A regulation on the collective management of copyrighted materials, approved by the State Council, is to become effective on March 1, better protecting the interests of copyright owners throughout the nation, said Deputy Director Yan Xiaohong of the National Copyright Administration (NCA) at a Tuesday press conference in Beijing.

Under the 48-article regulation, such rights as hiring, performance, broadcasting, duplication and Internet distribution -- all listed in the Copyright Law but often difficult for owners to manage effectively -- can be entrusted to collective management organizations for protection.

Based on systems used in developed countries, the regulation will also apply to foreign copyright owners doing business in China, said Liu Jie, an NCA official.

Under the new regulation, copyright holders may authorize management organizations to grant licenses for use of their products. The organizations would also collect fees from users, distribute royalties to members and handle other related activities.

Yan pointed out that rights to performance and broadcast are particularly difficult for individual copyright holders to control, while users may have difficulty obtaining permission from them. The collective management organization streamlines procedures and monitors compliance.

(China Daily February 23, 2005)