INTERNATIONAL

Japanese CD Rental Stores Get Reprieve: Seven of the world’s largest record companies have agreed to postpone a ban on Japanese shops renting out newly released compact discs, the Japan Record Rental Commerce Trade Assn. said. The seven--including Sony, EMI and Virgin Records--said they are prepared to postpone the ban for three months to give more time for negotiations. The ban was due to take effect next Wednesday. After successful lobbying by the Record Industry Assn. of America, a revised Japanese copyright law will give foreign record makers the right to withhold CDs from rental for up to a year after release.