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Frequently Asked Questions

Questions regarding your purchase

Do you sell digital sheet music?

You can purchase digital (PDF) sheet music, including full scores and individual parts, from the Piascore Sheet Music Store. Only single items (individual sales) are available. Additionally, due to copyright restrictions, not all works are available as digital sheet music.

Don't you sell digital sheet music in sets?

We do not offer set sales of digital sheet music for our published scores. Our digital sheet music is intended for use on tablet devices, etc., and is only sold as individual items.
Since sharing digital sheet music data inherently duplicates the sheet music data, it cannot be shared (sent to a third party's tablet device, etc.) without permission from the copyright holder.
In recent years, with the widespread use of tablet devices, most users of digital sheet music likely use them on their tablets. We believe that fewer people are purchasing digital sheet music data and printing it themselves. When using digital sheet music on a tablet, you don't need the parts other than your own, so with the prevalence of tablet devices, we believe that selling digital sheet music data in sets that include unnecessary scores is no longer relevant.
If we were to offer digital sheet music in sets, in cases where the purchaser prints the purchased digital sheet music data themselves for use by multiple people, they would have to lend the printed scores to third parties within the scope of the purchased licenses, which would involve the effort and burden of printing, and we believe there would be little benefit.
Therefore, we do not offer set sales of digital sheet music, as we believe it offers poor post-purchase convenience and promotes copyright infringement.

We believe that in selling digital sheet music, we need to create an environment where users can obtain the scores they need on their tablet devices. When purchasing digital sheet music, we ask that you purchase and use only the scores you need yourself.
We will proactively pursue individual sales of digital sheet music and implement sales methods that are in tune with the times.

What are the shipping and arrival dates for products?

Products are usually shipped within 5 days of your order (completion of payment) after the order is confirmed. Notification of the confirmed shipping date will be provided by a product shipment notification.
The arrival date varies depending on the shipping method you selected. You can check the delivery status using the tracking number provided in the shipping confirmation email. For details regarding the arrival date of your ordered product and delivery, please contact the responsible delivery service provider.

I purchased printed sheet music (or digital (PDF) sheet music). Can I request the digital data (or printed sheet music)?

YMD Music sells sheet music in two formats: printed sheet music and digital (PDF) sheet music. We cannot accommodate requests for one format based on the purchase of the other, as printed sheet music and digital sheet music are separate products.
Printed sheet music is a paper-based product that YMD Music reproduces with permission from the copyright holder and prints. Digital sheet music is an electronic data product that the platform operator reproduces with permission from the copyright holder and provides through its electronic distribution platform.
If you require both printed sheet music and digital (PDF) sheet music, please purchase each separately.
The act of digitizing printed sheet music (or printing digital sheet music) constitutes reproduction of a copyrighted work, and it cannot be done without the permission of the copyright holder (except where copyright is limited).

Questions regarding payment

Can you issue a receipt?

As a general rule, we do not issue duplicate receipts, as this can lead to accounting problems. Please be aware of this beforehand. However, if a receipt is required due to accounting reasons, etc., we will only accommodate this for bank transfers.

    • Bank Transfer
      The bank transfer request form, bank transfer statement, or payment receipt will serve as your receipt. However, if a receipt is required due to accounting reasons, etc., we will only accommodate this for bank transfers. Please make sure to enter the "Receipt Name" in the message field when placing your order.
    • Credit Card
      The usage statement issued by your credit card company will serve as your receipt (this is an official receipt recognized by the tax office according to accounting regulations). Please understand that we cannot issue individual receipts due to legal requirements.
    • Convenience Store
      The receipt received when paying at a convenience store will serve as your receipt (this is an official receipt recognized by the tax office according to accounting regulations). Please understand that we cannot issue individual receipts due to legal requirements.
    • Smartphone Carrier Payment
      A printout of the completed payment screen will serve as your receipt (this is an official receipt recognized by the tax office according to accounting regulations). Please understand that we cannot issue individual receipts due to legal requirements.

(For customers paying by convenience store payment) I have not received the payment number for convenience store payment.

The payment number for convenience store payment is sent by email from the payment agent KOMOJU (Degica). The email will be sent after your order is completed. Please set your email to receive messages from "no-reply@komoju.com". If you do not receive the email after some time, please check your spam folder.

Questions regarding use

If the sheet music included in a set is insufficient, can I reproduce it to make up the difference (print for each person)?

Sheet music cannot be reproduced without the permission of the copyright holder. If the sheet music you purchased is less than the number of members in your performing group and you need more copies, reproducing the missing scores (for additional music stands) does not fall under the exception (private use) where you can use it without the copyright holder's permission. Furthermore, copying it by hand for additional music stands, recreating it using music notation software for additional music stands, or generating a part score from a full score (or vice versa) is not permitted. If sheet music is insufficient, you must purchase more sheet music or obtain reproduction permission from the copyright holder.
For digital (PDF) sheet music, you must purchase the necessary number of scores. Digital sheet music is not suitable for bulk purchases; we request that individuals who use the music purchase it themselves.
We offer individual sales of published sheet music (with some exceptions), allowing you to purchase only the scores you need. Please always purchase the sheet music.

In what cases can sheet music be reproduced without the permission of the copyright holder?

As a general rule, sheet music cannot be reproduced without the permission of the copyright holder. However, the Copyright Act specifies exceptions, and in such cases, it is permissible to reproduce (including digitizing, uploading to the internet, etc.) without the copyright holder's permission. Here are some examples:

  • Reproduction for Private Use
    The scope of private use under the Copyright Act is limited to an individual or a limited scope equivalent to a household. Reproduction beyond this scope, such as for use within an organization, is not permitted.
  • Reproduction in Schools and Other Educational Institutions
    This is limited to cases where the person receiving the instruction in a regular course of study at a non-profit educational institution reproduces it themselves. It does not apply to for-profit educational institutions, extracurricular activities such as clubs or circles, or cases where the rights holder's interests are unfairly prejudiced due to the purpose or number of reproductions. Furthermore, even if the use is by a non-profit educational institution, reproduction of sheet music outside of regular course instruction is not permitted without the copyright holder's permission.
  • Digitization of Printed Sheet Music within the Scope of Private Use
    Within the scope of private use, printed sheet music can be digitized and used on tablet devices, etc. However, sharing the digitized sheet music data is not permitted. Entrusting a document digitization service or similar to digitize sheet music is outside the scope of private use and therefore not permitted without the copyright holder's permission.
  • Reproduction for Page-Turning Convenience
    Reproduction is permitted to the minimum extent necessary for page-turning convenience when actually performing. However, copying an entire movement or an entire piece is not permitted as it could be considered to unfairly prejudice the author's interests.

Even if a case is considered to fall under copyright limitation, this does not apply if it unfairly prejudices the copyright holder's interests. Even when reproduction is considered to be under copyright limitation, please exercise caution and make a careful judgment as to whether it harms the copyright holder's interests before reproducing.

Is it permissible to create part scores from a full score?

The act of copying or reproducing from a full score to create additional music stands is not permitted without the copyright holder's permission. You must either purchase the sheet music or obtain reproduction permission from the copyright holder. We sell part scores individually for each part (with some exceptions). Please always purchase the sheet music.

Is it permissible to digitize printed sheet music and send it via email, or upload and share it on file transfer services or online storage services?

Digitizing printed sheet music, sending it via email, and uploading and sharing it on file transfer services or online storage services are all acts of reproduction. Therefore, you must obtain reproduction permission from the copyright holder for each of these actions.

Is it permissible to use a work freely without the copyright holder's permission if the concert is non-profit, unpaid, and without compensation?

In the case of non-profit, unpaid, and uncompensated concerts or events, the only use of copyrighted works permitted without the copyright holder's permission is for performance (screening). For example, reproducing sheet music for use in a performance is not permitted on the grounds of a non-profit, unpaid, and uncompensated concert. This is because the reproduction of sheet music falls under the right of publication (reproduction) within copyright.
Furthermore, arranging a work without the author's permission at such a concert is also not permitted. This is because it falls under the right of adaptation and moral rights of authors within copyright. If reproduction is necessary for the use of sheet music at such a concert, or if an arranged work is to be used, the copyright holder's permission is always required.

If multiple people claim ownership of a single piece of sheet music, can it be reproduced for the number of people claiming ownership?

Even if multiple people claim ownership of the sheet music as a "physical object" (sharing of sheet music), the copyright (the rights to the written information) remains with the copyright holder. Therefore, the sheet music cannot be reproduced for the number of people claiming ownership without the copyright holder's permission.

During participatory events or concerts with joint performances, if sheet music is distributed to participants at the start of the event and collected at the end (temporary reproduction), can it be reproduced without the copyright holder's permission?

Even if it is assumed that the sheet music will be collected and discarded, it cannot be reproduced without the copyright holder's permission. Please always purchase the necessary amount of sheet music.

If a competition or event organizer, or a recording company, requests the submission (provision) of sheet music, can the sheet music be reproduced without the author's permission?

In such cases, it does not fall under the exception (private use) where it can be used without the copyright holder's permission. Even for temporary reproduction (discarding after the performance), sheet music cannot be reproduced without the copyright holder's permission. We sell individual items (single scores), so you can purchase the exact number of scores you need. Please choose and purchase the sheet music to be submitted to event organizers or recording companies.

I need to prepare sheet music for an accompanist for a piece with piano (or other instrument) accompaniment. In this case, can the sheet music for the accompanist be reproduced without the copyright holder's permission?

In such cases, it does not fall under the exception (private use) where it can be used without the copyright holder's permission. Even for temporary reproduction (discarding after the performance), sheet music cannot be reproduced without the copyright holder's permission. Please always purchase sheet music for the accompanist.

Can sheet music reproduced within the scope of copyright limitations as stipulated by the Copyright Act be used for a class performance?

The Copyright Act stipulates that in specific cases, copyrighted works can be used freely without the author's permission (copyright limitation) under certain conditions. One such condition is "reproduction in educational institutions such as schools," where sheet music can be reproduced (copied) "in an educational institution," "by a teacher or a student receiving instruction," "for use in the course of instruction," and "to the extent deemed necessary."
The "instruction" referred to here means "educational activities conducted by those responsible for education under the management of a school or other educational institution, for learners." While instruction conducted for a class performance may fall under the above "instruction" (within the scope of copyright limitation), a class performance itself (whether paid or free) is not considered to be the above "instruction" (it is outside the scope of copyright limitation and falls under Article 49 (Unauthorized Use of Reproduction, etc.) of the Copyright Act), and therefore, sheet music cannot be reproduced without the copyright holder's permission.
Regarding the use of sheet music you purchased and reproduced within the scope stipulated by Article 30 (Reproduction for Private Use) of the Copyright Act—that is, reproduced for your own use—in a concert including a class performance, this is not considered to fall under Article 49 of the Copyright Act (generally, a concert is an opportunity to present a "performance" to the public (involving performance rights), not an opportunity to present "sheet music" to the public (involving publishing rights)). Therefore, you may reproduce and use the sheet music to the minimum necessary extent without the copyright holder's permission.

For accounting purposes, can you issue a document with shipping costs included in the product price (by changing the product price and setting shipping to zero)?

We cannot accept such requests as changing the product price at your request can lead to fraudulent accounting practices.