How Sony Can Avoid Copyright Risk?

Highlights: The article analyzes the case that SONY sued for the infringing content of internet Video-On-Demand service integrated in TV set and the provisions of port principles in China Copyright Law.

It is reported that SONY (TYO: 6758, NYSE: SNE), along with a VOD website, was sued by a Chinese cartoon company (the “copyright owner”), and Beijing Dongcheng District People’s Court has accepted the suit.

As news­ reports, the copyright owner claimed that SONY integrated the internet unicast service software in certain type of its TV set. Furthermore, with SONY’s TV set instruction, the consumer could watch the content of infringing program after registering the serial number of TV online and an account with a website in sequence.

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China Begins to Try Out Intellectual Property Pledge System

HighlightChina’s new policy on intellectual property pledgewhich will help startup firms in technology or creative industries but increase the risks for the banks.

For more innovation and settlement on fund shortages with startups in the technology and creation industry, the Guidance on Financial Support on Revitalization and Development of Culture Industry was issued on 19th March, 2010, by which the collaboration is established between the government of China and more loans to support with company culture is also demanded.

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More than 1 Trillion of Software Revenues in First 8 Months 2011

The China Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (“MIIT”) released the economic statistics on software industry of first 8 months in 2011 on 26th September, 2011, which shows that the revenues of China software industry has totaled 1.112 trillion Yuan(1 USD equivalent of 6.5 RMB)by the end of August, with a year-on-year growth of 30.5%.

From January to August, the revenues of information consulting service and data processing & operation service has respectively achieved 103.2 and 150.1 billion Yuan, basing on a year-on-year raise of 38.5% and 35.7%. Furthermore, such revenues were up to 23% of the software industry revenues, 3 percentage points higher than that of the same period in 2010.

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The Copyright Registration in China Could Be FREE?

 —- Analysis on the Registration System of Copyright in China

Highlight: The copyright registration may enjoy subsidies from the government in some regions in China. Meanwhile, the registration is also kind of solid protection regarding copyright.

News reports indicate that Provisional Measures on Administrative Subsidy on Copyright Registration in Ningbo City will be enforced from this October; the subsidy covers the registration fee of PC software, cosmic works, online games and other legal and popular works.

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China Copyright Protection Term Longer than EU’s?

—Analysis on Copyright Protection Term in China and Protection on Works in Public Domain

Highlight: Describing the protection term of various copyright works in China Copyright Law.

The European Internal Market Committee decided to extend the copyright protection term for performers and sound recordings from the current 50 years to 70 years for their copyright remuneration in the rest life of the performers. (news related, in English)

I. The protection term in China Copyright Law

China Copyright Law clearly regulates the protection terms on various works both domestically and internationally.

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