China Film Copyright Protection Association (CFCA) was established and issued a declaration in Beijing on Monday.

As a non-profit organization formed by 62 film-related companies in China, the association aims to provide copyright consultation and assistance for members on commission, said Zhu Yongde, president of first session of the association.

The association, initiated by the China Film Producers' Association, City Cinema Association of China, Chinese Film Circulation and Projection Association and China Audio-visual Producers' Association, is also expected to make suggestions to the government on drawing up the film copyright protection plan, promote the film copyright sense and take part in international exchanges with overseas counterparts.

At the first general assembly held on Monday, the association issued the Declaration of Film Copyright Protection which proposes the public not buying pirated film VCDs or DVDs, which are easily found in China's audiovisual production stores and even from peddlers.

"The association will protect not only Chinese-made films but also imported films on commission," Zhu said.

China's Ministry of Culture (MOC) and the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) on July 13 signed a memorandum on the crackdown on pirated US home video products for the protection of copyrights of Hollywood movies.

Michael C. Ellis, Senior Vice President & Regional Director of the Motion Picture Association (MPA), extended his congratulations on the establishment of CFCA, saying fighting piracy and promoting IPR is an agenda that people can and must work together on to build a health film industry.

"I look forward to a long term working relationship (with the association). This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Chinese film making, and there is no better time for this agenda to be the platform," he said.

China has always been working on fighting the film piracy, as it confiscated 39.37 million pirated audio-visual productions in 2004.

Source: Xinhua