System of Copyright Protection Has Come Into Shape in China

Since the Copyright Law of the People's Republic of China was enacted 10 years ago, remarkable progress has been achieved in the undertaking of China's copyright protection. A system of copyright law has come into shape and is being improved. The system of copyright judiciary and law enforcement has been set up, and the copyright awareness by the people is being enhanced.

China had joined the Bern Convention, Universal Copyright Convention and the Convention for Recording Products, the three leading international copyright conventions since the copyright law was promulgated two years ago and carried out just a little over one year. China has fully and earnestly performed its duty for copyright protection in accordance with the international standard and is improving its copyright law system and strengthening the judicial and law enforcement system.

According to statistics by the Supreme People's Court, up to the end of last August, China saw 50 courts of intellectual property rights set up under people's courts at all levels and from 1991 to the end of 1999 altogether 3,411 copyright cases have been heard and ruled.

China Music Copyright Association, the first copyright management institution in China, has not only provided copyright services for China's music composers but also signed formal agreements with the world 32 organizations of suchlike for business cooperation. China has seen a vigorous development with its copyright trade in introducing into China foreign books, movies, videos and other audio-visual works. This has helped pushing forward China's modernization construction, and also greatly enriched the cultural life of the people. The export of Chinese books has also played a big role in carrying the civilization of the Chinese nation forward, enhancing exchanges and promoting the opening of China to the outside world.

Ten years have seen frequent and active performances by China's copyright organizations in International exchanges. China has formed a good relationship for cooperation with the World Intellectual Property Rights Organization and the UNESCO and other international copyright organizations. It has also established good relations with many countries on bilateral basis. China is playing an increasingly bigger role in international copyright affairs.



People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/