[Commons-Law] Karaoke Copyright Royalties in China

[Pranesh Prakash]

Dear All,
Interesting news about karaoke in China.
*
*http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/01/content_7349628.htm*
Half of Chinese provinces pay karaoke copyright royalties*

BEIJING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Nearly half of Chinese provinces have taken
initiatives to collect karaoke copyright royalties by the end of 2007 in an
effort to protect intellectual property rights (IPR) in audio and video
sectors.

China Audio and Video Association (CAVA) and China Copyright Society of
Works of Music (CCSWM) said 15 provinces and municipalities, including
Beijing, Guangdong and Jiangsu, had so far agreed to pay copyright
royalties, and the practice should be spread nationwide.

Karaoke operators are required to pay a daily charge of 12 yuan (1.6 USD)
for each karaoke room -- less in underdeveloped regions -- for the use of
musical and video products, as stated in a National Copyright Administration
notice in Nov. 2006.

Liu Chuntian, an IPR expert, said the charges represented the fact that
China's IPR protections had shifted from words to practice.

An official with the country's IPR protection group echoed Liu, saying that
the move marked new progress in property protection.

However, some Karaoke operators were still trying to avoid or delay paying
the fee, and using the song databases illegally.

Lv Wenju, spokesman with the CAVA and the CCSWM, said the associations would
accelerate IPR protection campaigns, and resort to court proceedings against
illegal use of the songs.

Yunnan province had recently found a case of illegally copying of a
20,000-song-database. The two suspects have been taken into custody. The
other 16 Chinese provinces have plans to implement IPR for karaoke
performances, but no timetable has been provided as to when this will be
carried out.
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