Article 41 of the Japanese Copyright Law does not allow unlimitedly the reproduction of a literary work in a newspaper, magazine and others for the purpose of "reporting current events".
The use allowed under Article 41 is only "to the extent justified by the informatory purpose". This article was stipulated anticipating such cases as the broadcasting of a sporting event with the music used in that sporting event, and the reproduction of a stolen picture on a newspaper.
Although Article 41 does not stipulate any differentiated range of use in terms of the category of works, in the case of literary works, it is extremely hard to imagine a case, in which it is allowed by this article to reproduce a whole literary work in a newspaper, magazine, etc "to the extent justified by the informatory purpose".
