Karaoke stand-alone version intellectual property protection forum held in Guangzhou

With the goal of advancing copyright protection in the area of karaoke stand alone versions, protecting the rights and interests of copyright holders, and addressing issues relating to the karaoke stand alone jukeboxes using payment of copyright royalties in accordance with the law, On February 24, 2023, the Chinese Audio Visual Copyright Collective Management Association (in this Axia referred to as "Audiovisual Copyright Collective Management Association") in collaboration with the Guangzhou Electronic Audio. On February 24 2023 the two sets of Australian associations and Southern Cultural Property Exchange joined forces to hold the “Forum On The Protection Of Karaoke Stand Alone Version Copyright” at Guangzhou. Mr. Zhou Yaping, who is the acting director general of the Audiovisual Copyright Collective Management Association, people like Guo Kun Deputy Director General Wang Guike Chairman of the Board Guangdong Greater Bay Area Cultural and Creative Industry Promotion Association People like Zhang Zhibing Chairman of the Board Guangdong Southern Cultural Property Exchange Co., Ltd. Wu Xianzhong Chairman of the Guangzhou Electronic Audio Industry with reality Zhang Changhai Vice\', in the United States where he was Secretary General and Information Officer Zhou Jiaqi Lawyer and dozens of other representatives of karaoke stand-alone manufacturers were present at the forum.

The meeting emphasized ways how legal rights of many right holders can be ensured and also how broad market users can be provided with legal access to a large number of works in the increasing karaoke stand alone market. All participants wished for the development of the industry sufficiently to see the general establishment of adequate measures for royalty payments, so as to foster the improvement of the law concerning karaoke stand alone manufacturers’ selling copies of works to the public in order to be watched on demand.

The General Manager of Music Copyright Association, Zhou Yaping, drew attention to the lengthy aspects of the karaoke standalone system which the markets have progressively developed despite a lack of compensation for the right holder as he presented his case during the meeting which led to the invert of the benefits for both the right holders and the consumers. Moreover, as there are a growing number of infringement threats related to the song libraries of standalone manufacturers, they are also increasingly dealing with the copyright issues when conducting their business. Most of the manufacturers above 80 percent has experienced copyright conflicts which has greatly inconvenienced most manufacturers who intends to trade legitimately. At the same time, in the standalone karaoke market there are no standard inscription rates and areas of song versions to be registered by the end users which has resulted to cut throat competition and brought much disorganization in the market and made the safeguarding consumers interests a tall order. Consequently, it is very crucial to develop a more unified industry of the specialties that would ensure the proper having of the copyright policies.

In this forum we hope listening carefully to everyone's opinions and suggestions, discussing with representatives from the electronic audio users association, harnessing the positive impact of industry associations and cultural assets trading platforms, and setting up a clear, transparent and easy to understand method of payment of karaoke stand alone version manufacturers royalties so users can pay attention to exercise copyright law and regulatory guidelines while safeguarding the rights and interests of the copyright owners within reach. More so, the Audiovisual Copyright Association would keep being at the forefront of the industry, as it remains to be a vital and important link between the copyright owners and the users and therefore its responsibilities cannot go unfulfilled in ensuring that the audiovisual copyright market operate healthily.

One of the Vice Presidents and Secretaries of Guangzhou Electronic Audio Industry Association says the industry calls for a harmonious environment and a nice promotion of business activities as well as nurturing growth. He seeks to minimize the occurrences of disputes involving copyright and infringement of music copyrights so that businessmen would be able to devote their energy to producing good products thereby fostering the innovative advancement in electronic audio industry. 

(Source: Guangzhou Electronic Audio Industry Association)