On March 13, 2025, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Office in China held a Roundtable themed on copyright protection in Beijing. The event aimed to strengthen communication and jointly explore copyright protection issues, especially the new challenges posed by the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI).
Ms. Liu Hua, Director of the WIPO Office in China, stated in her speech that as the United Nations agency that serves the world’s innovators and creators, ensuring that their ideas travel safely to the market and improve lives everywhere. She introduced WIPO's policy platform, international registration platform, global IP database, cooperation platform, and WIPO Academy, which together form a comprehensive service system for IP protection and management. Ms. Liu highlighted that China is a key user of WIPO, and the success of Black Myth: Wukong and Ne Zha 2 not only showcases the unique charm of Chinese culture but also injects new vitality into the global copyright industry. She further emphasized that with the rapid development of AI technologies, the copyright field faces new challenges, and the role of collective management organizations(CMOs) become increasingly crucial. These organizations must safeguard the rights of traditional members while actively serving emerging members. WIPO is exploring solutions through platforms like the "WIPO Conversation on IP and Frontier Technologies" and called on all stakeholders to jointly promote innovative developments in copyright protection, contributing to the sustainable growth of the global copyright industry.
Voices of Participants
In the subsequent discussion, the participants engaged in in-depth exchanges on the current situation, opportunities and challenges of copyright protection.
Mr. Guan Jun, Deputy Director of the Social Services Division of the National Copyright Administration of China (NCAC), provided an overview of the latest progress in the NCAC's efforts in collective management and the development of the copyright industry. He shared the most recent copyright registration data and the results of the economic contribution rate survey of the copyright industry. The data revealed that in 2024, the total number of copyright registrations in China surpassed 10 million, while the industry's added value in 2023 reaching 9.38 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 4.52%, accounting for 7.44% of GDP. He stated that the NCAC is accelerating the revision of the Regulations on the Collective Administration of Copyright and actively promoting the high-quality development of the copyright industry. Key initiatives include hosting the 10th China International Copyright Expo, advancing the work in relation to the WIPO-NCAC Copyright Awards, and developing comprehensive pilot zones for IP finance ecosystems.
Mr. Zeng Jin, Executive Deputy Secretary-General of the Copyright Society of China, introduced the association's latest initiatives in areas such as AI, online infringement, and copyright protection for television dramas. He emphasized that the association maintains a high level of attention to the field of AI and actively supports the NCAC's "Clean Network Campaign," establishing a regularized mechanism for handling overseas piracy websites. Additionally, he highlighted the significant role of the China Copyright Chain Service Platform in copyright protection and the latest achievements made by the association in copyright dispute mediation.
Mr. Liu Ping, Vice Chairman and Director General of the Music Copyright Society of China (MCSC), shared the association's achievements in 2024 and outlined future plans. In 2024, the association's total licensing revenue reached 477 million yuan, a record high and an 11% year-on-year increase. Membership exceeded 14,000, with an average annual growth of around 1,000 in recent years. Revenue from live performances and background music surpassed 130 million yuan, while the database information volume grew by 27% year-on-year. The association also focused on combating online infringement through litigation, promoting the legal use of music on digital platforms. Looking ahead, the MCSC plans to expand into new areas such as music licensing for fashion shows, continue advancing the legalization of online music, support national major projects, and strengthen cooperation with international collective management organizations to facilitate the global dissemination of Chinese music culture.
Mr. Zhou Yaping, Vice Chairman and Director General of the China Audio-Video Copyright Association (CAVCA), presented the association's achievements in 2024 nd outlined future directions. In 2024, the CAVCA generated approximately 5.1 billion yuan in revenue from the Karaoke sector and the newly added broadcasting rights for sound recording producers, with over 4 billion yuan coming from Karaoke licensing fees. Membership also saw significant growth, encompassing nearly 800 record companies and over 1,600 sound recording producers, covering the majority of content providers in the music distribution market. However, challenges remain, including unclear copyright ownership, difficulties in data management, and obstacles in fee collection. Mr. Zhou called for stronger cooperation with WIPO to enhance copyright registration and data management, and advocated for a big data platform to enable real-time content usage monitoring. He also expressed hope that revision to the Implementation Regulations of Copyright Law of China and the Collective Management Regulations would provide stronger support for collective management initiatives. Additionally, he emphasized the need to address challenges posed by AI and explore mechanisms to balance technological advancement with the protection of rights holders' interests.
Mr. Zhang Hongbo, Executive Vice Chairman and Director General of the China Written Works Copyright Society (CWWCS), stated that in 2024, the association's copyright licensing revenue exceeded 23 million yuan, with a distribution ratio over 60%. Through collective management of compilation rights, it licensed over 500 educational books, and advanced theatrical performance rights by introducing foreign plays to institutions like the Beijing People's Art Theatre and promoting domestic plays overseas. He highlighted the CWWCS's international engagement and commitment to "technology for good" in AI, balancing copyright protection with industrial development. In 2025, the association will push for revisions to the Implementation Regulations of Chinese Copyright Law to promote compliant industry growth and raise awareness of copyright value and collective management's role.
Ms. Shi Wenxia, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Film Copyright Association, expressed gratitude to WIPO for supporting CMOs in China. She noted that despite the apparent prosperity, the film industry still faces many challenges and difficulties, necessitating stronger cooperation among industry groups. Citing the "Hi, Mom" copyright dispute, she revealed issues of irregular copyright management and suggested conducting ownership registration before work release, as well as taking measures during transactions to clarify ownership. She emphasized the crucial role of CMOs in protecting rights holders' interests and called on the industry to actively explore and address emerging issues such as short video re-creations and fragmented use of film works.
Ms. Wang Ying, Deputy Director General of the Images Copyright Society of China, outlined the challenges AI poses to the photography industry. She pointed out that due to the lowering barriers of photography creation and the emergence of low-cost AI tools, some users have started to use AI to replace traditional photography, resulting in a flood of low-quality images on the market, severely compressing the survival space of traditional photographic works and disrupting the normal order of the photography copyright market. Furthermore, with the widespread adoption of big data, cloud computing, and new media platforms, the verification and protection of the rights of photographic works is facing unprecedented challenges, necessitating collaboration both within and outside the industry to find appropriate response strategies.
Lyricist, director and Vice Chairman of the China Popular Music Association Mr. Jia Ding emphasized that platforms (e.g., live streaming and self-media) pose the greatest challenge to copyright protection in today’s diversified communication environment. He suggested establishing a co-management mechanism between the government and platforms to balance profitability and copyright protection, while refining membership agreements to distinguish between different usage scenarios. Addressing the challenges of AI-generated music, he called for collaboration with platforms and developers to explore effective copyright management mechanisms. Songwriter and film music producer Mr. Zhang Yilin noted that while film industry budgets have shrunk, the demand for high-quality music has risen. He cautioned that AI, despite boosting efficiency, risks creative homogenization and job losses, urging careful strategies to protect local culture and creativity. Young composer and music producer Mr. Fang Dongqing highlighted music as an abstract and sophisticated art form, stressing the need to balance AI development with the protection of creators' rights, preserving the purity and humanistic value of music creation, and promoting the sustainable growth of the cultural and creative industries.
Ms. Wang Min, legal counsel at Shanghai Fenghua Qiushi Culture Media Co., Ltd., stated that AI is profoundly reshaping the music industry, necessitating in-depth research into copyright protection. She expressed hope that CMOs would enhance support for music copyright holders. Mr. Wen Huasheng, General Manager of Faxian Mengxiang (Beijing) Culture Media Co., Ltd., noted that some companies are profiting from AI-generated works, though the legality of AI music remains controversial. He proposed a labeling system to balance innovation and copyright protection. Ms. Cui Tingqi, General Manager of the Northern Region of Kanjian Music, highlighted AI's role in global music distribution, improving promotion efficiency, market targeting, and copyright monetization. She added that the company will continue to deepen its AI applications to promote music globally.
Senior translator Mr. Bi Bingbin shared his experiences in copyright protection as both an author and translator, noting that despite improvements in the copyright protection environment, challenges remain in safeguarding written works, and individuals still face disadvantages in defending their rights. He called for stronger legislation and enforcement to effectively protect creators' rights. Ms. Chen Xuhan, a legal expert from Ali Pictures, addressed film copyright protection, proposing the establishment of a regional copyright data-sharing mechanism and a fast-track system to tackle challenges such as opaque copyright transfers for overseas films and diverse infringement pathways for domestic films. Mr. Lu Yi, founder of Beijing View Stock Pictures Co., Ltd., highlighted the significant impact of AI on the traditional photography market, emphasizing the urgent need to clarify copyright ownership for AI-generated works and calling for stronger enforcement to protect the legitimate rights and interests of photographers.
More than 20 representatives from copyright-related government departments, industry associations, as well as collective management organizations and rights holders in the fields of music, audio-visual works, literature, photography, and film attended the roundtable.