Top legislature considered to join two treaties of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on Sunday, in a bid to fight against piracy in the virtual space.

 

The two treaties, the WIPO Copyright Treaty and WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty, were submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress at the start of a week-long session due to end Friday.

 

"To join the treaties could enable us to improve our own Internet copyright protection campaign by adopting international advanced experience," said Long Xinmin, director of the National Copyright Administration.

 

"It will also show China's positive attitude in establishing the world network new order," he said.

 

IPR protection has posed great pressure to the Chinese government since the country joined the World Trade organization in 2001. "Internet piracy not only hampers the Internet development, but also affects our foreign trade," Long said.

 

Having 123 million Internet users as of June 2006, China has become the world second largest country both in terms of Internet users and number of computers connecting to the net.

 

China amended the Copyright Law in 2001, adding some rules out of the two treaties. In May this year the Sate Council issued a regulation on protecting the right to spread information on the Internet, setting a legal framework for the adoption of treaties.

 

WIPO passed the two treaties in December 1996. The WIPO Copyright Treaty and WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty took effect on March 6, 2002 and May 20, 2002, respectively. About 59 countries ratified and joined the two treaties as of May, 2006.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 25, 2006)