China Audio-Video Collective Management Association (CAVCMA) was formally established on Wednesday, website of Xinhua News Agency reports.

Authorized by the National Copyright Administration of China (NCA) and representing musicians and record companies, CAVCMA will collect copyright usage fees from KTV clubs, radio stations, TV stations, and websites.

It will also take measures to crackdown on copyright infringements and piracies.

The establishment of CAVCMA will speed up the revision of China's Copyright Law as well as help copyright owners of songs and music videos obtain more chances to perform, said the report.

More than eighty music companies have already joined the association at present.

The collection of KTV copyright fees is one of the hottest issues in China since NCA approved in 2006 that the KTV industry should pay copyright usage fees to China Audio & Video Association, the preparatory working group of CAVCMA, representing the music copyright holders and Music Copyright Society of China.

According to media reports, KTV industry mainly depends on resources of music and MTV; therefore, paying the copyright usage fees is their legal obligation. In accordance with Copyright Law and Regulations on Collective Management of Copyright, the KTV clubs should pay copyright holders through collective management.

(CRI May 30, 2008)