On 23 July 2025, the National Copyright Administration of China (NCAC) issued a key policy document entitled Opinions on Accelerating the High-Quality Development of the Copyright Sector (the Opinions). The document aims to provide strategic guidance for advancing copyright-related work in the face of new challenges brought by digitalization, industrial upgrading, and international competition.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to implement the national Outline for Building a Strong Intellectual Property Nation (2021-2035) and the 14th Five-Year Plan for Copyright Work issued by the State Council back in 2021. Against the backdrop of transitioning from quantity-driven growth to quality-focused development in the copyright field, the Opinions call for comprehensive improvements in copyright creation, utilization, protection, management, and services. The policy emphasizes modernizing China’s copyright governance and enabling deep integration of copyright with new technologies and emerging industries, such as artificial intelligence and big data, in support of China’s cultural, economic, and technological goals.
The document identifies the following four major areas of focus for future copyright work:
1. Building a modern copyright legal system with Chinese characteristics
This includes accelerating the revision of key regulations such as the Implementation Regulations of the Copyright Law, the Regulations on Collective Copyright Management, the Regulations on the Protection of Information Network Transmission Right, and the Regulations on the Protection of Computer Software, while promoting new legal frameworks for protecting traditional cultural expressions and addressing copyright issues in emerging fields such as blockchain, cloud computing, and online streaming.
2. Improving social copyright services
The policy proposes standardizing and enhancing the national copyright registration framework by unifying procedures and building a centralized platform that integrates registration, search, monitoring, and statistics. It also promotes the development of copyright-based financing services, such as pledge registration, insurance, and securitization, and encourages innovation in copyright trading and the role of copyright-related industry associations. In addition, it calls for institutionalizing statistical work on copyright’s contribution to the national economy to better support policymaking.
3. Strengthening copyright protection and the business environment
This involves intensifying enforcement efforts against infringement and piracy, particularly in online literature, film and television, e-commerce, and other key sectors. It promotes greater coordination between administrative enforcement and judicial mechanisms, while improving systems for dispute mediation and online resolution. The policy also reaffirms China’s commitment to promoting software legalization, especially in government agencies and state-owned enterprises.
4. Expanding international cooperation and global influence
The Opinions emphasize the importance of international cooperation and global influence. China plans to participate more actively in the development and implementation of international copyright treaties, including those on broadcasting organizations and traditional cultural expressions. It encourages domestic enterprises to strengthen their overseas copyright compliance and enforcement efforts, and it aims to improve China’s international storytelling by promoting its copyright system, enforcement practices, and cultural innovation at global forums.
Comment
This policy document represents an important policy initiative in the development of China’s copyright governance system. The document outlines systematic measures in areas such as improving the legal framework, enhancing service capacity, strengthening protection mechanisms, and expanding international cooperation. It aims to address new challenges in copyright brought about by digital technologies and to promote more standardized, modernized, and internationalized copyright governance. The implementation of this policy is expected to further strengthen the role of copyright in supporting cultural and economic development, and to provide institutional support for building a more robust copyright ecosystem.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to implement the national Outline for Building a Strong Intellectual Property Nation (2021-2035) and the 14th Five-Year Plan for Copyright Work issued by the State Council back in 2021. Against the backdrop of transitioning from quantity-driven growth to quality-focused development in the copyright field, the Opinions call for comprehensive improvements in copyright creation, utilization, protection, management, and services. The policy emphasizes modernizing China’s copyright governance and enabling deep integration of copyright with new technologies and emerging industries, such as artificial intelligence and big data, in support of China’s cultural, economic, and technological goals.
The document identifies the following four major areas of focus for future copyright work:
1. Building a modern copyright legal system with Chinese characteristics
This includes accelerating the revision of key regulations such as the Implementation Regulations of the Copyright Law, the Regulations on Collective Copyright Management, the Regulations on the Protection of Information Network Transmission Right, and the Regulations on the Protection of Computer Software, while promoting new legal frameworks for protecting traditional cultural expressions and addressing copyright issues in emerging fields such as blockchain, cloud computing, and online streaming.
2. Improving social copyright services
The policy proposes standardizing and enhancing the national copyright registration framework by unifying procedures and building a centralized platform that integrates registration, search, monitoring, and statistics. It also promotes the development of copyright-based financing services, such as pledge registration, insurance, and securitization, and encourages innovation in copyright trading and the role of copyright-related industry associations. In addition, it calls for institutionalizing statistical work on copyright’s contribution to the national economy to better support policymaking.
3. Strengthening copyright protection and the business environment
This involves intensifying enforcement efforts against infringement and piracy, particularly in online literature, film and television, e-commerce, and other key sectors. It promotes greater coordination between administrative enforcement and judicial mechanisms, while improving systems for dispute mediation and online resolution. The policy also reaffirms China’s commitment to promoting software legalization, especially in government agencies and state-owned enterprises.
4. Expanding international cooperation and global influence
The Opinions emphasize the importance of international cooperation and global influence. China plans to participate more actively in the development and implementation of international copyright treaties, including those on broadcasting organizations and traditional cultural expressions. It encourages domestic enterprises to strengthen their overseas copyright compliance and enforcement efforts, and it aims to improve China’s international storytelling by promoting its copyright system, enforcement practices, and cultural innovation at global forums.
Comment
This policy document represents an important policy initiative in the development of China’s copyright governance system. The document outlines systematic measures in areas such as improving the legal framework, enhancing service capacity, strengthening protection mechanisms, and expanding international cooperation. It aims to address new challenges in copyright brought about by digital technologies and to promote more standardized, modernized, and internationalized copyright governance. The implementation of this policy is expected to further strengthen the role of copyright in supporting cultural and economic development, and to provide institutional support for building a more robust copyright ecosystem.