http://www.coindesk.com/tokyo-court-bitcoin-not-subject-to-ownership-2/Judge Masumi Kurachi ruled that, due to their intangible nature and reliance on third parties, bitcoins cannot be covered under existing law.
This is quite awesome. Set up exchanges, set up payment processors, set up whatever you want with Bitcoin in Japan. It is not covered under the law.
I don't know if I would call this a big victory. This is one judge saying that a bitcoin case won't be recognized by the court. In my opinion, it's slap in the face to bitcoin. I don't think it sets any sort of precedent as far as bitcoin businesses being sanctioned by the government. Perhaps the opposite.
imho its what most bitcoiner want: self-responsibility
personally i like that judgement. but you are right in saying that its only one judge.
most countries do have laws which forbid hacking which includes liability for any damage.
