China issued a statement on Friday to show the country's
commitment to a campaign, the largest of its kind in recent years,
to curb piracy in the audio-video and software production
industry.
Ten departments, including the National Anti-Piracy Office, the
ministries of culture, public security, construction and
supervision, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce,
and the General Administration of Press and Publication, have
joined forces for the campaign.
"Promotion of legal copies of CDs, DVDs and computer software is
China's unremitting and unshakeable commitment," announced Long
Xinmin, director of the General Administration of Press and
Publication and the National Copyright Administration.
He made the remark during a ceremony launching a 100-day
anti-piracy campaign that began on Saturday and will runĀ until
October 25.
Roadside vendors and licensed video storekeepers are all on a
market checklist, the statement said.
"Previous working experience told us pirated discs and software
were sold not only by mobile and small-sized vendors, but also on
the shelves in lots of licensed, well-decorated video shops," said
Liu Binjie, chief of the National Anti-Piracy Office.
Any person or organization found involved in manufacturing,
transporting, selling or renting houses for storing pirated discs
would be subject to even stricter penalties and closed down,
according to Liu.
From July 15 to August 15, all pirated discs and software
sellers will be urged to quit this "illegal but profitable"
business and have regular contact with local market investigators
by submitting self-check reports every week.
For those still selling illegal copies after mid-August,
stricter punishments will be dealt, with a minimum fine of 10,000
yuan (US$1,250).
The business licenses of sellers will be revoked if more than
100 discs are found for sale.
"In order to avoid any corruption in the campaign, the
supervision authority has for the first time been invited to join
the team to guarantee the fairness, justice and transparency of the
action," Liu added.
The move is part of the nation's efforts to protect intellectual
property rights (IPR).
Publications with content threatening public security and social
stability or that use illegal print numbers are also on the
crackdown list.
(China Daily July 15, 2006)