Music copyrights

EMI Music Publishing, the world's largest music publisher, launched its search engine for music copyrights in China, in a bid to reduce music copyright infringements in the country.

The search engine, the first of its kind in China, will allow users to find the copyright information of more than 1.8 million songs owned by EMI. The music publisher says the engine will make it easier for service providers (SP) to find copyright information, such as the singer, songwriter and publisher, and thus encourage the providers to reduce the use of pirated music.

It is estimated that more than 85 per cent of China's Internet songs are pirated, a bad omen for music companies as China has the world's second-largest Internet user population. Meanwhile, the value of pirated music is estimated at more than US$5 billion across the world. Six out seven music tracks sold are illegal, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.

On-line anti-piracy

In the nation's latest move to strengthen intellectual property rights, China's copyright authorities will launch an online anti-piracy system, according to the Beijing News.

The system will be able to identify pirated software, films, music and other copyrighted works, says Yan Xiaohong, deputy chief of the National Copyright Administration.

China has adopted a new set of rules this July, which bans the uploading and downloading of Internet material without the copyright holder's permission.

Yan said the government was also working on the ratification of two international treaties on the Internet with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

However, China still lagged in copyright protection at an international level, although piracy was still a problem in countries with the highest levels of copyright protection, Yang says.

China is the world's second-largest Internet market after the United States with more than 123 million Internet users and 788,400 websites.

Trademark claims

A group of Chinese enterprises are trying to claim back their trademarks in Hong Kong, after the discovery of the malicious trademark registration of 187 famous brands from the mainland, according to Hong Kong-based Wen Wei Po.

Senior officials from the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Department say only one of the 187 brands from the Chinese mainland have been approved for trademark registration. Although most of the others have been examined, the results haven't been publicized yet. The applications of nearly 20 brands have been cancelled.

Almost 20 per cent of trademark registration applications will be cancelled for opposition every year, but since it is relatively difficult to collect evidence to oppose the applications, the Hong Kong IPD hopes that the enterprises register their trademarks as soon as possible.

Internet investment

China welcomes qualified foreign companies willing to legally invest in the country's Internet services, says an official with the Ministry of Information Industry (MII), according to the Xinhua News Agency.

The government will offer consultations on concerned policies, says the official, who asked to remain anonymous.

The remarks came as a response to foreign investors' concerns over the government's latest intention to tighten the regulations of Internet services.

A government circular issue earlier this July said foreign-invested website operations under rented license will be closed according to the new rules. Meanwhile, domestic telecom companies will not be allowed to lease or sell licenses to foreign investors.

China opened its telecom industry to foreign companies five years ago and required foreign investors to acquire a license to operate websites in China.

Foreign investors usually offer services using shared or borrowed licenses, or Chinese partners' domain names and trademarks despite the rule.

The ministry asked departments concerned to launch checks on websites before November 1. Websites, which operate with borrowed or rented licenses, will have to apply directly for a license of their own.

Smart card deal

Digital content security solution provider Irdeto reached an agreement with Shaanxi Broadcasting and TV Information Network Co Ltd to offer 1 million smart cards for Shaanxi's digital TV migration project.

The deal is the largest smart card contract awarded to any content protection vendor in China, according to Alex Zhou, manager of Irdeto China.

Amsterdam-based Irdeto updates its smart cards to counter unauthorized access to digital content. Meanwhile, the company will provide several versions of the cards available in one single network, which can minimize losses in case one version is cracked.

Creative zones

Chongqing municipality in Southwest China will step up efforts to build 50 creative industry zones to boost the city's creative industries.

The municipal government will provide incentives to enhance the development of six creative industries: including research and design, software development, architecture, media and fashion.

The creative industries are expected to make up 6 per cent of the city's gross domestic product by 2010 and provide job opportunities to 60,000 people, officials believe.

The city will also try to build the largest film and TV industries in China's western area, relying on local film academies and schools.

According to the government's plan, Huanghuping, now a street lined with old factories, will become home to 10 art centres and 60 creative workshops.

(China Daily 08/14/2006 page9)

2013-07-17