WIPO China: Digital Technology Drives Copyright Industry to a Bright Spot in the Global Economy

October 27, 2023

From October 16-18, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) collaborated with the National Copyright Administration of China (NCAC) to orchestrate the 2023 International Training on Overseas Risk Prevention for the Copyright Industry in Shanghai. This initiative aims to bolster copyright enterprises' defenses as they venture globally. Ms. Liu Hua, Director of WIPO's China Office, and Mr. Wang Zhicheng, Director General of NCAC's Copyright Department, addressed the event.

Ms. Liu emphasized the transformative power of digital progression, knitting cultural and creative realms deeply into the copyright arena, thus propelling them to an eminent position in the global economy. By 2022, these symbiotic sectors constituted 3.1% of the worldwide economic production and 6.2% of the global populace. Addressing the evolving digital challenges, she highlighted WIPO's Global Conversation on Frontier Technologies, which serves as catalysts for fostering broad-based innovation.

Celebrating the half-century mark of the WIPO-China partnership this year, Ms. Liu commended China's strides in the innovation and copyright protection and expressed WIPO's keen interest in intensifying cooperation with China, including in the areas such as copyright legislative advancements and creative industry development.

In her compelling address, Ms. Gao Hang, Director of the Copyright Development Division of WIPO highlighted significant progress in international copyright protection between 2020 and 2023. Notably, the Berne Convention welcomed 4 new members like Cambodia, Nauru, San Marino and Uganda, while the Beijing Treaty's membership expanded with 18 countries ranging from Armenia to Ecuador.

She mentioned that in 2021, the UN stressed the creative economy's role in sustainable development, underscoring copyright's importance for societal and economic growth. As the digital age unfolds, countries, including Senegal and Russia, are addressing modern challenges like resale right, public lending, theater directors protection.

Come 2024, Ms. Gao expects treaties on traditional knowledge to genetic resources, as well as a major design law treaty conference in the pipeline. Yet, with rapid AI advancements, there's a race between technology and legislation. Ms. Gao emphasized the need for better risk control, rights protection, and handling of potential infringements in this digital era.

Mr. Wang Zhicheng mentioned in his speech that in recent years, China's copyright industry has been growing rapidly and deepening its internationalization. in 2021, the industry's added value of China's copyright industry reached RMB 8.48 trillion, accounting for 7.41% of the country's GDP. IP has become a key factor for Chinese enterprises to succeed in the international market. The Chinese related authorities and enterprises should work together to build an international risk prevention and control system for the copyright industry, strengthen the innovation capabilities and actively explore overseas markets, and enhance international cooperation on copyright.

Mr. Alessandro Enrico Cogo, Professor of University of Turin Law School and Ms. Stephanie CARRE, Assistant Director of the CEIPI Research Laboratory analyzed in detail various copyright disputes that may arise in the international marketplace and the related cases, and shared the current situation, challenges and development trends of the European Union in terms of the revision of the copyright law as well as the regulations related to the digital marketplace and artificial intelligence.

Other distinguished speakers including Mr. Zhang Fan, Deputy General Manager of China Science Publishing & Media LTD; Mr. Guan Rui, Deputy General Manager of Wings Media Co., Ltd; Ms. Zhu Jing, Vice President of iFLYTEK CO.LTD; Mr. Guo Lin, Manager of Guolin Hezhe Sand Pottery Culture Promotion Co., Ltd; Prof. Hu Kaizhong, Professor of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law and Ms. Diao Yunyun, Vice President of the Legal Department of the Tencent Beijing Branch delivered lectures on various topics such as the prevention and management of copyright in the international marketplace, the prevention and control of copyright related risks in the international marketplace for literary and music work, and the new model of copyright going global.

The training was attended by up to one hundred key officials from copyright departments as well as industry representatives from different provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities of China.