Club and copyright owners took different views at a National Copyright Administration (NCA) symposium on KTV copyright fees.

A month ago, the NCA published a draft standard of 12 yuan per KTV room per day, stipulating that KTV club owners would pay the copyright fee once a year. On Aug. 21, the NCA released the fee proposal to solicit public opinion.

At the symposium, China's famous composer Gu Jianfen, representing copyright owners, said collecting copyright fees from KTV clubs is a way of showing respect for musicians'work and will help boost their creativity and enthusiasm.

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

A KTV club owner from Henan Province suggested that the KTV copyright fee be tied to the frequency with which songs were chosen. KTV clubs could pay more copyright fees for songs which were frequently chosen by customers and less for unpopular songs.

He also said decision-makers should consider regional wealth levels when setting the fee. He felt that a unified national KTV copyright fee would be unreasonable. The fee should vary according to the level of local economic development.

Some KTV bosses said the fee was too high, and 1 yuan per room per day was more appropriate.

The NCA has not yet finalized the fee question.