The Matrix Revolutions has made almost US$2.5 million in China since a simultaneous worldwide opening that Chinese promoters say helped keep revenues from being undermined by the country's notorious counterfeiters.

China plans to release more films in co-ordination with other markets to help curb rampant piracy, Weng Li, vice-manager of the film exhibition and distribution arm of the state-run China Film Group, said Friday.

The Matrix Revolutions opened November 5, the first foreign movie to be released in China simultaneously with the global market.

"The globally simultaneous debut contributed to the movie's box office revenue and, more important, helped theatres fight against piracy," said Weng, whose company is one of two Chinese distributors of the film.

Foreign movies are often released in China months or even more than a year after their overseas debut -- a delay that has enabled and encouraged widespread piracy by Chinese counterfeiters.

Giving Chinese audiences quicker access to those movies might reduce the get-it-first incentive to buy pirated DVDs.

The longer it's out there, the more opportunities there are for pirates. This could slow the pirates down," said James Wise of the International Recording Media Association's Hong Kong office.

(People's Daily November 17, 2003)