Introduction to Ownership of the Performer’s Right in China

(By Luo Yanjie) As China recently ratified the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances, in today’s post, we will introduce the system and cases of the performers’ rights in the Copyright Law. As for who holds the performer’s right, different judgments will be found through three cases. Who holds the performer’s right? The performer, the company/organizationthat hires the performer, or the performing company/organization? These different judgments can become an obstacle for the further development of China’s performing arts.

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Are Zong Qinghou’s Proposed Trademark Reforms Viable?

wahaha

(By You Yunting) Recently, Chairman Zong Qinghou of Hangzhou Wahaha Group, acting as NPC representative (NPC refers to National People’s Congress), proposed a draft proposal revising the Trademark Law and strengthening the protection of well-known trademarks. We have previously introduced this case in the article Wahaha Group suing KMPG in China, please read this post for further background information. In my opinion, his draft indicates that Chinese entrepreneurs have already found that the growth of Chinese enterprises will be limited unless they improve the standard of protection offered under intellectual property rights law. However, his draft only focused on the intellectual property rights protection of the Wahaha Group, did not account for the interests of the public, and required special protection for the Wahaha Group beyond conventional protection from the government. As such, his draft is not practical.

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How does Microsoft Settle its Problems of Software Copyright Infringement in China?

microsoft

 (By You Yunting) With the serious intellectual property rights infringement in China, many foreign enterprises find it difficult to protect their rights. In today’s post, we will introduce a case detailing how Microsoft settles its problems of software copyright infringement in China.

Introduction to the Case:

Plaintiff: Microsoft

Defendant: Sailun Co., Ltd (SHA: 601058)

Court of first instance: Qingdao Intermediate People’s Court

No.: (2013)青知民初字第80号, (2013)青知民初字第81号, (2013)青知民初字第82号

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How Mobile Game Protects its Intellectual Property Right?

捕鱼达人

(By You Yunting) Recently stock markets have heightened topics about mobile game and serious competition disputes of intellectual property rights (the “IPR”) between China mobile games enterprises are often appeared in the newspapers. According to the reports, Beijing Chukong Inc., the developer of popular “捕鱼达人”(Fishing Joy) mobile games, was engaged in a controversy of IRP because earlier in December the Guangzhou-based SEALY Technology suspected Beijing Chukong Inc.’s “捕鱼达人”(Fishing Joy) of plagiarism on its arcade game product “捕鱼达人”. In response, Beijing Chukong Inc. alleged that: first, the online time of its “捕鱼达人”(Fishing Joy) was earlier than that of SEALY Technology and its mobile game had been reported to the Ministry of Culture. Second, Beijing Chukong Inc. owns the “捕鱼达人”trademark. Third, there are significant differences in art images and playing methods between two products.

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Analysis on Application of Red Flag Rule in China

By Luo Yanjie

Recently, Shanghai No.2 Intermediate People’s Court issued “Investigation Report about Infringement of Right of Information Network Dissemination in the Area” which introduces the application of “red flag” principle in China. Today we would like to share the topic with readers as follows:

I. The basic concept of “red flag” principle

Red flag” principle is an exception of “safe harbor” principle. It means if the fact of infringement obviously like a “red flag” flying, network service providers cannot pretend not to see, or to shirk responsibility as not knowing. In this premise, even if the right people have issued a notice, the court should also identify the Internet service provider is aware of third party’s infringement and shall bear tort liability.

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