Copyright protection campaign launched to provide a healthy enviroment

A copyright protection campaign targeting juveniles has been recently launched nationwide so as to provide a healthy environment for children to grow up, China's top copyright regulator said on Saturday.

The focus of the campaign, led by the National Copyright Administration, is to crack down on pirated teaching and examination materials, children's picture books and cartoons, with combat against those who induce or lure teenagers to secretly shoot or record movies in cinemas or theaters, according to a statement from the administration.

Meanwhile, online game providers that help disrupt a system to prevent children from becoming addicted to the internet will also face punishment, the administration said.

"We're carrying out the campaign because in recent years, copyright violations and crimes involving minors, such as copying, disturbing and spreading pirated teaching materials and children’s books, have been increasing," it explained.

"Some adults were found to have induced or lured youngsters to engage in piracy activities, seriously harming the physical and mental health of children," it said. "Especially during winter and summer holidays as well as back-to-school seasons, such copyright infringement is prone to high incidence, which is widely concerned by copyright owners and parents."

It revealed that the campaign will tighten the inspection of the publication market, printing enterprises, bookstores, newspaper stands and stationary shops during the winter and summer holidays and the semesters.

The monitoring and supervision of the dissemination and sale of pirated teaching materials and children's books via e-commerce platforms will also be strengthened, it said.

In addition, patrols on theaters and cinemas during holidays will be increased, with greater effort to standardize audiobook platforms and smart product markets, it said.