Copyright debate is good for law

The National Copyright Administration released for comment a draft Copyright Law on its official website on March 31. It provoked an immediate and heated response, especially from the music industry which has shown unprecedented unity and publicly submitted suggestions to the legislature in the name of the China Audio-Video Association Recording Works Council and the China Musicians Association Pop Music Society.

Composers, songwriters and Record Companies are strongly opposed to the draft amendments as they believe it will undermine their rights if passed.

Article 46 of the draft stipulates that three months after a recording is released it can be used to make new recordings by non-copyright owners as long as they apply to the copyright authorities, pay remuneration to the owners and clearly state the copyright owner.