Internet video regulation

Led by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), the Ministry of Information Industry (MII), the Ministry of Culture (MOC), and the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) have drafted a new regulation on Internet video administration.

All websites, portals and new distribution channels, once in the Internet video business, will come under this regulation.

An official with SARFT said that the related departments have completed investigations and submitted their report to senior leadership for a final decision. SARFT hopes to issue the new regulation by the end of this year, but because of the many issues involved, there is no definite timetable.

In the field of Internet video administration, SARFT has issued "Permission on Disseminating Audio-visual Programmes Through Networks," MOC has issued the "Licence on Operating Cultural Business Through the Internet" and MII has issued the "Internet Information Service Licence." These three regulations are overlapping and contain contradictions.

"That is why the ministries will jointly issue the new regulation. The government hopes to establish unified supervision of Internet videos and resolve the current problems stemming from market confusion and lack of supervision," an expert at SARFT says.

IPR outreach

The 50 nation-wide service centres for intellectual property right (IPR) protection have had a positive influence on mobilizing the public to take part in IPR protection. They have also provided guidance to enterprises on safeguarding IPR.

As of the end of October, the 50 service centres had received 21,400 questions and complaints through the Hotline for Intellectual Property Protection, 12312.

The State Office of Intellectual Property Protection (SOIPP) is promoting the hotline and the service centres as part of encouraging public involvement in IPR protection.

SOIPP will publicize the services through advertisements and posters as well as the Internet.

Opposition to KTV fees

KTV operators have come out against the royalty fees imposed by the National Copyright Administration (NCA) earlier this month.

On November 9, the NCA set a daily royalty of 12 yuan (US$1.50) per KTV room in an effort to improve copyright protection. The fee is in effect in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou on a trial basis and is to be gradually implemented in other cities.

KTV operators in Guangzhou and Shanghai say the fees are too heavy. One sticking point is that operators must pay the room-based fee regardless of whether any customers use the rooms.

Zhu Nan, deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai Entertainment Industry Association, said a room-based rate of 1 yuan (12 US cents) per day would be more ressonable.

"KTV clubs in Shanghai would end up turning over 7.3 million yuan (US$900,000) every year if they had to pay a rate of 1 yuan (12 US cents) per day. That's an awesome amount of money," Zhu says.

Huang Shiqiu, president of the Guangzhou Cultural and Recreational Industry Association, says the fees should be levied according to the number of songs played.

Copyright protection

The National Copyright Administration (NCA) recently approved Japanese and South Korean copyright associations setting up branches in Beijing. The branches are being opened to maintain copyright owners' legal rights and interests and promote healthy development of the copyright trade.

NCA approved the Japanese branch on October 31 and the Korean branch November 15.

In the future, any act involving domestic use of Japanese audio products or Korean music, films or audio/video products should be confirmed by the branches.

China-international co-operation

Tian Lipu, director of the State Intellectual Property Office, recently met with Eric H. Smith, president of the International Intellectual Property Alliance in Beijing.

They discussed strengthening intellectual property protection, amending and improving China's patent law, and future exchange and cooperation.

Tian pointed out that the intellectual property system has developed in an unprecedented way. Tian gave Smith and his party background on the development of China's intellectual property system and current protection of intellectual property.

Shanghai enforcement campaign

To prevent patent piracy the sale of pirated goods, the Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration recently carried out a three-day campaign for patent administrative law enforcement.

Seven law enforcement teams from 19 districts and counties formed a joint force during the campaign. They formulated inspection plans and dispatched 120 enforcement personnel.

During the campaign, inspectors investigated 44 enterprises. They inspected 414,805 items of merchandise and medicine, including 1,936 patented items.

In the next phase, the Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration will publish the products with invalid patents on its website.

(China Daily 11/27/2006 page9)