in production extend beyond legislation. We distinguish the basis of each requirement, including industry standards and contractual terms.

Type	Examples
Laws, cabinet and ministerial orders, local ordinances and public notices	Copyright Act, Food Labeling Standards, outdoor advertising ordinances
Rights and interests recognized through case law and other sources	Portrait rights, publicity rights, privacy
Administrative guidance and guidelines	Medical advertising guidelines
Industry standards and fair competition codes	Alcohol advertising standards, real estate advertising code
Technical standards and certification	WCAG, JIS, certification marks
Contracts and terms of use	Asset licenses, advertising platform policies

The NG/OK examples below apply to the conditions stated. OK indicates an improvement on the particular issue, not a guarantee that the entire project is lawful. Some examples concern industry or technical standards. The parties subject to obligations and the conditions of applicability differ by framework. Proposed amendments and recommendations are also distinct from rules already in force.

Related areas by type of work

Work	Related areas
Using photography, illustration, video, music or text	Copyright, neighboring rights, portrait rights, licenses
Creating logos, product names, products or interfaces	Trademarks, design rights, patents, utility models, Unfair Competition Prevention Act
Creating advertisements, campaigns or price lists	Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations, tax-inclusive pricing, industry-specific advertising rules
Designing e-commerce, booking, subscription or cancellation screens	Act on Specified Commercial Transactions, Consumer Contract Act, electronic consumer contract rules, dark patterns
Adding forms, accounts, analytics or advertising tags	Personal information protection, external transmission rules, commercial email rules
Presenting pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, medical institutions or treatment practices	Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act, Medical Care Act, profession-specific advertising rules
Handling food, health foods, alcohol or tobacco	Food Labeling Act, Health Promotion Act, alcohol and tobacco labeling and advertising rules
Designing for children and young people	Age restrictions, minors' contracts, youth protection laws, personal information
Working in finance, real estate, travel or recruitment	Industry laws, administrative guidance, fair competition codes
Creating packaging, labels, manuals or signs	Quality labeling, product safety, measurement, material identification marks, outdoor advertising ordinances
Designing accessible services	Act for Eliminating Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities, accessibility standards
Building user posting features or sites for specific purposes	Rights infringement procedures, election, adult-content and amusement business rules
Taking on or outsourcing production work	Contracts, ownership of rights, Freelance Act, Toriteki Act
Providing products or services overseas	Advertising, consumer protection, data protection and accessibility rules in the target country

Creative works and intellectual property

Copyright Act

First, the Copyright Act. It protects creative expression such as photographs, text, music and programs. Reproducing, publishing or adapting someone else's work into another form requires a basis such as permission or a statutory exception. Attribution alone is insufficient, and quotation also has requirements. Agency for Cultural Affairs: Using other people's works / Agency for Cultural Affairs: Copyright questions

Authors have three moral rights.

Right to make a work public: The right to decide whether an unpublished work is made public.
Right of attribution: The right to decide whether and how the author's name is displayed. Omitting or changing credits can involve this right.
Right of integrity: The right not to have the content or title of a work altered against the author's wishes. Cropping photographs or changing their colors can involve this right.

An assignment of copyright does not transfer the author's moral rights, which cannot be assigned. Music and video may also involve the neighboring rights of performers and phonogram producers. Agency for Cultural Affairs: Copyright textbook (2026 edition)

Examples

NG : Reproducing a photograph found through search in an advertisement without permission or another basis for use.
OK : Using a photograph licensed for advertising, following the conditions for editing, credits and other uses.

Trademark Act

The Act protects names, logos and other signs that identify the source of goods or services. Three-dimensional shapes, colors, sounds and motion can also qualify under certain conditions. When proposing a logo or product name, check its appearance and pronunciation alongside the registration details and designated goods or services. Japan Patent Office: What is a trademark?

Design Act

The Act protects designs of articles, buildings, qualifying operational and display images, and interiors. Not every visual aspect of an ordinary webpage qualifies. Alongside checking registered designs for products and interfaces, decide on a filing strategy before disclosure if you intend to register your own work. Japan Patent Office: Overview of the design system

Patent Act and Utility Model Act

The Patent Act protects inventions. The Utility Model Act protects devices relating to the shape, structure or combination of articles. These laws become relevant when designing operating methods or product mechanisms. Technical configurations can be an issue even when appearances differ. Utility model protection does not cover methods themselves. Japan Patent Office: Patents and utility models

Unfair Competition Prevention Act

The Act regulates conduct such as misuse of well-known or famous indications of goods or businesses, imitation of product configurations, and improper acquisition or use of trade secrets. Protection may apply under certain conditions even without trademark or design registration. Examples include packaging that imitates another company's and reuse of confidential materials obtained on another project. METI: Commentary on the Unfair Competition Prevention Act

People, privacy and reputation

Portrait and publicity rights

Portrait rights concern the interest in not having one's appearance photographed or published without justification. Publicity rights concern exclusive use of the customer-attracting value of a name or likeness. These rights arise through case law and other sources, rather than standalone laws bearing those names. Agency for Cultural Affairs: Likenesses and other people's works / Supreme Court: Publicity rights judgment of February 2, 2012 (English translation)

Examples

NG : Reusing an employee photograph in a recruitment advertisement without permission after agreeing to use it only in an internal newsletter.
OK : Obtaining the person's agreement to recruitment advertising as well, and using the photograph within the agreed media and period.

Privacy and reputation

Publishing private information or material that harms a person's or company's reputation may raise issues under civil tort law or criminal provisions on defamation and insult. Being true does not by itself justify publication. This also concerns personal information left in portfolio images and case studies in which a photograph or job title identifies someone.

Advertising, promotions and price displays

Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations

The Act regulates representations that misleadingly suggest significantly superior quality or significantly more favorable prices or other transaction terms, as well as excessive premiums. Consumer Affairs Agency: Advertising and premium guidelines

Small print does not necessarily prevent the overall presentation from being misleading. The placement, text size, color and display duration of prominent claims and qualifying statements are all design considerations. Consumer Affairs Agency: Online advertising

Examples

NG : Showing a fictitious “regular price of ¥10,000” at which the product has not been sold, followed by “half price for a limited time.”
OK : Removing the fictitious comparison price and showing the actual selling price of “¥5,000, tax included.”

Stealth marketing rules

The Act also regulates advertising that consumers have difficulty recognizing as advertising. The regulated party is the advertiser supplying the goods or services. Its involvement in determining the content is one factor in the assessment. Consumer Affairs Agency: Stealth marketing rules

Examples

NG : Presenting an article commissioned and directed by an advertiser as independent editorial content.
OK : Clearly displaying “Advertisement” and the advertiser's name in a visible position, such as the beginning of the article.

Premiums, prize draws and campaigns

Premium rules differ for general prize competitions, joint prize competitions and premiums offered to all qualifying customers. Open prize draws that are not tied to transactions are treated separately. Consumer Affairs Agency: Premium regulations

Examples

NG : Writing “Anyone can enter” on a banner for a prize draw restricted to purchasers.
OK : Stating “Only for purchasers of eligible products” on the banner as well, matching the entry terms.

Tax-inclusive pricing

When a business subject to consumption tax displays prices to consumers in advance, tax-inclusive prices are generally required. This includes price lists, menus, banners and prices embedded in product images. Business-to-business transactions are treated differently. Shipping and other fees are disclosed separately as sales conditions. National Tax Agency: Tax-inclusive price display requirements

Examples

NG : Displaying only “¥10,000 plus tax” on a price list subject to tax-inclusive pricing requirements.
OK : Displaying “¥11,000, tax included” for a product taxed at 10%.

Purchase, contract and cancellation screens

Act on Specified Commercial Transactions

The Act regulates mail-order sales, door-to-door sales, specified continuous services and other transactions. E-commerce requirements cover seller information, advertising and the final confirmation screen. Mail-order sales do not have a general cooling-off system; separate rules apply to matters such as return policies. Consumer Affairs Agency: Mail-order sales

The final confirmation screen displays quantity, price, payment timing and method, delivery or service timing, withdrawal and cancellation conditions, and any application deadline. For subscriptions, show the price of each delivery and the contract conditions, as well as the total payment when the number of deliveries is fixed. Button wording that clearly indicates a paid order also matters. Consumer Affairs Agency: Mail-order sales guidelines

Examples

NG : Showing only the introductory price of “¥500” on the final confirmation screen for a subscription delivered every month.
OK : Making the subscription, initial and subsequent prices, continuation terms and cancellation conditions understandable on the same screen.

Consumer Contract Act and Civil Code

The Consumer Contract Act provides for rescission following unfair solicitation and the invalidity of unfair contract terms. Agreement to terms of use does not make every cancellation charge or liability exclusion valid. Contract formation and incorporation of standard terms also involve the Civil Code, so the terms and application screen need to give consistent explanations. Consumer Affairs Agency: Consumer Contract Act

Electronic Consumer Contract Act

The official name is the Act on Special Provisions to the Civil Code Concerning Electronic Consumer Contracts. It establishes special rules on mistakes, including applications made through operational errors. Whether the business took measures to confirm the consumer's intention is relevant. e-Gov: Electronic Consumer Contract Act / METI: Interpretative guidelines on electronic commerce and information property transactions (February 2025 revision)

Examples

NG : A “Next” button finalizes a paid order without an opportunity to review or correct its details.
OK : Providing a review and correction screen before the user applies with a “Confirm order” button.

Payment Services Act and Installment Sales Act

For paid points and gift certificates, one issue is whether they qualify as prepaid payment instruments under the Payment Services Act. Treatment varies with factors such as whether they are paid or free, where they can be used and their validity period. Financial Services Agency: FAQ on prepaid payment instruments (Q5-1)

Installment, credit and deferred payments may also involve the Installment Sales Act and other rules. Design payment-count and fee disclosures, and the handling of card information, around the payment provider's requirements. e-Gov: Installment Sales Act

Dark patterns and stronger regulation

Dark patterns are interface and interaction designs that distort users' judgment or choices, leading them into unintended contracts or information disclosure. Examples include hiding costs, using fictitious countdowns to create urgency and making cancellation unnecessarily difficult. Consumer Affairs Agency: Reference materials including dark patterns

In Japan, some conduct is already addressed by the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations and the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions. The study group's interim report dated September 10, 2026, published by the Consumer Affairs Agency, recommends considering a framework with a degree of comprehensive coverage for misleading methods and aggressive methods that intimidate, cause nuisance or create anxiety.

These are recommendations from the study group, not a new law already in force. Consumer Affairs Agency: Interim report of the study group on digital transactions and the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions

In production, it is important to examine how easily users can find contract conditions, refusal and cancellation options, and how much effort the whole process requires. Differences in button color or size alone do not establish illegality.

Examples

NG : Always showing “Sale ends in 10 minutes” and resetting the countdown when it reaches zero.
OK : Displaying the actual end date and time, and ending the sale at that point.

Personal information, cookies and commercial email

Act on the Protection of Personal Information

The Act governs purposes of use, collection, third-party provision, security safeguards and other aspects of personal information. When collecting information directly from someone through a form, the purpose of use generally needs to be expressly stated. Exceptions include cases where the purpose is clear from the circumstances of collection. Personal Information Protection Commission: Stating purposes on input screens

Stating a purpose and obtaining consent are separate issues. Establish the conditions for third-party provision and other processing, then design the fields, destinations and consent controls. Personal Information Protection Commission: General guidelines Access permissions and safeguards for the data used also matter in administration screens and prototypes. Personal Information Protection Commission: Security safeguards FAQ

Examples

NG : Collecting addresses through a prize draw entry form without stating that they will also be used to mail promotional materials.
OK : Stating before submission that the addresses will be used to send prizes and promotional materials.

External transmission rules under the Telecommunications Business Act

For covered telecommunications services, transmitting user information through analytics, advertising tags or embeds requires one of the following: notification, publication in an easily accessible form, obtaining consent, or a prescribed opt-out arrangement. Exemptions exist; the rules do not require consent banners on every corporate website. Determine the response from applicability, the information transmitted, its recipients and purposes. Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications: External transmission FAQ

Act on Regulation of Transmission of Specified Electronic Mail

Commercial email generally requires prior consent. Rules also cover sender identification and responses to requests to stop receiving messages. Exceptions exist, and the email advertising provisions of the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions may also apply. The user flow from newsletter registration to unsubscribing is relevant. Consumer Affairs Agency: Key points of commercial email legislation

Examples

NG : Automatically subscribing someone who sent an inquiry to a newsletter without advertising consent or a basis for an exception.
OK : Obtaining consent from those who want advertising emails, separately from responding to the inquiry.

Pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, healthcare and beauty

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act

The Act regulates false or exaggerated advertising for pharmaceuticals, quasi-drugs, cosmetics, medical devices and other covered products, as well as advertising for unapproved pharmaceuticals and related products. The prohibition on false or exaggerated advertising applies to anyone, including those who create the advertising, not only marketing authorization holders. Permissible efficacy claims differ by product category. Images suggesting changes to the skin and layouts that imply a doctor's guarantee matter alongside the copy. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: Pharmaceutical advertising rules

Examples

NG : Claiming “Dark spots disappear” for a moisturizing cream classified as an ordinary cosmetic.
OK : Using “Moisturizes the skin” within the scope of effects applicable to that product.

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: Scope of cosmetic efficacy claims

Medical Care Act and medical advertising guidelines

Advertising for hospitals and clinics involves the Medical Care Act, and websites may be covered. Rules address what can be advertised, conditions for lifting certain restrictions, testimonials and before-and-after photographs. Cosmetic treatment landing pages and case presentations need to incorporate costs, major risks and side effects. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: Medical advertising rules

Advertising rules for massage, acupuncture and related practices

Anma massage and shiatsu, acupuncture, moxibustion and judo therapy have profession-specific laws and advertising rules. Qualifications, treatments, effects and insurance coverage are among the relevant matters. Consult advertising guidelines based on the actual qualifications and services, rather than inferring the business category from a label such as “seitai” or “massage.” Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: Massage, acupuncture and judo therapy guidelines

Food and health food labeling

Food Labeling Act and Food Labeling Standards

These rules specify disclosures such as ingredients, allergens, expiry dates and nutritional information according to the food and sales format. On packaging, the method of display and text size also matter. Consumer Affairs Agency: Food Labeling Act and related rules Distinguish packaging obligations from information provided through e-commerce, and refer to the Consumer Affairs Agency's guidebook when creating product pages. Consumer Affairs Agency: Food information in online sales

Examples

NG : Removing required allergen information to make a package look cleaner.
OK : Keeping the required information and adjusting the layout to meet text-size and other standards.

Health Promotion Act

The Act prohibits materially false or misleading representations about the health-maintaining or health-promoting effects of food. Testimonials and diagrams are included; adding “This is an individual's experience” does not necessarily resolve the problem. Health foods also involve advertising and pharmaceutical rules, along with the separate systems for Foods for Specified Health Uses, Foods with Nutrient Function Claims and Foods with Function Claims. Consumer Affairs Agency: Health Promotion Act and exaggerated claims

Examples

NG : Adding “This is an individual's experience” to an unsupported claim that users are “guaranteed to lose 10 kg without changing their diet.”
OK : Removing the weight-loss guarantee and accurately stating information such as a measured and verified “100 kcal per pack.”

JAS, origin and geographical indications

Terms such as “organic,” JAS marks and protected geographical names have conditions of use. Check certification status and labeling conditions before adding them to packaging. Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: JAS system / Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: Geographical indications Geographical indications and production-method and quality labeling for alcoholic beverages fall under systems administered by the National Tax Agency.

Alcohol and tobacco advertising and sales

Alcohol age restrictions and labeling

Japan's law prohibiting drinking by persons under 20 prohibits under-20 drinking and requires businesses selling or serving alcohol to take measures such as age verification. e-Gov: Law on drinking by persons under 20

Mail-order labeling standards include providing an age-entry field on the order form and a nearby statement that drinking by, or sales to, persons under 20 are prohibited. This is separate from an entry-page age gate. National Tax Agency: Alcohol mail-order disclosures

Labels involve the Liquor Tax Act, the Act on Securing of Liquor Tax and on Liquor Business Associations, the Food Labeling Act and other rules. They indicate matters such as the category, alcohol content and producer. Sales websites also involve the type of license and permitted scope of sales. National Tax Agency: Alcohol labeling / National Tax Agency: Alcohol sales licensing guide

Examples

NG : Using the answer to “Are you 18 or older?” to decide whether a customer is old enough to buy alcohol.
OK : Verifying age against the threshold of 20, and providing the age-entry field and required notices on the order form.

Industry standards for alcohol advertising

Industry standards restrict characters that primarily appeal to people under 20, presentations that could be mistaken for soft drinks, and depictions encouraging excessive drinking. Casting and the size and visibility of warning statements are also covered. Alcohol Advertising Review Committee: Advertising and promotion standards Non-alcoholic beverages have industry standards as well. Alcohol Advertising Review Committee: Principles of industry standards

Examples

NG : Advertising alcohol with a character that primarily appeals to children.
OK : Removing that character and using a presentation aimed at people aged 20 or older, with the prescribed warnings.

Tobacco age restrictions, advertising and sales

Smoking is also prohibited for people under 20. Sales of tobacco and smoking equipment involve age-verification and other measures. e-Gov: Law on smoking by persons under 20 Advertising is subject to Ministry of Finance guidelines under the Tobacco Business Act, covering media, locations, warning statements and other matters. Ministry of Finance: Tobacco advertising guidelines

Mail-order sales licenses carry conditions for age verification and other procedures. A self-declaration gate alone cannot be assumed to satisfy sales requirements. Ministry of Finance: Age verification in mail-order sales Applicable laws for heated tobacco, electronic cigarettes and equipment depend on their contents and product classifications.

Examples

NG : Providing only a self-declared “20 or older” button for mail-order sales and omitting age-verification conditions attached to the sales license.
OK : Incorporating the required age verification into the purchase process using the method specified in the license conditions.

Designing for children and young people

Contracts with minors

The age of majority is 18. Contracts made by minors are subject to rules and exceptions concerning the consent of a legal representative and rescission. Account registration, payments and subscriptions require decisions about the target age and involvement of parents or guardians. An “18 or older” checkbox does not resolve every issue in the transaction. Ministry of Justice: Age of majority Q&A

Youth internet safety law and local ordinances

Japan's youth internet safety law aims to create an environment in which people under 18 can use the internet safely. Obligations such as filtering depend on the provider's role; this is not a uniform age-verification requirement for all websites. Children and Families Agency: Youth internet safety law

Local youth protection ordinances may also regulate the sale and display of publications. Tokyo, for example, defines young people as those under 18. Classification and labeling depend on the region and medium. Tokyo Metropolitan Government: Youth protection ordinance

Children's personal information

For processing that requires consent, one issue is whether the child can understand and judge the consequences of that consent. The age at which consent from a legal representative or another appropriate person is required is assessed case by case, based on the information collected and the nature of the business. Personal Information Protection Commission: Children's consent FAQ

The amendment promulgated in July 2026 introduced rules on notifying legal representatives and obtaining consent from them in place of individuals under 16, among other measures. These rules had not yet taken effect at the time of this review. Check their commencement date and guidelines separately from the current rules. Personal Information Protection Commission: 2026 amendments to the Act

Examples

NG : Proceeding with collection that requires consent based solely on a child's checkbox, even though the child cannot understand what the consent means.
OK : Explaining the information collected and its purposes, and obtaining consent from a legal representative or another appropriate person.

Accessibility

Act for Eliminating Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities

The Act prohibits unjust discriminatory treatment. Providing reasonable accommodation also became mandatory for businesses in April 2024. When a person with a disability communicates a need to remove a barrier, businesses must provide accommodation for that situation, provided this does not impose an excessive burden. Cabinet Office: Amended disability discrimination law Improving web accessibility is part of preparing an environment that reduces barriers in advance. The Act requires efforts toward this environmental preparation, which is distinct from individual reasonable accommodation. The Act does not impose a particular WCAG level uniformly on every website in Japan. Cabinet Office: Basic policy on eliminating disability discrimination

JIS, WCAG and contractual requirements

These standards support accessibility evaluation and cover contrast, keyboard operation, alternative text and other matters. Design and testing should follow the version and level required by legislation, procurement specifications or contracts. W3C: WCAG 2.2 The relationship with ADA and implementation are covered in ADA and WCAG.

Examples

NG : Communicating a form input error only by changing a field's border to red.
OK : Adding a text message such as “Please enter your email address” alongside the color change.

Industry-specific advertising and disclosures

Finance, insurance and lending

The Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, Insurance Business Act, Money Lending Business Act and other rules apply according to the business and product. Financial advertisements need to communicate fees and risks accurately alongside returns or low interest rates. Other issues include the assumptions behind comparison charts and repayment simulations, and avoiding the suggestion that registration is government endorsement. Financial Services Agency: Supervisory guidelines for financial instruments business operators

Real estate

The Real Estate Brokerage Act and the fair competition code on real estate advertising are relevant. Specific standards govern descriptions such as “newly built,” walking times and property information. Metropolitan Real Estate Fair Trade Council: Advertising code and examples

Examples

NG : Continuing to advertise a property as available after it has been contracted and can no longer be offered.
OK : Reflecting the end of availability and stopping advertising it as an available property.

Travel and accommodation

Travel offers and bookings involve the Travel Agency Act and guidelines on presenting transaction terms. Screens should clearly identify the contracting party, what the price includes, additional charges and cancellation conditions. Japan Tourism Agency: Points to check on travel booking sites Distinguish direct accommodation sales from arranging travel products, and identify the business category under the Hotel Business Act, Private Lodging Business Act and related laws.

Recruitment and hiring

The Employment Security Act requires accurate job information and also covers recruitment on company websites and social media. The advertisement itself must state the recruiter's name, address and contact details, job duties, workplace and wages. Fixed overtime pay, employment type and other details should also reflect the actual conditions. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: Recruitment advertising disclosures Wording that restricts eligible applicants also involves equal employment opportunity legislation and rules on age restrictions.

Examples

NG : Advertising a permanent position when the actual vacancy is for a fixed-term contract employee.
OK : Stating the actual employment type, “contract employee,” and conditions such as the contract period.

Products, packaging and manuals

Household Goods Quality Labeling Act

The Act specifies quality labeling for designated household goods. Design-related examples include fiber composition and care labeling for clothing, and material descriptions and usage precautions for household products. Consumer Affairs Agency: Household Goods Quality Labeling Act

Examples

NG : Replacing laundry care symbols with custom illustrations to match a brand.
OK : Using symbols that meet the rules and adjusting spacing and placement to work with the brand design.

Product Liability Act and product safety legislation

Inadequate instructions or warnings may constitute a defect under the Product Liability Act. Illustrations and wording in manuals and warning labels affect safety. Consumer Affairs Agency: Product Liability Act Q&A

The Consumer Product Safety Act, Electrical Appliances and Materials Safety Act and related laws specify safety standards and labeling for covered products. PSC, PSE and other marks are based on legal conditions, so obtain the permitted labeling from the manufacturer or importer. METI: Product safety legislation and PS marks

Examples

NG : Removing an important warning such as “Unplug before cleaning” from a manual to reduce the amount of text.
OK : Keeping the warning and communicating it through words and diagrams near the relevant step.

Measurement Act

The Act governs units of measurement and accurate measurement. For covered products, matters include net quantity labeling and permitted quantity tolerances. Decide what quantity to show and in which unit on packaging, alongside food labeling and other rules. METI: Overview of the net quantity system

Identification marks, recycling and environmental claims

The Act on the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources requires identification marks on designated containers and packaging. Mark materials such as paper and plastic according to their composition, and distinguish this from recycling obligations under the Containers and Packaging Recycling Act. METI: Material identification marks

Claims such as “environmentally friendly” or “made with recycled material” need evidence and a clear scope. Certification marks must follow the certification body's conditions of use.

Signs, outdoor advertising and spaces

Outdoor Advertisement Act, Landscape Act and local ordinances

The location, area, height and colors of signs may be regulated by ordinances under the Outdoor Advertisement Act and landscape-related rules. Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism: Outdoor advertising system Digital signage lighting and display methods, sign structures, and procedures for occupying or using roads may also be relevant. Establish the installation conditions for each location.

Building, fire safety and barrier-free requirements

Stores and exhibition spaces involve the Building Standards Act, Fire Service Act, Barrier-Free Act and local ordinances. Consider interior materials, escape routes, exit signs and ease of movement alongside building and equipment requirements. Decorations and exhibits should not obstruct required signs or routes. Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism: Building fire safety rules

Examples

NG : Hiding an emergency exit sign behind exhibition booth decorations.
OK : Moving the decorations so the exit sign remains visible and the required escape route is clear.

User posting, elections and specific uses

User posting services and rights infringement procedures

Posting features involve copyright and personality rights, as well as the Information Distribution Platform Act (formerly the Provider Liability Limitation Act) and other rules. The Act provides frameworks for responding to infringing information and disclosing sender information, with additional obligations for designated large providers. Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications: Measures against illegal and harmful online information Design considerations include reporting and removal-request channels, post visibility and conditions for secondary use.

Act on Prohibition of Unauthorized Computer Access

The Act regulates conduct such as circumventing access controls. e-Gov: Act on Prohibition of Unauthorized Computer Access

Examples

NG : Using another person's ID and password without permission to access members-only screens for reference research.
OK : Browsing within the permitted scope using an account the operator has authorized for research.

Election and political advertising

Under the Public Offices Election Act, treatment differs between election campaigning and political activity, and by period, sender and medium. Paid online advertising is subject to prohibitions and exceptions. Check with an election administration commission or another appropriate authority before finalizing artwork or delivery, rather than reusing ordinary advertising settings. e-Gov: Public Offices Election Act

Adult services, amusement businesses and gambling

The Penal Code, the Act on Control and Improvement of Amusement Business, child protection laws and local ordinances may apply. An age gate alone does not make the service or its advertising lawful. e-Gov: Penal Code / e-Gov: Amusement business law

Amendments to the Basic Act on Measures against Gambling Addiction prohibiting the presentation of illegal online gambling sites or apps to unspecified persons in Japan, or the dissemination of information directing them to such services, took effect on September 25, 2025. Advertising and links are relevant as well. National Police Agency: Online casinos, advertising and referral restrictions

Taking on work, outsourcing and ownership of rights

Civil Code, production contracts and confidentiality

Production contracts establish scope, fees, deadlines, acceptance, revisions, termination and other terms. Payment alone does not automatically transfer all copyright. Agency for Cultural Affairs: Legal questions about cultural and artistic work Distinguish deliverables from editable files, and licenses from assignments of rights. Agree on confidentiality, subcontracting, portfolio use and reuse of assets as well.

Freelance Act

The Act on Ensuring Proper Transactions Involving Specified Entrusted Business Operators, commonly called the Freelance Act, aims to ensure fair transactions and improve working conditions between qualifying freelancers and commissioning businesses. It governs disclosure of transaction terms, payment and other matters. Obligations vary with the commissioning business's structure and the duration of the engagement. It applies not only when taking on work, but also when outsourcing photography, illustration or implementation to individuals. Japan Fair Trade Commission: Freelance Act

Examples

NG : Proceeding with a commission subject to disclosure obligations on an oral basis alone, without communicating the fee or payment date.
OK : Disclosing the required details, including the work, fee and payment date, in writing or by email when commissioning the work.

Toriteki Act and Antimonopoly Act

The former Subcontract Act was renamed through an amendment that took effect on January 1, 2026, and is now known as the Toriteki Act. Applicability depends on the commissioned work, the scale of the businesses and other factors. Commissioned creation of information-based products, including design work, can be covered. Japan Fair Trade Commission: Toriteki Act Issues include unilateral fee reductions, unpaid rework and assignment of rights in rejected proposals. Japan Fair Trade Commission: Toriteki Act Q&A

Even transactions outside its scope may raise issues of abuse of a superior bargaining position under the Antimonopoly Act. Japan Fair Trade Commission: Abuse of a superior bargaining position

Asset and software licenses, and generative AI

Fonts, photographs, music and open-source software

Assets and software are subject to their individual licenses. “Commercial use permitted” does not necessarily authorize merchandising, redistribution, web delivery or embedding in an app. Agency for Cultural Affairs: Copyright contract FAQ At handover, retain an inventory of third-party assets and their conditions, including copyright notices and source-code provision requirements for open-source software.

Advertising platforms and social media also have placement policies. Passing a platform's review does not guarantee compliance with all applicable laws.

Examples

NG : Uploading a font licensed only for print use to a server for web delivery.
OK : Obtaining a license that permits web delivery and following its distribution conditions.

Generative AI

Generative AI also involves copyright and personality rights. Distinguish training from generation and use. Assess whether an output infringes copyright by considering similarity to and reliance on existing works, as well as permissions and statutory exceptions. Agency for Cultural Affairs: AI and copyright

Rights in input materials, confidential and personal information, and service terms are also relevant. Generated likenesses or fictional testimonials used in advertising can still raise portrait-rights and advertising issues.

Examples

NG : Creating a fictional buyer with AI and presenting their review as that of a real customer.
OK : Using verified reviews from actual customers, following permission and other publication conditions.

Additional checks for overseas work

GDPR, ePrivacy and national data protection rules

For EU- and EEA-facing services, GDPR concerns personal data processing, while the ePrivacy Directive and national laws concern matters such as storing or reading information on devices. Japanese companies may also be covered. Consent, refusal, withdrawal and tag control are discussed in Checklist for Cookies and Consent Management on EU and EEA-facing Websites.

In the United States, rules vary by state. California's CCPA raises questions about applicability and opt-outs from the sale or sharing of personal information. California Attorney General: CCPA

ADA and EAA

The US ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. Different provisions apply to state and local governments and to private businesses serving the public. WCAG conformance alone does not settle every legal question. US Department of Justice: Web accessibility and ADA

In the EU, EAA requirements have applied to covered products and services since June 28, 2025. E-commerce is among the covered services, but the scope of work depends on exemptions, transitional provisions and national implementing laws. European Commission: EAA requirements take effect

Children and online platforms

The US COPPA concerns services directed to children under 13 and certain operators with actual knowledge that they collect personal information from children under 13. Parental notice, consent and other measures are generally required. Content and design also matter when assessing the audience's age. FTC: COPPA FAQ

Under the EU's DSA, obligations concerning advertising transparency, protection of minors and interface design differ by the type and size of the online intermediary service or platform. European Commission: Digital Services Act

In closing

This overview has covered laws and rights relevant to design. In web production, I would pay particular attention to the following points.

Using photographs, fonts and other assets : Check that the intended use is permitted, whether it involves publishing on the web, using an asset in advertising or editing an image. The same applies when reusing an asset for a different purpose.
Application, contract and cancellation flows : Check that users can understand prices and contract conditions before applying, and can review and correct the details. It is also important to avoid making cancellation methods hard to find or requiring unnecessary steps.
Information handled by forms and external services : Check what information is collected, where it is sent and who can view the stored information. Based on this, determine whether explanations to users or their consent are needed.
Advertising content and presentation : Taking the type of product or service into account, check whether claims about effects and prices are supported and whether the necessary notices are included. Even with client-supplied copy, it is necessary to check that the conditions are communicated on the actual screen.
Accessibility : It is necessary to check whether contracts or laws require action. Readable text, keyboard operation and alternative text for images are also points I would consider to make the site easier to use.

The operator or seller, target countries and regions, and users' ages provide the basis for these judgments. These are details to establish with the client, together with the product or service classification and contract type. If you are unsure, we recommend consulting the client's legal team or a specialist familiar with the field, providing this information along with the proposed copy and designs.

References

Intellectual property, personal rights and licenses

Advertising, transactions and dark patterns

Personal information, external transmission and commercial email

Healthcare, cosmetics and food

Alcohol, tobacco and youth protection

Accessibility and overseas frameworks

Industry-specific advertising and disclosures

Products, packaging and spaces

Posting services, elections and specific uses

Production contracts and commissioning

Related notes

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