Experts stress importance of copyright protection in the tech age

As part of the 2025 Beijing Cultural Forum, the Copyright Salon, co-hosted by the Beijing Publishing and Copyright Association, was held at the Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication. The event, themed "The New Copyright Ecosystem in Technological Transformation", gathered experts to discuss the development and protection of the copyright industry.

Wang Zhicheng, director of the Copyright Administration of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, stated that technologies such as AI and big data are reshaping cultural and copyright landscapes, making it necessary to update copyright laws and foster collaboration for high-quality development through innovation and international cooperation.

Liu Hua, director of the World Intellectual Property Organization Office in China, noted China's leading role in global creative exports. She highlighted the need for human involvement as a new threshold in AI-driven content creation, emphasizing the importance of standardized data use, creative process traceability, platform governance, and cross-border rule coordination as emerging trends.

Tian Zhongli, president of the Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication, discussed the institute's focus on advancing AI applications in publishing and copyright, and stressed the importance of intellectual property protection, talent cultivation, and collaborative innovation.

Panel discussions centered on the impact of technologies like AI on copyright innovation and the evolving landscape of film and television copyright protection. While AI offers significant potential, participants noted risks, such as data security and ethical concerns.

To address these challenges, industry stakeholders have initiated efforts like the "Online Film and Television Anti-Piracy Alliance", aiming to protect key works and enhance collaboration for industry growth, according to panel participants.