Briefly: Bookoff to pay copyright groups

SAGAMIHARA, Kanagawa Prefecture--In response to complaints from authors, Bookoff Corp., a large chain of secondhand bookshops based here, has offered to pay 100 million yen to groups representing copyright holders, sources said.

Bookoff resells secondhand books in like-new condition. Authors have complained the sales cut into their new book sales and undercut their royalty income.

The chain extended its offer to the Japan Writer's Association, the Copyright Network for Comic Authors in the 21st Century and other groups, the sources said.

Bookoff operates about 900 outlets, including 10 abroad. It declined to comment on the issue.(IHT/Asahi: April 2,2008)