On April 24，the State Council Information Office of China held a press conference to introduce the development of China's intellectual property rights in 2017. Mr. Shen Changyu, commissioner of the State Intellectual Property Office, Mr. Yu Cike, spokesperson of the National Copyright Administration and Mr. Cui Shoudong the leader of Trademark Office of the State Intellectual Property Office briefed the media on the development of China's intellectual property rights in 2017 and answered the questions from reporters. Ms. Gong Yanchun, Deputy Director of Information Bureau, spokesperson of the State Council Information Office of China presided the conference.

China Daily:

I would like to raise a question to Yu. Tencent Music and Netease Cloud Music have reached consensus on internet music copyright cooperation, authorizing music to each other. This has caught widespread attention. How will the people benefit from this cooperation? And what concrete measures have the National Copyright Administration taken to promote the development of the internet music industry ?

Yu Cike:

I appreciate your care about the copyright work. Music is one of the main media spread via the internet. The internet music industry has many customers and major influence. The two companies' cooperation is good news to music fans, who can enjoy more music on the internet. This is also good for the authorization and spread of the internet music resources. Meanwhile, it will also play a positive role in maintaining good protection for network music and building a good ecology for internet music.

In 2015, the National Copyright Administration organized a special campaign on internet music copyright protection. Over the past few years, piracy and copyright infringement have been effectively checked, and the circumstances of network music copyright protection have improved markedly. On this basis, we are thinking about the way to promote a wider spread of works of music while strengthening the internet music copyright protection. This is a very important issue concerning whether the internet music industry can develop faster.

To do so, the National Copyright Administration has strengthened its supervision and coordination, and has taken some additional measures. First, the administration communicated with the main internet music service providers and the music companies, urging them to promote internet music authorization and wide distribution of music, avoiding exclusive authorization. They are encouraged to explore internet music authorization and operation models that are in line with market laws and internet conventions.

Second, the administration has further strengthened its supervision of the copyright protection of internet music, demanding the music service providers and companies reinforce copyright protection of internet music resources, and actively form a good internet music copyright ecology. Third, relevant internet music service providers are asked to settle their disputes over copyright properly, and actively engage in cooperation in regards to internet music copyright.

The two companies' cooperation is the fruit of the administration's efforts to protect internet music copyrights, and also of the administration's efforts to promote the distribution of internet music. It is also an action of the internet music service providers so as to offer better services to internet users, and an active measure to maintain the healthy development of the internet music industry. There have been a few small setbacks and issues in the cooperation, but this will not influence the overall trend and direction of development.

The administration will continue to urge the relevant parties to abide by the laws and rules on copyright protection as well as market rules and international conventions, to build a developed, orderly, regulated and sustainable models for internet music authorization and operation through quality services, fair competition and differentiated development, so as to promote the prosperous and healthy development of the internet music industry. Thank you.

Source: the State Council Information Office Website

Updated: April 25, 2018