May 10, 2016

The Intellectual Property Office has reported that China’s biggest internet search engine, Baidu, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Copyright Protection Collaboration with the International Publishers Copyright Coalition (IPCC).

The creative industries, including publishing, music, film, TV and gaming software, account for over 5% of GDP in both the UK and China respectively.  Over a third of British publishing industry total revenues (£4.3 billion in 2014) come from digital sales and around 40% from exports.

This MOU sets out a programme of collaboration to tackle the shared issue of online IP infringement.  Industry initiatives such as this are vital to support the international IP framework, the IPO says.

The signing was witnessed by Dr Ros Lynch, Director of Copyright and Enforcement at the IPO, who visited China for UK-China Copyright week.  The co-operation indicates a positive direction for IP enforcement in China, with digital industry getting behind efforts to reduce online infringements.

In addition to supporting the IPCC-Baidu MOU, discussions in China included:

• exchanging IP enforcement best-practice, including online copyright initiatives such as the Infringing Website List and cross-border joint operations to tackle counterfeit goods;
• policy topics related to China’s ongoing Copyright Law revisions including on collective licensing, artist resale right, exceptions and limitations to copyright and music/audiovisual rights; and
• a UK-China IP Salon event on Women in Intellectual Property as part of the British Embassy Beijing Be Yourself women’s empowerment campaign.

To read the IPO’s press release in full, click here.