Red Star News:

With the rise of content production platforms like Douyin, Kuaishou, WeChat, and Weibo, internet users are increasingly enthusiastic about creating various types of online content, but copyright infringement issues often emerge. We have noticed that dozens of media production organizations and copyright holders have recently released a joint statement against copyright infringement in short videos, calling for short video platforms and content production and management parties of public accounts to increase awareness in copyright protection. What is the NIPA's comment on this matter? Thank you.

Shen Changyu:

Thanks for your question. Mr. Yu will answer this question because he is responsible for issues related to copyrights.

Yu Cike:

With the rapid development of digital technologies and mobile networks, China's online short video industry has seen robust growth in recent years. Meanwhile, intellectual property infringement in short video clips has become a very serious issue. This has elicited a strong reaction from rights holders and raised public concern. The NIPA has also paid high attention to such issues.

It is a basic principle stipulated in China's Copyright Law that one shall not distribute or use other people's works without permission. This principle surely applies to films and television works. Over the years, the NIPA has attached great importance to protecting the copyright of films and television works, proactively safeguarding the related orders. During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, the NIPA launched the "Sword Net" campaigns successively to combat online copyright infringement and piracy. During the campaigns, the NIPA introduced targeted regulation measures for relevant fields including film and television, proactively and effectively carried out early warning efforts for key films and television works, and published lists of such works . Over the past five years, a total of 38 such lists have been published, and the early warning efforts have covered 640 key films and television works. By doing so, we have managed to protect the IPR of these fine works when they are transmitted online.

Back in 2018, the NIPA included the rectification work of online short video copyright as a key task of the "Sword Net" campaign. The NIPA has been working to crackdown on copyright infringement and striving to strengthen copyright supervision of video clip platforms, user-based content and public account producers and operators. We have been continuously working on this front in recent years.

This year, in accordance with CPC Central Committee's deployment on strengthening all-round protection of IPR, the NIPA will work proactively to respond to the calls of right holders, and support and protect their legitimate rights. First, the NIPA will redouble its efforts to crackdown on IPR infringement in the short video industry. Copyright violation on short video platforms, user-based content and public account producers and operators, such as unauthorized copying, presenting, and distributing of other people's films, television or musical works, will be resolutely regulated. Second, the NIPA will work to hold video clip platform, user-based content and public account producers and operators accountable on IPR-related issues in a comprehensive manner. The NIPA will strengthen its efforts to establish copyright systems, improve the handling mechanism for copyright-related complaints, and effectively abide by its obligation to report on illegal and criminal activities and provide assistance to investigations. Third, the NIPA encourages film copyright collectives to build their capacity and carry out collective management efforts on the IPR of films in accordance with the law, and play the role of a link to protect the legitimate rights of rights holders and facilitate the legitimate use of users. Thank you.