China Laws and Regulations Update in October 2023

Posted on by

1. Decision to Amend the Provisions of the Supreme People’s Court on Several Issues Concerning Intellectual Property Tribunal

Promulgated by Supreme People’s Court

Promulgation date: 27 October, 2023

Implementation date: 1 November, 2023

Document number: LI [2023] No. 10

The Decision amends the original Article 2, clarifying the scope of the Intellectual Property Tribunal’s hearing of appeal cases and the circumstances under which other cases may be heard. At the same time, Article 3 is amended to read: “The lower people’s court hearing the case referred to in Article 2 of these Provisions shall, in accordance with the provisions, promptly transfer the paper and electronic files to the Intellectual Property Tribunal.” The Decision adds an article as Article 4: “The Intellectual Property Tribunal may require the parties to disclose the information on relevant cases involving the ownership of, infringement upon, granting and confirmation of the intellectual property rights involved in the case. A party’s refusal to make a truthful disclosure may be taken as a consideration in determining whether it follows the principle of good faith and constitutes an abuse of rights, etc.” The Decision also makes changes to other articles. (Source:The Supreme People’s Court website)

READ MORE

How Difficult is it for Heygen AI Services that Make Guo Degang Tell English Jokes to Land in China?

Posted on by

(By You Yunting) Recently, many videos of celebrities speaking foreign languages have appeared on the Internet, such as Guo Degang and Zhao Benshan telling English jokes, and Taylor Swift and Donald Trump speaking Chinese, which is actually supported by using AI services of Heygen. I visited Heygen’s website and found that it was not available to domestic users with no WeChat and Alipay in the service payment channel, but in fact Heygen’s founders are two Chinese, both graduating from Tongji University. Today I would like to discuss the formalities Heygen needs to go through in order to have its AI services land in China.

READ MORE

China Laws and Regulations Update in September 2023

Posted on by

1. Civil Procedure Law of the People’s Republic of China (Amended)

Promulgated by Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress

Promulgation date: 1 September, 2023

Implementation date: 1 January, 2024

Document number: Chinese President Order No. 11

The Decision focuses on amending and improving the part on “Special Provisions on Foreign-related Civil Procedures”. Specifically, it amends the relevant provisions on jurisdiction, expanding the jurisdiction of Chinese courts over foreign-related civil cases; adds the general provisions on parallel proceedings, the principle of forum non conveniens, and other relevant provisions; amends the relevant provisions on service of litigation documents on a party that has no domicile within the territory of the People’s Republic of China; improves the system of judicial assistance in foreign-related civil cases, and adds relevant provisions on the investigation and evidence collection outside the territory of the People’s Republic of China ; and improves the basic rules on the recognition and enforcement of effective judgments and rulings by foreign courts. The Decision also makes corresponding amendments to other parts, such as the addition of a new section on “Cases of Appointment of Estate Administrator” in the original Chapter XV on “Special Procedures”. (Source: National People’s Congress)

READ MORE

China Laws and Regulations Update in August 2023

1. Provisions on Evidence in Civil Litigation on Ecological and Environmental Infringement

Promulgated by The Supreme People’s Court

Promulgation date: 15 August, 2023

Implementation date: 1 September 2023

Document number: LI [2023] No. 6

The Provisions consists of 34 articles, including, in addition to the introductory paragraph, the scope of application, the burden of proof, the investigation, collection and preservation of evidence, the principle of common evidence, expert evidence, orders for the production of documentary evidence, and discretionary damages.

READ MORE

How Does George Martin Prove ChatGPT’s Misuse of Game of Thrones as Training Materials

(By You Yunting) It was reported that Authors Guild and 17 writers, including George Martin, author of A Song of Ice and Fire: A Game of Thrones, brought a collective action against OpenAI, an intellectual intelligence company to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, claiming that OpenAI used the copyrighted work to train AI models without authorization[1]. With great interest in how the plaintiff proved OpenAI misused A Song of Ice and Fire: A Game of Thrones to train ChatGPT, I read the Complaint on the website of Authors Guild. In this article, I would like to analyze this case based on copyright laws.

READ MORE

China Laws and Regulations Update in July 2023

Posted on by

1. Provisional Rules on Generative AI Services

Promulgated by Cyberspace Administration of China, National Development and Reform

Commission of the People’s Republic of China, etc.

Promulgation date: 13 July 2023

Implementation date: 15 August 2023

Document number: CAC, NDRC, MOE, MOST, MOIIT, MOPS, NRTA Order No.15

Six government departments, including Cyberspace Administration of China recently co-issued the Temporary Rules on Generative AI Services (“Rules”) which will be brought into action from August 15th.

READ MORE

China Laws and Regulations Update in June 2023

Posted on by

1. Obstacle Free Environment Law

Promulgated by National People’s Congress

Promulgation date: 29 June 2023

Implementation date: 1 September 2023

Document number: Chinese President Order No.6

The Obstacle Free Environment Law consists of eight chapters and 72 articles, dealing with facility construction, information exchange, social services, etc. under major obstacle free environment policies in a comprehensive and organized way. This law explicitly states that obstacle-free environment is mainly for disabled and old people. The policies, standards, requirements under this law are mainly intended to meet the needs and expectations of disabled and old people, reflect its special characteristics, deal with real issues and make specific provisions more suitable and effective. It also stresses that obstacle-free environment is basic, generally accessible and beneficial to all, stating that people but disabled and old ones who need no obstacle can use the obstacle-free environment to make the obstacle environment benefit all in our society. (Source: NPC website)

READ MORE

China Laws and Regulations Update in May 2023

Posted on by

1. Interpretation of Several Issues Concerning Law Application in Criminal Cases Arising from Adolescent Rape or Obscenity

Promulgated by Supreme People’s Court, Supreme People’s Procuratorate, Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Justice

Promulgation date: 25 May 2023

Implementation date: 1 June 2023

Document number: SAMR Order 72

The Interpretation consists of sixteen articles in six parts.

First, circumstances where child rapists should be sentenced to heavier penalties. In Article 1 of the Interpretation, there are six circumstances where “heavier penalties at a higher level” should be given to child rapists in criminal law, including rape by violence, force, etc., or in a house or dormitory. It also sets out that adults who committed adolescent rape or obscenity and pleaded guilt should be sentenced to lenient penalties with severity.

READ MORE

Are Pig Breeding Businesses under Non-poaching Pact Really Reckless to Face the Risk of Ten Billion Penalties for Monopolies?

Posted on by

(By You Yunting) According to a media report[1], Muyuan Group, a big pig breeding business announced a non-poaching pact among Muyuan, Wens, Twins, Chai Tai and other big businesses, advocating no poaching, less competition and sound development in the industry, stating any violation will result in retaliation. I couldn’t help feeling surprised for the pact probably violating the Anti-monopoly Law and resulting in a penalty of hundreds of million to tens of billion RMB.

Non-poaching pact

In order to reduce internal competitions and develop in sound environments, we advocate:

READ MORE

China Laws and Regulations Update in April 2023

Posted on by

1. Internet Advertisement Regulations

Promulgated by State Administration for Market Regulation

Promulgation date: 20 March 2023

Implementation date: 1 May 2023

Document number: SAMR Order 72

The Rules further clarifies responsibilities of advertisement owners, internet advertisement managers and publishers and internet information service providers; actively addresses social concerns, includes provisions relating to pop-up ads, splash ads and ads published by smart device; further specifies advertisement regulatory rules in key areas, including “advertorials”, internet advertisements containing links, cost-per-click, algorithm recommended or live stream advertisements and ads indirectly published subject to approval; adds provisions relating to jurisdictions over advertising sponsors. It establishes a system that supports regulation and law administration in internet advertising and energizes the orderly growth of the internet advertising industry. (Source: SAMR website)

READ MORE

What Problems Does “AI Sun Yanzi” Have in Intellectual Property and Law?

Posted on by

(By You Yunting) Various AI generated songs by “AI Sun Yanzi” hit the screen the other day. Related intellectual property issues became hot topics on media. I would like to discuss legal issues relating to songs generated from real person’s voice extracted by AI engines.

In brief, based on intellectual property law, it is not very likely that songs generated by AI trained with real person’s voice and used for non-commercial purpose infringe other person’s rights, but before they are made available online, licenses for copyright, backing music and elements used in videos should be obtained. In Civil Code, however, songs generated by AI trained with real person’s voice must be subject to the person’s authorization or otherwise, could infringe personal rights. Let’s look at the “AI Sun Yanzi” case.

READ MORE

Advantages and Disadvantages of Incentive Shares Held Directly and Indirectly

Posted on by

(By Bai Lituan) Over recent years increasingly more businesses have used incentive shares to retain key employees. They may hold shares in the subject company directly (hereinafter referred to as “holding shares directly”) or indirectly through a limited partnership i.e., a platform for employees to hold shares (hereinafter referred to as “holding shares indirectly”). What are the advantages and disadvantages of holding shares directly or indirectly? This article deals with this issue in the areas of business control and tax burden.

READ MORE

China Laws and Regulations Update in March 2023

Posted on by

1. Amendments to Legislative Law of the People’s Republic of China

Promulgated by National People’s Congress

Promulgation date: 14 March 2023

Implementation date: 15 March 2023

Document number: NPC’s decision to amend the Legislative Law

According to the decision, the main content of the amendment is 1. improvement of legislative guidelines and principles, 2. administration of the Constitution and its supervision and clarification of Constitution compliance review requirements for the work on legislative and recordation review; 3. improvement of the mechanism for connecting and unifying legislative and reform decisions and the decision making rules for grant of powers; 4. implementation and demonstration of the whole-process people’s democracy philosophy; 5. scientific, democratic and legal legislation requirements; 6. the legal status of supervision laws and improvement of entities responsible for formulating rules of departments under the State Council; 7. improvement of legislative powers of a city divided into districts and clarification of rules and the work mechanism on coordination in local law making between districts; 8. improvement of recordation review rules; and 9. improvement of the work on legal advocacy. (Source: NPC website)

READ MORE

Why Zheng Yuanjie Finds it Difficult to Seek Protection of Intellectual Property Rights?

Posted on by

(By You Yunting) Zheng Yuanjie, a famous fairy tale writer announced on his personal social account that he would no longer seek trademark protection or publish any written work. By his own account, he had sought trademark protection for 673 infringed trademarks unsuccessfully. After reading part of the content of his Weibo, I feel he may have some misunderstanding of intellectual property protection principles. Actually, he was given a lot of legal protection, but intellectual property protection is different considering its privity. What he is angry about may be unnecessary.

READ MORE

China Laws and Regulations Update in February 2023

Posted on by

1. Instructions on Several Issues Connected with Enforcement Supervision Application Cases

Promulgated by Supreme People’s Court

Promulgation date: 31 January 2023

Document number: FF[2023]4

The Instructions regulates and gives guidance for common issues connected with enforcement supervision application cases. It regulates the filing and processing of these cases and gives guidance and includes requirements for appropriate ways in which parties involved can apply for enforcement supervision to the enforcement court and the court at the next level, eliminates ambiguities in existing enforcement rules by explicitly stating that in cases that should be resolved by arbitration or suing for substantive issues, parties involved and interested persons should follow the procedures of seeking remedies for substantive issues and work to enforce law and protect legal rights of parties involved more efficiently by regulating multiple and repeated enforcement supervision applications. It also sets out the period of application for enforcement supervision, explicitly stating that if the applicant refuses to accept the enforcement reexamination decision or applies to the court for enforcement supervision after expiration of the period for filing an opposition to or a request for reexamining the enforcement, the applicant should do so within the prescribed period of time. (Source: SPC website)

READ MORE