The government is working on specific regulations for collecting royalties from television and radio stations for using music works, a senior official said at the weekend.

However, it has not been decided when the regulations will be publicized, Liu Binjie, director of the General Administration of Press and Publication and the National Copyright Administration, said.

The government's efforts in combating piracy and protecting intellectual property rights have prompted more shops and restaurants to sign up to pay royalties on the ubiquitous background music that had long been used for free.

Background music played at department stores or hotels received legal protection in China in 2001 under revisions to the Copyright Law. The law states that both live and mechanical performances enjoy the same rights.

Up to now, most big hotels, department stores and supermarkets in Beijing and Shanghai have paid fees to the Music Copyright Society of China for using the songs under their administration, according to sources.

Karaoke bars in China's main cities were made to pay 12 yuan (US$1.5) a day in royalties to music artists for each room, according to a regulation set by China's National Copyright Administration late last year.

However, most television and radio stations in China are still using music works without paying any royalties.

The Music Copyright Society of China is now negotiating with television and radio stations on royalties payments, China Press and Publishing Journal has reported.

The Music Copyright Society of China is the country's only officially recognized organization for music copyright administration.

The association has administered copyrights for more than 14 million music works by about 4,000 members.

 (Shanghai Daily September 3, 2007)