On September 24 and 25, the China-EU Roundtable on Copyright Protection in the Digital Environment co-hosted by the National Copyright Administration of China (NCAC) and the European Commission-directed IP Key China was held in Shanghai. GuestsParticipants from Chinese and EU copyright sectors discussed updates on China-EU copyright protection in the digital environment and international emerging issues on copyright practice, and shared new measures, outcomes and experience of copyright protection in the context of the new round of technological revolution.

China and the EU have maintained effective communication and productive cooperation on intellectual property (IP). Both sides have been working together on IP since 1996, extensively exchanging views and developing partnerships with regard to IP legislation, enforcement and IP innovation policies. These endeavors have enhanced mutual understanding of each other’s IP systems and played a positive role in improving copyright legislation and enforcement on both sides and promoting the healthy and stable development of China-EU economic and trade ties.

Yu Cike, Director-General of Copyright Department, NCAC said at the meeting that digital technology gave rise to a series of new challenges to copyright protection and development and accordingly called for the establishment of a more balanced and effective international copyright protection system. At present, China is promoting the strategy of innovation-driven development and building an IP powerhouse. The nation has worked extensively and productively on copyright protection, including revising the currently effectively Copyright Law and advancing the “Jiangwang” campaign, a special online infringement and piracy crackdown campaign. It shows that the value added generated by China’s copyright industry exceeded RMB 6 trillion in 2017, accounting for 7.35% of the nation’s GDP; the value of China’s online copyright industry reached RMB 742.3 billion in 2018, up by 16.6% year on year. It provesillustrates  that China’s determination is determined to promote copyright protection and development. The online copyright industry will embrace faster and better development when it adapts to new technology and solves new copyright concerns in the digital environment.

According to Ruben Schellingerhout, Counsellor for Intellectual Property Rights, European Union Delegation to China, the exponential progress of modern technology in recent years has triggered tremendous changes in the production, circulationdistribution and consumption environment of contents. In this context, China and the EU should reinforce collaboration and apply new methods, especially digital methods to protect copyrights. China and the EU enjoy a long history of cooperation. The former is developing rapidly in the copyright sector. Schellingerhout hoped that Chinese and EU copyright sectors could exchange views, deepen communications, and seek win-win development and cooperation at this meeting.

Zheng Zhi, Director of Copyright and Legal Affairs Office, China Central Television (CCTV), Wang Qian, Professor at the East China University of Political Science and Law, Zhang Qinkun, General Secretary of Tencent Research Institute and Xu Qiuhua, General Counsel of Bilibili delivered speeches on recent developments of China-EU copyright protection in the digital environment, Beijing Treaty on Audio-visual Performances and the protection for performers, and signal protection for broadcasting organizations in the digital environment on behalf of China at the meeting. Dr. Silke von Lewinski at Max Planck Institute for Intellectual Property, Munich, Germany, Professor Peter Ganea, Co-Director of Sino-German International Economic Law Institute at Tongji University, China, Xenia Manning, Director of International Trade at the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), Lisette van Diepen, an expert at Format Recognition and Protection Association (FRAPA), Tim Smith, an expert at Rouse Consultancy and Benjamin Ng, Regional Director for Asia-Pacific of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) shared their views on EU copyright protected acts, protection of TV formats and copyright protection of creators in the digital environment on behalf of the EU. Guests agreed that the digital environment generated new challenges and difficulties for copyright protection across the globe. On that account, the world has to reinforce cross-border copyright exchange and cooperation and jointly promote the healthy development of the international copyright industry.

Xu Jiong, Director General of Shanghai Copyright Bureau and Andrea Caballe, Activity Coordinator of IP Key attended the meeting. More than 100 representatives of Chinese and European copyright administrations, relevant international organizations, copyright collective management organizations, collegesacademic and universities and copyright sectorsindustry also attended the meeting.

Chinese and foreign guests also visited Shanghai-based Firstbrave Group and Bilibili during the meeting and discussed development models of the digital copyright industry.