Guidelines for collecting copyright fees from TV and radio stations may be
issued next year, according to an official from the National Copyright
Association.
China
Times reports The Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council is currently
considering the guidelines, which will apply to all music other than that
created by the stations.
The articles estimates copyright fees from TV or radio stations could amount
to as much as 10 billion yuan, or 1.3 billion US dollars, if the fees collected
in Hong Kong are used as a reference.
The 2001 amendment of the Copyright Law allows radio and TV stations to
broadcast music without the consent of the copyright owners, as long as they pay
a usage fee. The law allows radio and TV stations to negotiate other
arrangements with copyright owners, but no guidelines for collecting copyright
fees have yet been issued.
