Copyright takes center stage in Xi'an: Guardians of the past, architects of the future

Beyond the ancient city walls, a different kind of preservation got into gear on July 22. During the 2026 World Internet Conference Digital Silk Road Development Forum, the Copyright Empowerment in Cultural Heritage Digitalization Salon transformed a conference hall into a vibrant think tank.

Co-hosted by the WIC Digital & AI Academy (WICDA), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Office in China, and the Shaanxi Provincial Copyright Bureau, the salon brought together more than 90 participants from 12 countries and regions. The atmosphere was charged with urgency: In an era of borderless algorithms, how can copyright empower the digitalization of cultural heritage?

During the discussions, speakers explored how copyright can empower the digitalization of cultural Heritage and how the cultural heritage and museum sector can advance innovation while strengthening legal protection in the AI era.

The roundtable session focused on three key topics: leveraging technology to strengthen copyright protection for cultural heritage, promoting the sustainable digitalization of cultural heritage through copyright protection, and advancing the coordinated development of technology and copyright.

The salon also highlighted the WICDA's great role as a platform for capacity building - fostering high-level dialogues to navigate the complexities of preserving cultural heritage in the digital age.