The Chinese government is considering using the latest on-line technology to authenticate, monitor and protect intellectual property rights on the Internet.

The technology would include a software copyright authentication platform and an improved Internet copyright monitoring system.

The use of such measures to prevent copyright infringement and piracy on the Internet was increasing, said Wang Ziqiang, spokesman for the National Copyright Administration of China.

The administration had advised the National Development and Reform Commission to improve software copyright registration, and to set up a software authentication system and an authentication center for suspected pirated software.

The commission was developing new policies for China's software industry, said Wang.

Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences said that software priced over 10,000 yuan (1,250 US dollars) usually employed good encryption schemes, while software priced lower had inadequate copyright protection. They agreed that Internet-based copyright protection and authentication of software were the best options to fight piracy.

"It is very positive that China does not just talk about copyright protection on documents, but really takes action," said Yan Xiaohong, deputy commissioner of the administration.

Further research was needed to decide whether these measures should be compulsory or voluntary, Yan said.

Some Chinese Internet-based companies had already started using technological measures to identify pirates.

R2G, a Beijing-based company locates web servers and sites that offer unauthorized downloadable recordings and pressures them to either shut down the offending links or sign up to licensed, paid services.

To do that, R2G has developed Internet detection programs to track sites unlawfully providing music by artists signed to companies such as Universal Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music and BMG, said Wu Jun, the company's chief executive.

"China needs an integrated copyright authorizing system," he said.

On Monday, China enacted a new regulation on the protection of the right to communicate on the Internet. Under the new regulation, effective as of July 1, anyone uploading texts, and performance, sound and video recordings to the Internet for downloading, copying or other use, must acquire the permission of the copyright owners and pay the required fee.

Source: Xinhua