Videos Websites Respond to SARFT Regulations
Donews, 4/02/09
Industry response to new online broadcasting regulations announced by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) requiring all online audio-visual content to obtain broadcast licenses before being broadcast has been varied, with video-on-demand (VOD) film and television websites welcoming the new rules, and video sharing sites cautiously continuing broadcasts. Online video sharing websites Tudou, Youku and Ku6 have all expressed caution over the matter, with most sites unwilling to offer comment. The majority of Chinese video sharing sites currently offer user-uploaded content including overseas films and TV series that have not received broadcast licenses.
Websites providing licensed and copyrighted content such as Joy.cn have welcomed the new regulations, with a company spokesperson stating that Joy.cn does not offer films that have not obtained broadcast licenses, and will respect the new regulations. In 2009, the company also plans to obtain copyrights for overseas films and television series including "Full House", "Autumn In My Heart", and "The Rock Climber". Chen Zhong, public relations director for PPLive, stated that the new regulations announced by SARFT are good news for companies that have invested significant amounts obtaining copyrights to display content online, with the rules being an effective measure against the negative effects brought about by websites that broadcast pirated content. Chen stated that PPLive has always placed emphasis on copyright investment and that the company has one of the highest authorized content rates in the video industry.
Editor's Note: On March 31, SARFT issued a series of online video content regulations, in which it specified that online audio-visual enterprises providing access to films, television series, cartoons, and documentaries need to obtain relevant broadcast licenses from the appropriate government departments. For more background on this topic, please see"SARFT Issues Online Video Content Regulations"
Keywords: Chen Zhong copyright Internet Joy.cn Ku6 online video PPLive SARFT Tudou VOD Youku regulation
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