In a signal that the creative industry is determined to protect its rights, a union to help enforce digital copyrights in China was officially established on April 26.

One of the union's founders, Li Heng, chairman of the Beijing International Copyright Trade Center (BICTC), said that sustaining copyrights is crucial, which will in turn improve innovation by digital media.

"Good designs are the crystallization of wisdom, helping China's creative industry have a bright future," Li said. "So the protection of copyrights is practically important."

In addition to the BICTC, the Copyright Society, the Written Works Copyright Society and the Audio-Video Copyright Association are among the seven founding members of the union.

The new organization was unveiled at a ceremony on World Intellectual Property Day during a forum on the Internet and copyrights organized by the BICTC.

A group of experienced lawyers will work with the union to provide consulting services on copyright registration, evaluation and protection.

Organizers said the union will help maintain market order and enhance public awareness of copyright protection.

Guo Biao, chief representative of the China region for the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, said the relationship between the Internet and record companies is like expressways and automobiles. Only if the road is well built and managed can smooth traffic be ensured.

"Internet intellectual property violations harshly diminish the creativity and motivation of musicians," Guo said, noting that "quite a few Chinese music companies have gone bankrupt due to pirates".

"Illegal websites are commonplace," he noted. "So improving Internet supervision is urgent.

"Authorities could learn from the experiences in countries such as France, Britain and South Korea, which have well-established laws and regulations in the field," Guo said.

Yao Xin, chief representative of the Business Software Alliance in China, said the nation's "judiciary has improved, with detailed definitions of infringements and stiffer penalties".

"But law enforcement needs to be enhanced," he noted. "And I hope a police force that specializes in infringement cases can be established."

Artists and nearly 30 leaders of copyright associations and musical companies also attended the forum to discuss problems and make proposals to meet the challenges that most concern the industry.

(Source:China Daily)