Copyright Piracy in China, 5 J. Marshall Rev. Intell. Prop. L. 583 (2006)

Copyrights play a major role in promoting economic development and creating a national identity, and they have a tremendous impact on the social and economic well-being of nations. Within the past fifteen years, China has passed a strong copyright law, upgraded enforcement, and joined the Berne Convention. However, since then, the forward momentum has subsided and piracy has grown deep roots in China. If protecting their own citizens’ rights was not important enough, the threat of international trade sanctions for having inadequate intellectual property protection may force China to reevaluate their current situation and step up international protection