The China Audio and Video Association, the Guangdong Copyright Protection Association and three other interested cultural associations in south China's Guangdong Province have joined together to crack down on piracy of AV products.

The announcement was made on September 22, just ahead of the China International Exposition of Audiovisual Industry, which will be held from September 26 through 29 in Guangzhou, the provincial capital.

The five associations vowed not to produce any fake AV goods and to work with the government to further regulate the cultural product market.

Guangdong Province has become China's center for making, copying, packaging and distributing audio products, according to Wang Yequan, vice director of the exhibition's organizing committee. At present, wholesale audio products in the province account for 70 percent of the country's total.

Guangdong handles more than half of China's total CD output.

However, it is also one of the largest victims of pirated CDs in the country, said Wang.

"Such activities jeopardize the Chinese economy, hurt our tax revenue and also endanger China's image in front of the world," Wang said.

Guangdong Province has been making great efforts to combat fake disks and videos.

As of September 20, police in Guangzhou had confiscated 36,000 illegally copied disks and videos and closed down 49 stores that produced and sold fake CDs, following its launch of an inspection of audio-visual products early this year.

Organized by the Ministry of Culture and the Guangdong provincial government, the upcoming China International Exposition of Audiovisual Industry will showcase China's achievements in the AV industry and in protecting intellectual property rights.

The exhibition has so far attracted 52 domestic and overseas AV enterprises and institutions. Some industry notables such as US-based Warner Brothers International Cinemas are involved.

A public lecture on China's policies and laws on AV products will be given in conjunction with the exhibition. Government representatives will explain legislation concerning production, distribution and import and export. 

(China Daily September 23, 2004)