China's National Copyright Administration Publishes Key Cases

The National Copyright Administration of China, the China Film Administration, the Ministry of Public Security of China, and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China have conducted the seventh special joint action for Copyright Protection of Theatrical Films since January this year.

As of 20th February, the special action has already cracked 22 Chinese New Year Season’s film piracy cases, arrested more than 40 persons engaged in illegal camcording/ illegal distribution, urged relevant online platforms to remove 2, 295, 700 infringing links and blocked 4, 116 repeat infringing accounts.

During the special action, some cases investigated and handled by local Copyright law enforcement departments were identified as typical cases. The summary of the first 10 typical cases publicized are as follows:

1. Shunyi District, Beijing: Camcording and Illegal Distributing Theatrical Films by Foreign National

Since December 2024, a foreign national instructed by an overseas piracy crew has been camcording films Venom: The Last Dance and Cesium Fallout in a Beijing cinema and distributing the pirate films via cloud storage. This foreign national is now under investigation.

2. Binhai New Area, Tianjin City: Camcording and Illegal Distributing Chinese New Year Season’s Theatrical Films by Zhao

To increase attention of his/ her social media account, Zhao camcorded the movie Ne Zha 2 and distributed the pirate film through his/ her social media account on 30th January 2025, leading to rapid spread. Zhao is now under investigation.

3. Lvliang City, Shanxi Province: Camcording and Illegal Distributing Chinese New Year Season’s Theatrical Films by Zhang

Zhang camcorded the movie Boonie Bears: Future Reborn in a Lvliang cinema and distributed the pirate film through his/ her personal social media account, leading to swift spread. Zhang is now under investigation.

4. Yongji County, Jilin Province: Camcording and Illegal Distributing Chinese New Year Season’s Theatrical Films by Lin

On January 29th, 2025, Lin live-streamed the film Ne Zha 2 illegally on his/ her personal social media account in a Yongji cinema, leading to swift spread. Lin is now under investigation.

5. Suqian City, Jiangsu Province: Camcording and Illegal Distributing Chinese New Year Season’s Theatrical Films by Wang

For earning profits by selling pirated films online, Wang camcorded the film Boonie Bears: Future Reborn in a Shuyang cinema and distributed the pirate film through the internet on January 29th, 2025. Wang is now under investigation.

6. Pingxiang City, Jiangxi Province: Camcording and Illegal Distributing Chinese New Year Season’s Theatrical Films by Wang and Others

For earning profits by selling pirate films online, on January 29th and 30th, 2025, Wang and others camcorded the films Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force, Operation Hadal, Legends of The Condor Heroes: The Gallants, and Boonie Bears: Future Reborn in several Pingxiang cinemas and distributed the pirate films through the internet. Wang and two other individuals are now under investigation.

7. Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province: Camcording and Illegal Distributing Chinese New Year Season’s Theatrical Films by Li

To earn profits by selling pirate films online, on January 30th, 2025, Li and four other individuals camcorded the films Detective Chinatown 1900 and Ne Zha 2 in a Lianjiang cinema and distributed the pirate films through cloud storge. Li and four other individuals are now under investigation.

8. Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province: Series Criminal Cases of Illegal Distributing Theatrical Films by Ren and Others

Suspects Ren and others built pirate websites and applications to distribute pirate films Ne Zha 2 and Creation of The Gods Ⅱ: Demon Forces, earning profits from posting paid advertisements, with the involved amount exceeding 14 million CNY (USD 2million). So far, eleven suspects were hold in custody.

9. Anhui Province: Series Criminal Cases of Illegal Distributing Theatrical Films by Tang and Others

Suspects Tang and others built pirate websites and applications to distribute pirate films Ne Zha 2 and others, earning profits from posting paid advertisement, with the involved amount exceeding 12 million CNY (USD 1.8million). At present, ten suspects are held in custody.

10. Chongqing City: Series Criminal Cases of Illegal Distributing Theatrical Films by Zhou and Others

Suspects Zhou and others took orders through online store, reproduced pirated animation and comics including Ne Zha 2 and sold USB drives containing pirate animation and comics, with the involved amount exceeding CNY 5, 300, 000 (USD 730,000) . Five suspects are held in custody so far.

The publication of the first ten typical cases demonstrates China’s determination to combat theatrical film piracy, while also revealing that curbing the spread of online piracy remains a daunting task amid the rapid development of the internet.

Authors: James Godefroy, Principal & Yuqing Zhang, IP Specialist. Guangzhou.

Sources: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/kUAlxRDLTclFm9joIvKsBA

Image credit: Alex Shuper