Games copyright violators targeted

Scrutiny of online content related to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics has been strengthened nationwide as part of China's "zero tolerance "approach to copyright violators and measures to keep the Games running smoothly.

As of Saturday, 32,376 web links suspected of infringing copyrights of the Winter Olympics on 27 internet platforms, including livestreaming, video and search engines, have been removed, according to Tang Zhaozhi, deputy head of the Copyright Management Bureau under the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

Tang released the figure at a news conference organized by the 2022 Beijing Media Center on Monday, saying that cyberspace is a major target in fighting copyright infringers during the Games.

As a result of strict reviews, over 3,300 online accounts and 52 apps have been punished on suspicion of improperly broadcasting Games-related content, he added.

Since late January, the division has worked with five other authorities on a two-month campaign against copyright violations involving the Winter Olympics.

"We've paid a great deal of attention to fighting Games-related piracy on short-video sharing platforms and in livestreaming sessions," he said. "More inspections have also been conducted on e-commerce websites and apps to ensure they contain nothing that damages the copyright of the event."

He called on all people to be aware of the IPR protection of the Games mascots, Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon, saying that the use of their images without the permission of copyright owners will constitute infringement.

"For example, retailers who privately reproduce the mascots or use their images on clothing or dolls, may be identified as copyright infringement," he said. "Violators will be punished for harm to the public interest, and could be held criminally liable in more serious situations."

However, Tang added that people using the mascots for the purposes of study, appreciation or news reports will not be identified as infringers.