Forum for Chinese, UK publishing experts highlights progress in copy rights, technology

Rapid growth in China's creative industry is opening avenues for collaboration with the United Kingdom in copyright protection, utilization and exploitation, according to industry experts.

As the central government presses ahead with transforming China into an innovative nation and a cultural power, insiders say great strides have been made in copyright creation and application.

"The income generated from the export of (Chinese) books, music, movies and other creative industry products has already surpassed that of some manufacturing industries," says Yu Cike, director of copyright management for the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television.

The creative industry has developed so fast, in fact, that its contribution to China's GDP is expected to surpass that of the services industry in the coming years, he adds.

"Many countries are transforming their economies by developing creative industries, which have the advantages of being low-energy consuming and sustainable," Yu said on Aug 27 at the Creative Industries Forum in Beijing, an event jointly organized by China Publishing Group Corp and the London Book Fair.

"A delegation of copyright experts from the UK will visit China soon, and I'm looking forward to a discussion about cooperation," he says.

Jacks Thomas, director of the London Book Fair, says China is a fast-growing and attractive market for creative industries. The combination of books and digital technology has created many opportunities, she says, and China has seized them.

"Our decision to launch a Creative Industries Forum in China is born from the amazing innovation that we see every time we visit this impressive publishing and creative market," she explains. "From integrated books and apps for early readers to world-class gaming, online video streaming and micro-movies, the appetite for fast-paced change in this digital age never ceases to inspire those of us lucky enough to experience it."

In the UK, the creative industry is worth about 77 billion pounds ($118 billion; 105 billion euros), contributing roughly 5 percent to GDP, and provides almost 2 million jobs, says Emma House, director of publishing relations at the UK's Publishers Association.

Tan Yue, president of China Publishing Group, says that, in the digital age, traditional publishers need to continue making good content and integrating new technology to package and broadcast it.

He adds that his company is pushing for integration in many areas, including movies, animation, video games, design, Internet and travel, to make new products and new industrial chains.

China Publishing Group and the London Book Fair have collaborated on copyright issues for many years, including bringing the Harry Porter book series to China, where it has sold more than 10 million copies.

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