A month ago, the National Copyright Administration published a draft standard of 12 yuan (US$1.5) per KTV room per day. And on Wednesday the department finished soliciting opinions from the public.

During a symposium yesterday, copyright owners of songs and music videos said the draft standard was in fact still low, but they were prepared to accept it as in the past they received little or no payment.

But KTV bosses and their associations said the fee was too high, and 1 yuan (12 US cents) per room per day was more appropriate.

Can KTV visitors enjoy themselves same as before?

Wang Ziqiang, the copyright department director and spokesman for the administration, said the disagreement over the fee would not stand in the way of the legislation.

However, he did not say when the legislation would be finalized and come into effect.

Representing musicians and record companies, the Music Copyright Society of China began to collect fees from some KTV clubs in the country in 2001.

In the same year, a revision to the Copyright Law made music videos protected by law as well.

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