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Conceptualizing Copyright Exceptions in China and South Africa pp 173–200Cite as

China: Copyright Issues in a Digital Environment

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Part of the book series: China-EU Law Series ((CELS,volume 6))

Abstract

The Copyright Law of 1990 mainly deals with paper-based copyrights. This 1990 law was amended in 2001 in order to address issues arising in an information network environment. Nevertheless, the piecemeal approach adopted by the Copyright Law Amendments of 2001 no longer meets the needs of rapidly developing digital technology and the expanding market of copyrighted products, which requires a more comprehensive revision of copyright laws in China. The Copyright Law of 1990, along with the Copyright Law Amendments enacted in 2001, has been undergoing a significant reform since 2012.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    (1999) Hai Zhi Chu Zi No 57.

  2. 2.

    Art 10(5) of the Copyright Law Amendments of 2001.

  3. 3.

    National Copyright Administration Regulations on Copyright Issues regarding the Production of Digital Products National Copyright Administration [1999] No 45 (Regulations on Copyright of Digital Products), promulgated by the NCA on 9 December 1999 and in effect on 1 March 2000.

  4. 4.

    Arts 1& 2 of the Regulations on Copyright of Digital Products.

  5. 5.

    Peng (2005), p. 23.

  6. 6.

    Peng (2005), p. 27.

  7. 7.

    Zhu (2007), pp. 23–25.

  8. 8.

    Liang (2007), p. 45.

  9. 9.

    Id 55 & 57.

  10. 10.

    Id 42–43. For example, it is argued that Article 16 of the Regulations on Protection of Computer Software implies that a temporary storage of software in a computer is a reproduction of it, see Ying (2004), p. 7.

  11. 11.

    Peng (2005), p. 29.

  12. 12.

    Hu (2008), p. 222.

  13. 13.

    Liang (2007), p. 44.

  14. 14.

    Feng and Yang (1998), p. 21.

  15. 15.

    Jiang (2017).

  16. 16.

    Liu (1998), p. 30.

  17. 17.

    Art 10(8) of the Copyright Law Amendments of 2001. It is a right to display publicly an original copy or reproductions of an original copy of fine art or a photographic work.

  18. 18.

    Art 10(9). It is a right to perform a work publicly and to communicate the performance of the work by any means.

  19. 19.

    Art 10(10). It is a right to present an artistic work, a photographic work, a cinematographic work and works made by means of cinematography by projector, slide projector or any other similar instrument.

  20. 20.

    Art 10(11). It is a right to broadcast or communicate a work to the public by any wireless means, to communicate works being broadcast to the public by wire or by rebroadcasting, and to communicate works being broadcast by loudspeaker or any other similar instrument transmitting signs, sounds or images to the public.

  21. 21.

    Art 10(12).

  22. 22.

    Art 10(12).

  23. 23.

    Art 26 of the Information Network Regulations.

  24. 24.

    Art 2.

  25. 25.

    Beijing Chinese All Co Ltd v China Tietong Group Co Ltd (2007) Xi Min Chu Zi No 06397; Beijing Ciwen Film & TV Production Co Ltd v Xingmei Digital Co Ltd (2007) Yi Zhong Min Chu Zi No 4885; Edko Films Ltd v United ITV Inc (2007) Yi Zhong Min Chu Zi No 909.

  26. 26.

    Examples are digital television and third generation mobile communication technology (3G) that provide interactions among users, mobile manufacturers, service providers and content providers. With an information network communication right, copyright holders are better protected in a multimedia environment with an interactive information network system. See Wu (2008), p. 61. For an explanation of 3G service, see EUROPA (2006).

  27. 27.

    van Dam (2006), p. 255.

  28. 28.

    Arts 22 & 23 of the Information Network Regulations.

  29. 29.

    Art 23.

  30. 30.

    Art 24.

  31. 31.

    Zarins (2004), pp. 257–298.

  32. 32.

    Sony Corp v Universal City Studios 464 US 417 (US Cal 1984) 439.

  33. 33.

    See Ellison v Robertson 357 F 3d 1072 (9th Cir 2004) 1077 III (stating the rule as ‘knew or had reason to know’, then applying it as ‘should have been on notice’); Religious Tech Center v Netcom On-Line Comm 907 F Supp 1361 (ND Cal 1995) 1374 (using ‘knew or should have known’ standard); Sega Enterprises Ltd v MAPHIA 857 F Supp 679 (ND Cal 1994) 686–687 (conflating knowledge requirement with material contribution requirement); see also Lemley and Reese (2003–2004), p. 1357 (‘it is not clear that Sony itself would have escaped secondary liability under the Ninth Circuit’s reading of the Supreme Court's test’ (footnote omitted)).

  34. 34.

    Sony 464 US 417 442.

  35. 35.

    Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer v Grokster Ltd 380 F 3d 1154 (9th Cir 2004) 1162; In Re Aimster Copyright Litigation 334 F 3d 643 649–651.

  36. 36.

    Wang (2015), pp. 868–873.

  37. 37.

    According to the Internet Copyright Disputes Interpretation, an ICP or an ISP that participates in copyright infringement, or assists or abets a user to infringe on copyright is considered to have contributory liability along with the user.

  38. 38.

    Sony BMG Music Entertainment Hong Kong Limited v Baidu (2005) Yi Zhong Min Chu Zi No 10170; Warner Music Hong Kong Ltd v Baidu (2005) Yi Zhong Min Chu Zi No 8995; Universal Music Ltd v Baidu (2005) Yi Zhong Min Chu Zi No 8474; Gold Label Entertainment Limited v Baidu (2005) Yi Zhong Min Chu Zi No 7965; Cinepoly Records Co Ltd v Baidu (2005) Yi Zhong Min Chu Zi No 8478; Go East Entertainment Co Ltd v Baidu (2005) Yi Zhong Min Chu Zi No 7978; EMI Group Hong Kong Ltd v Alibaba (2007) Er Zhong Min Chu Zi No 02621; Universal International Music BV v Alibaba (2007) Er Zhong Min Chu Zi No 02626; WEA International Inc v Alibaba (2007) Er Zhong Min Chu Zi No 02630; Warner Music Hong Kong Limited v Alibaba (2007) Er Zhong Min Chu Zi No 02625; Universal Music Limited v Alibaba (2007) Er Zhong Min Chu Zi No 02622; Universal International Music BV v Alibaba (2007) Er Zhong Min Chu Zi No 02626; EMI (Taiwan) Ltd v Alibaba (2007) Er Zhong Min Chu Zi No 02623; Mercury Records Limited v Alibaba (2007) Er Zhong Min Chu Zi No 02629; Sony BMG Music Entertainment v Alibaba (2007) Er Zhong Min Chu Zi No 02628; Go East Entertainment Company Limited v Alibaba (2007) Er Zhong Min Chu Zi No 02627; Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Taiwan) Limited v Alibaba (2007) Er Zhong Min Chu Zi No 02624.

  39. 39.

    EMI Group Hong Kong Ltd v Baidu (2005) Yi Zhong Min Chu Zi No 8488.

  40. 40.

    EMI Records Limited v Alibaba (2007) Er Zhong Min Chu Zi No 02631.

  41. 41.

    (2007) Gao Min Zhong Zi No 593.

  42. 42.

    (2007) Gao Min Zhong Zi No 621.

  43. 43.

    Liang (2007), pp. 269–270.

  44. 44.

    Id 271.

  45. 45.

    Art 78 of the ECTA.

  46. 46.

    Liu (2006), pp. 25–27; Liang (2007), p. 249.

  47. 47.

    Han (2008), pp. 54–55.

  48. 48.

    Han (2008), p. 55.

  49. 49.

    Jin (2000), pp. 225–333.

  50. 50.

    Art 47(6) of the Copyright Law Amendments of 2001.

  51. 51.

    Art 24(3) of the Regulations on Protection of Computer Software of 2002 Order of State Council [2001] No 339, and effective as of 1 January 2002.

  52. 52.

    See the Supreme People’s Court Decision on the Amendments of the Interpretation of the Supreme People’s Court on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in Relation to Copyright Disputes over Computer Network of 2006 Judicial Interpretation [2006] No. 11, as effect on 8 December 2006 http://www.chinalaw.gov.cn/article/fgkd/xfg/cfjs/200904/20090400132154.shtml (accessed 27-08-2017).

  53. 53.

    Art 6 of the ISP Interpretation.

  54. 54.

    Art 26 of the Information Network Regulations.

  55. 55.

    Art 4.

  56. 56.

    Wang (2008a), p. 59. Liang (2007), p. 67; Ma (2001), pp. 41–46.

  57. 57.

    Arts 4, 8 & 19 of the Information Network Regulations.

  58. 58.

    Zhang (2006), pp. 80–81.

  59. 59.

    Arts 4 & 19 of the Information Network Regulations.

  60. 60.

    Ginsburg (2005).

  61. 61.

    Art 12 of the Information Network Regulations.

  62. 62.

    Yang (2004), p. 120.

  63. 63.

    Id 121.

  64. 64.

    A great detail of discussion on the importance of reverse engineering is found in Vinje (1994), p. 364. Also see Sega Enterprises Ltd v Accolade Inc 977 F 2d 1523–1524 (9th Cir 1992), the Court noted that de-compilation techniques have been used widely in the software industry, and stated that

    an attempt to monopolize the market by making it impossible for others to compete runs counter to the statutory purpose of promoting creative expression.

  65. 65.

    An US example is that in 2001, a team of researchers led by Professor Felton participated in a public event called the Hack SDMI Challenge. After learning that they would present a paper explaining they had discovered that the SDMI (Secure Digital Music Initiative) technology was insecure and would be defeated upon its introduction to the public, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) sent a letter threatening DMCA legal action if they present their findings. Fearing legal liability, the scientists withdrew their paper from the Conference. For comments on this case, see Gross (2001). To avoid the chilling effect of anti-circumvention rules on the development of technology, Chinese anti-circumvention rules should have an exception allowing researchers to circulate their research results within an academic community.

  66. 66.

    Lai (1998), p. 47.

  67. 67.

    Singapore also proposed the sole purpose test for circumvention devices at the WIPO Diplomatic Conference, see World Intellectual Property Organization & Chairman of the Committee of Experts on a Possible Protocol to the Berne Convention & Possible Instrument for the Protection of the Rights of Performers and Producers of Phonograms Basic Proposal for the Substantive Provisions of the Treaty on Certain Question of Literary and Artistic Works to be Considered by the Diplomatic Conference (1996) CRNR/DC/12.

  68. 68.

    JH Blavin argues that

    that copyright statutes are inherently bent in favour of status quo interests and biased against absent interests (eg, the public), thus resulting in inflexible laws that lack long-term stability as new technologies emerge,

    see Blavin (2001), p. 745. To avoid the legal inflexibility, with the development of technology, Chinese anti-circumvention rules should have a general exception that allows judges flexibility to interpret and apply the law in different situations.

  69. 69.

    Cao (2006), p. 36; Liang (2007), p. 90.

  70. 70.

    Art 47(6) of the Copyright Law Amendments of 2001 simply states that administrative organs are authorised to stipulate exemptions for anti-circumvention rules. However, the Copyright Law does not have a provision designating a particular organ to assess exemptions on a regular basis.

  71. 71.

    Gasser (2006), research paper of Harvard Law School, Berkman Center, Research Publication No 2006-04, 50–51.

  72. 72.

    Cao (2006), pp. 150–151.

  73. 73.

    Promulgated on 2 August 2002 and effective as of 15 September 2002.

  74. 74.

    Contract Law of the People’s Republic of China, promulgated on 15 March 1999.

  75. 75.

    Art 16 of the Contract Law of 1999 Order of the President of PRC [1999] No. 15.

  76. 76.

    Art 16 of the Contract Law of 1999 Order of the President of PRC [1999] No. 15.

  77. 77.

    Art 30.

  78. 78.

    Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests, Order of the President of PRC [1993] No. 11 was adopted on 31 October 1993 and came into effect on 1 January 1994, amended in 2009 and 2013.

  79. 79.

    Art 26.

  80. 80.

    Huijia Xie (2014), p. 43.

  81. 81.

    44.

  82. 82.

    Two exemptions found in Arts 22(4) & (5) of the Copyright Law of 1990 can be excluded from application by a contract. Art 22(4) provides an exemption allowing newspaper and periodical publishers, as well as radio and television stations to reprint or rebroadcast published articles and rebroadcast programs on current political, economic or religious topics. Art 22(5) provides an exemption allowing newspaper and periodical publishers, as well as radio and television stations to print or rebroadcast a speech delivered at a public gathering. The Information Network Regulations also allows a right holder to use a contract to preclude the two exemptions from being applied in an information network environment. Other copyright limitations and exceptions are presumably non-excludable by contract.

  83. 83.

    Art 124 of the Contract Law of 1999.

  84. 84.

    Mo (2005), p. 101; Dong and Zhu (2005), p. 96.

  85. 85.

    Dong and Zhu (2005), p. 96; Ren (2008), p. 94. Wan argues that the act of downloading means a consumer consents to a contract, see Wan (2001), pp. 101–102.

  86. 86.

    Dong and Zhu (2005), p. 96.

  87. 87.

    Ibid.

  88. 88.

    Dong and Zhu (2005), p. 98.

  89. 89.

    Ibid.

  90. 90.

    Li and Zou (2006), p. 37.

  91. 91.

    Feng (1998), pp. 30–38.

  92. 92.

    Jia (2008), p. 112.

  93. 93.

    http://www.ncac.gov.cn/cms/html/309/3502/201207/759779.html (accessed on 30-08-2017) (Chinese version). The first round of public consultation on the 1st Revision Draft closed on 31-03-2012.

  94. 94.

    The stipulation of limitations on copyrights used to be a part of Chapter Three of the Copyright Law of 1990, now relevant provisions have been put together as Chapter Four in the 2nd Revision Draft.

  95. 95.

    Chapter Six of the 2nd Revision Draft.

  96. 96.

    Art 11 of the 2nd Revision Draft.

  97. 97.

    Art 46 of the 2nd Revision Draft.

  98. 98.

    Geiger (2006), p. 376.

  99. 99.

    Art 42 of the 2nd Revision Draft.

  100. 100.

    Wang (2008b), p. 309.

  101. 101.

    ID 312.

  102. 102.

    Creative Commons ‘China Open Resources for Education’.

  103. 103.

    http://songshuhui.net.

  104. 104.

    China OSS Promotion Union ‘Homepage’ China OSS Promotion Union http://www.copu.org.cn/ (accessed 27-08-2017).

  105. 105.

    China Internet Network Information Center ‘CNNIC publishes 24th Statistical Report on Internet Development in China’ (17-6-2009).

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    Jia Wang

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Wang, J. (2018). China: Copyright Issues in a Digital Environment. In: Conceptualizing Copyright Exceptions in China and South Africa. China-EU Law Series, vol 6. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71831-6_6

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