On January 22, ZHOU Huilin, Vice Minister of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of China (SAPPRFT) and Vice Minister of the National Copyright Administration of China (NCAC), met with the delegation headed by Mr. Daren TANG, Chief Executive of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) in Beijing. The two sides exchanged views on promoting the early entry into force of the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances, strengthening communication and exchange under the framework of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), as well as copyright issues of common concern such as copyright legislation and systems.

ZHOU Huilin expressed his appreciation for the important work Mr. Daren TANG undertook as Chairman of the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR). He pointed out that China was moving toward high-quality development and would continue to strengthen the creation, protection and utilization of intellectual property rights in the future. NCAC was willing to continue actively and flexibly participating in the consultations on the relevant issues of SCCR and the formulation of new international rules on copyright. Both China and Singapore had maintained good communication and had more frequent dialogues in the field of copyright. It was expected that China and Singapore could strengthen exchanges and interactions under the framework of SCCR and further promote the more extensive and pragmatic bilateral cooperation and exchange in copyright.

ZHOU Huilin stressed that smooth progress were being made in promoting the entry into force of the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances, one of the important achievements of SCCR in recent years. China formally ratified the treaty in July 2014. At present, another 11 countries were needed for the treaty to enter into force. China was willing to cooperate with Singapore in this regard, and expected Mr. Daren TANG, as the Chairman of SCCR, to keep paying his attention to the progress of the ratification and promoting the entry into force of the treaty, for the benefit of more performers and the public.

ZHOU Huilin also updated the third amendment to the Copyright Law of China. He said that the emerging forms of online infringement and piracy posed great challenges to copyright protection, which required copyright laws and systems to be adapted to technological progress by undergoing constant improvement and development. The Chinese government attached great importance to fighting against new forms of infringement and piracy, and had been carrying out relevant investigations and studies. New technological factors were taken into account in the amendment of the Copyright Law, to actively create a favorable network copyright ecology.

Daren TANG said Singapore was also amending its copyright law. While amending the copyright law, Singapore was seriously studying the accession to the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances. It was expected that Singapore and China could not only further promote copyright cooperation between the two countries, but also work together to deepen international cooperation in the field of copyright.

YU Cike, Director General, TANG Zhaozhi, Deputy Director General, Copyright Department of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of China (SAPPRFT) and the National Copyright Administration of China (NCAC), and some others were present at the meeting.

Update: January 24, 2018