Another successful copyright suit brought by a non-Chinese entity, in this case the MPAA, against a Chinese entity.
Frank Rittman, the VP and regional legal counsel for the Asia-Pacific at the MPA, notes the link between Chinese piracy and restrictions on foreign films within China:

“unquestionably one of the foundations of China's piracy problems—and the piracy rate for motion pictures in China is estimated at 93 percent—is the lack of market access accorded to foreign films. The maintenance of the theatrical exhibition quota, combined with the frequent imposition of ‘blackouts’ on the theatrical release of foreign films, and the restrictions on home video distributors compared with pirate retailers, give movie pirates a tremendous market advantage. Market access, i.e. a more open market, is a prerequisite for reducing piracy, and piracy affects foreign and domestic movie producers alike.”

And, in Hong Kong, proposals to expand liability for illegal downloading. A particularly sensitive issue there where expansion of enforcement efforts and liability are seen to threaten Hong Kong's tradition of freedom.

posted by Solveig Singleton @ 10:20 AM | International

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