The copyright watchdog has brushed aside threats by some KTV bar
owners to boycott a national royalty plan, saying it would not give
in.
"To back off will be a step back for the KTV industry," Wang
Ziqiang, spokesman for the National Copyright Association (NCA),
told Beijing Evening Post.
According to a plan unveiled by the NCA earlier this month to
solicit public opinion, KTV bars will have to pay 12 yuan (US$1.5)
in royalties per room each day starting from the end of the
year.
The watchdog said copyright owners had designated the China
Audio and Video Collective Administration (AVCA) to levy the fees
on their behalf.
Meanwhile, the AVCA whose formation is yet to be officially
approved has transferred the fee-collection job to the China Audio
and Video Association (CAVA).
KTV club operators question the legitimacy of the AVCA as a fee
collector but Wang said collective management through a designated
association is the best way to solve any royalty disputes.
Wang Huapeng, head of the organization committee for the AVCA,
said the majority of popular music, audio and video firms had
entrusted the task of levying fees to his association.
"A full list of their names will be published soon," said Wang
Huapeng.
Some KTV operators in Shanghai and Guangzhou argue that it is
unfair to charge fees based on the number of rooms because not all
are used every day. They believe that fees based on music usage is
far more reasonable.
Wang Huapeng explained the quantum of fee was decided after
looking into profits of KTV bars and negotiations with some
operators.
"We estimate that 12 yuan amounts to 1-2 per cent of a KTV
room's profit each day. The ratio is lower compared to Japan and
the Republic of Korea, where the fee is 3-5 percent of their
profit," he said.
Adding to the discordant notes are some legal experts, who say
the fee structure neglects many copyright situations.
For instance, the copyright protection period might have expired
for some music; and some folk songs don't have a specific copyright
holder, said Zhang Zihui, associate professor at the School of
Journalism of Renmin University.
Also, copyright fees are already included in the price of some
audio-video products and it is unfair to levy the fee once
again.
KTV fans seem uneasy.
"I agree that royalties are necessary. But what I fear is that
KTV operators might pass on the costs to consumers," said Liu
Zhen.
Most KTV operators say they haven't decided whether to raise
prices after the fees are collected. KTV bars generally have rooms
ranging from several to more than 100.
The fee would first be collected in Beijing, Shanghai and
Guangzhou on a trial basis, and gradually expanded to other cities,
with the rate varying according to local conditions.
(China Daily November 24, 2006)