Copyright Law and the Creative Industries in China

The rise of a global information economy has brought China under heavy pressure to protect copyright. Since passing its first copyright law in 1990, China has been engaged in the steady construction of a copyright system that accords with international standards. However, striking a balance between encouraging economic activity through the protection of intellectual property rights and creating an environment in which the needs of consumers are respected and creativity and innovation are not stifled is an ongoing challenge. This paper briefly discusses the role that copyright law might play in the development of China’s creative industries, with reference to China’s own legal and creative traditions, as well as the experiences of people working in today’s domestic film and music industries. The scope of the present law is outlined and the relevance of alternative protection models such as ‘open content licensing’ is considered