If it has done neither, it needs to explain what measures it will take to make up for both.

The Ministry of Culture has pushed out an audio and video music system for karaoke bars. By using the system, music product providers can directly charge karaoke bars on the basis of how may times a song is sung by customers.

It is no small matter to charge copyright fees to karaoke bars.

The Ministry of Culture, as the cultural market authority, and the State Copyright Bureau, as the copyright protection agency, need to join forces to work out an appropriate way of collecting such fees.

Their joint efforts should protect the interests and rights of music creators and producers and at the same time promote the prosperity of the cultural market.

(China Daily 11/23/2006 page4)

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