Fourteen enterprises throughout the country have been punished
for illegally copying video and audio disks. The move is part of
national efforts to intensify the protection of intellectual
property rights (IPR), a senior press official said yesterday.
Six of the companies - in Henan and Guangdong provinces and
Chongqing Municipality - had their licenses revoked.
The move was part of a nationwide crackdown that started in
January, said Sun Shoushan, spokesman for the General
Administration of Press and Publication.
Eight other companies in Beijing and Guangdong Province were
ordered to halt production for the duration of investigations, Sun
said.
Sun's administration and public security departments
investigated 48 compact disk copying companies in 18 provinces and
municipalities over the last few months.
Its crackdown on piracy demonstrates the administration's strong
determination to implement IPR protection, Sun said. "We want to
send a message to enterprises that piracy is not allowed."
The compact disk copying sector has grown rapidly over the past
two decades with more investment entities, including State-owned,
private and foreign companies, entering the market.
This sector is becoming an important part of the nation's
information, and press and publication industries, Sun said.
"Most of the enterprises are well aware of IPRs and operate
their businesses in line with the laws and regulations," he
added.
"But we still have a lot of problems waiting to be resolved in
IPR protection because we have limited experience in this area," he
said.
Poor awareness of IPR protection among ordinary people and a
need for further reform in the market add to the problem, Sun
added.
While cracking down on illegal enterprises, the administration
will offer support to businesses that have their own IPRs.
"We will provide such businesses with preferential policies so
that they can grow and prosper," Sun said.
"In the second half of this year, the administration will take
steps to promote technological development and transformation, as
well as marketing, to help the industry continue to grow," Sun
added.
(China Daily March 27, 2006)