China's State Council issued Friday a statute on the copyright protection of computer software products.
The 33-article statute will go into effect on January 1, 2002, to replace the existing version which was launched in 1991.
The new ordinance specifies the interests involving computer software development, circulation and application. It is expected to encourage the software industry by reinforcing the rights of software developers.
According to the statute, an individual software developer may keep his copyright for life, and it will continue in his name for 50 years after his death.
(People’s Daily December 28, 2001)
