Joint efforts further crack down on piracy
By Qiu Quanlin (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-09-23 01:16

China Audio and Video Association and four cultural associations in South China's Guangdong Province, including Guangdong Copyright Protection Association, joined together Wednesday to further crack down illegally-copied audio-visual products.

The announcement was made before the China International Exposition of Audio-Visual Industry, which is scheduled from September 26-29 in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province.

The five cultural associations vowed Wednesday they will not produce any fake audio-visual products, and will make more co-operations with the Chinese Government to further regulate the cultural product market.

Guangdong Province has become the centre for making, copying, packing and distributing audio products in China, according to Wang Yequan, vice-director of the exhibition's organizing committee.

At present, the wholesale volume of audio products in the province accounts for 70 per cent of the country's total.

In addition, Guangdong's CD output makes up more than 50 per cent of China's total.

However, Guangdong is also one of the largest victims of pirated CDs in the country, said Wang.

"Such activities jeopardize the Chinese economy, hurt our tax revenue and also jeopardize the Chinese image in front of the world,"Wang said.

Guangdong Province has been making great efforts to combat fake discs and videos.

By September 20, police in Guangzhou had confiscated 36,000 illegally-copied discs and videos and closed down 49 stores which produced and sold fake CDs, after it launched an inspection of audio-visual products early this year, according to Wang.

Organized by the Ministry of Culture and the Guangdong Provincial Government, the upcoming China International Exposition of Audio-Visual Industry aims to display China's achievements in developing its audio-visual industry and in protecting intellectual property rights.

The exhibition has attracted 52 domestic and overseas audio and video enterprises and institutions, so far.

Some big overseas names, such as US-based Warner Brothers International Cinemas, are involved.

A public lecture on China's Policies and Laws on Audio-Visual Products will be staged along with the exhibition, in which the Chinese Government will explain its policies and laws concerning the production, circulation and import and export of audio-visual products.

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