China kowtows to Hollywood
p2p news / p2pnet: Communist China’s National Copyright Administration is "preparing a crackdown against rights management companies it says have no authority to issue licences and collect fees from entertainment venues and internet websites that use their clients’ music," says the Financial Times.
Backed strongly by the Cheney/Bush administration, the entertainment cartels have been using their various ‘trade’ associations to pressure China and other countries into complying with Hollywood’s bottom line, elevating the duplication and re-sale of Hollywood ‘product’ to the level of major crime.
The cartels are also diverting scarce police and other law enforcement resources.
"The move throws into doubt the activities of local and foreign-invested copyright management companies working to help music groups promote legitimate use of their content in China’s booming internet and mobile telephony sectors," says the FT, going on:
"Such digital rights, which cover services such as MP3 downloads and mobile phone ringback tones, are an increasingly important source of revenue for music companies that previously relied mainly on compact disc sales."
An official of the Internet Society of China, "said that requiring state approval for rights managers would help to ensure music users’ interests [read Hollywood's interests] were protected."
Also See:
Financial Times – China to curb digital rights companies, January 6, 2006
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