Beijing

Software committee

The Capital Copyright Industry Alliance recently established a software committee intended to improve software copyright protection, help improve the industry environment and encourage innovation. Its first 100 member organizations and individuals include local software companies, agencies, law firms, experts and the media. Officials at the alliance said that Beijing's software industry is growing fast, but current copyright services are inadequate all along the industry chain.

Sipo.gov.cn

Yearbook published

The China Copyright Yearbook 2014 compiled by the State Intellectual Property Office and edited by China Renmin University Press Co was published last week, offering a comprehensive overview, updates, documents and statistics on copyright protection in 2013 as well as international copyright trends.

Chinaxwcb.com

Guangdong

Music lawsuit

Last week NetEase Music filed a lawsuit against Kugou, another major music website, alleging copyright infringement on 300 songs from 37 albums. The Tianhe district court in Guangzhou city accepted the case, in which Kugou was asked to stop online play and download of the songs and pay 3 million yuan ($483,832) in compensation. In December Kugou sued NetEase in the same court for the same reason.

National Business Daily

Faked controllers

In cooperation with six municipalities and provinces, Guangzhou police have cracked down on a group that sold counterfeit programmable controllers used in industry priced at about one-tenth the cost of authentic products. Sold across the country and even in Southeast Asia, the automation device is used in many sectors including chemicals, power generation and construction. With huge illegal profits, a couple that led the operation bought five cars and more than 10 apartments over the past five years.

Guangzhou Daily

Fujian

Mobile game fair

A mobile game copyright fair was held last week in Xiamen city as part of the second Mobile Game Industry Annual Summit. Some 100 game developers from both China and overseas were invited. Organizers also built an online business system to help game developers, distributors and investors find each other ahead of the fair. The Mobile Game Entrepreneur Alliance singed contracts on copyright licensing with many of its partners during the event.

News.pcgames.com.cn

Shanghai

Noise barrier patent

In a recent court ruling, a maker of noise barriers has been ordered to pay 8 million yuan ($1.3 million) to Zublin AG for using its patented design on part of the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway system. In its losing argument, Shazc Group from Shanghai claimed the disputed technology was based on a utility patent developed by a third company, but the court found Germany-headquartered Zublin had been granted an earlier invention patent.

Beijing Times