Fight against movie piracy bearing fruit

Behind box office records, joint action breaks up black market bootlegging

While this year's Spring Festival box office broke records and was the source of a major boost in consumer spending nationwide, authorities also made gains in their campaign against film piracy.

Since the latest campaign launched in January, more than 40 people have been detained on suspicion of unauthorized filming, pirating recordings and illegal distribution of this year's Spring Festival blockbusters, according to official data released Sunday.

The campaign is being carried out by the National Copyright Administration, the China Film Administration, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. It aims to crack down on piracy in the film industry and raise public awareness of copyright protection.

By Feb 20, authorities had removed nearly 2.3 million web links that infringed on the copyrights of recent box office hits. They also banned or restricted 4,116 online accounts for repeatedly violating copyright laws, officials said.

In Jinhua, Zhejiang province, police detained 11 people suspected of setting up websites and apps to distribute pirated copies of blockbusters such as Ne Zha 2and Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force for profit. The suspects earned more than 14 million yuan ($1.9 million) combined, according to the National Copyright Administration.

Police in Anhui province cracked a similar case, detaining 10 suspects and seizing more than 12 million yuan in illicit gains, officials said.

With the animated film Ne Zha 2now ranked seventh on the all-time global box office chart, authorities have also targeted unauthorized commercial use of its characters.

Police in Chongqing detained five people after discovering they allegedly reproduced and sold unauthorized copies of Ne Zha 2and other animated films. Officials said the suspects raked in more than 5.3 million yuan.

"Movies are the result of the hard work of creators. Piracy and illegal broadcasting are like cancer in the film industry, severely hindering its healthy development," said Lai Chunlei, a lawyer at Beijing Huazi Law Firm. "As viewers, we must firmly reject pirated films, and if we encounter anyone selling or distributing them, we should report it to the authorities immediately."

China's Criminal Law states that individuals who pirate films for profit can be sentenced to up to three years in prison and fined. If the illegal proceeds are substantial or the offense is deemed severe, the maximum sentence is seven years.

"Whether it is unauthorized recording or selling pirated copies, both acts violate film copyrights," Lai said. "Violators of both crimes must be strictly punished to maintain order in the film market."