Authorities zoom in on film piracy
The article reports that China has launched a nationwide campaign to combat film piracy ahead of the Spring Festival period. The campaign is led jointly by the National Copyright Administration, the China Film Administration, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, with the stated goals of strengthening film copyright protection, maintaining market order, and supporting a healthier viewing environment.
Authorities say enforcement will combine offline inspections with online monitoring. The focus includes stopping covert cinema recordings, shutting down unauthorized online distribution of films, and tackling the sale of pirated intellectual property related derivative products. The article also highlights concern about young people being lured into illegal recording activity and urges internet platforms to take more responsibility when reviewing user uploaded content.
Beyond enforcement, the campaign also aims to improve industry coordination and upgrades, expand copyright education, and raise public awareness about respecting intellectual property rights. The piece adds that China has maintained sustained pressure against film piracy in recent years.
The article cites figures from a similar campaign the previous year, saying more than 762,600 web links to pirated movies were removed and 1,667 online accounts were banned or restricted from distributing content. It also notes that authorities publicized 12 representative cases to show coordinated action.
Examples include a case in Jinhua, Zhejiang, where a group received prison sentences and fines for profiting from websites broadcasting pirated films. Another case in Shanghai involved an individual convicted of copyright infringement for unauthorized broadcasting at scale, receiving a prison sentence with reprieve and a substantial fine. The article also notes that less severe cases may be handled with administrative penalties such as fines and confiscation of illegal gains, giving an example involving sales of edited films through online shops.
