On Nov. 9, "2007 China (Beijing) International Forum on Copyright ― Forum on Protection of Copyright and Development of Creative Industry" was held in Beijing. The theme of the forum was "to strengthen the protection of copyrights, and to enhance the exchange of creative ideas."

Yan Xiaohong, the deputy director of the National Copyright Administration of China pointed out in his speech that creative industry products are more easily infringed compared with traditional products. He said that this is due to the high risks in the creative industry. In order to develop the cultural & creative industry, we must intensify the protection of copyrights, especially protection for copyrights at the two spectrums of the industry chain. 

 As far as problems with the current copyright protection in China is concerned, Hu Qiming, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Beijing Zhong Shi Guang Lian Cultural Development Co., Ltd. said that piracy may result in annual losses of over one hundred billion yuan to China's creative industry, taking up approximately 5% of China's GDP in 2006. In fact, piracy has an even worse influence on China's domestic films with "decreased investments" because they are more vulnerable to piracy attacks. John Howkins, the Father of the creative industry and the person in charge of the "Charter of Intellectual Property Rights", thought that copyrights were very important. In London, to artists and other professionals in the creative industry, the rules on the intellectual property rights are even more important than changes in profit margin. Copyrights are very difficult to protect because it takes money, and thus is very personalized. As a result, a standard in accord with the public interests must be set up to support innovations. At the same time, Mr. Hopkins put forward three feasible proposals for the development of copyrights in China: first, to strengthen independent research on information about the intellectual property market; second, to voluntarily participate in the talks on intellectual property protection, especially those held by the International Copyright Organization, and non-governmental talks as well; third, to establish a consulting institute as those in London, England, to provide free service to professionals in the creative industry such as artists, architects and photographers.

As a part of the Second China (Beijing) Cultural & Creative Industry Expo, the forum was held jointly by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Copyright, the People's Government of Dong Cheng District of Beijing, and the China Guang Hua Fundation. The international, authoritative and professional features were highlighted.

                                                                                               (Translated by Li Yan)