Trade in pirated optical discs continues to thrive, supplied by smugglers and by both licensed and unlicensed factories. China prosecuted a significant optical disc smuggling case in 2006 and raided a large packaging facility in 2007. However, China needs to do more to criminally prosecute the manufacturers of pirated optical discs. China's actions against 14 plants in early 2006 appear to have so far resulted in only administrative penalties. The United States also encourages China to facilitate cooperation in fighting optical disc piracy by sharing exemplar discs from Chinese factories with the international library and forensic facility maintained by right holder organizations.
Right holders report only moderate success in reducing piracy of pre-release titles. Lack of copyright protection for pre-release titles is another area in which the United States has requested WTO consultations. The United States urges China to adopt and apply deterrent penalties for piracy of any title not yet authorized for distribution.
Strong action to curb counterfeiting and piracy on the Internet is critical to the future of IPR protection in China. Authorities in some areas have taken notable enforcement actions (see Special Provincial Review of China). Building on that foundation, China should significantly increase criminal prosecutions and other enforcement actions against Internet-based piracy and counterfeiting operations through a coordinated, national effort backed by appropriate resources.
The United States welcomes China's recent accession to the WIPO Internet Treaties. A number of gaps remain to be filled for China to meet the challenges of Internet piracy and fully implement the WIPO Internet Treaties. In May 2006, the State Council adopted an important Internet-related measure, the Regulations on the Protection of Copyright Over Information Networks, which went into effect in July 2006. Although it does not appear to fully implement the WIPO Internet Treaties, this measure represents a welcome step, demonstrating China's determination to improve protection of the Internet-based right of communication to the public. Several aspects still require further clarification. For example, China could benefit from further clarification that certain Internet "deep linking" and other services that effectively encourage or induce infringement are unlawful.
China should also provide strong administrative supervision, backed by penalties, to ensure that Internet service providers take down infringing content and/or links immediately upon receipt of a notice from internationally recognized rights holders' representatives; take steps to suspend or terminate the accounts of serious or repeat infringers when they become aware of such infringers; and provide information about the identity of direct infringers to rights holders (or to groups representing rights holders) when requested.
China also maintains market access barriers, such as import restrictions and restrictions on wholesale and retail distribution, which discourage and delay the introduction of a number of legitimate foreign products into China's market. These barriers create additional incentives for infringement of products like movies, video games, and books, and inevitably lead consumers to the black market, again compounding the severe problems already faced by China's enforcement authorities. The United States has requested WTO consultations on several market access barriers affecting U.S. copyright industries.
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