For those that didn’t know, the World Intellectual Property Organization is meeting in Beijing this week. You can find out more about WIPO here.
According to Music Week, the IFPI’s CEO had the following choice words to say at the start of the conference yesterday:
IFPI chief executive Frances Moore told a WIPO conference in Beijing this morning that internet piracy in China is happening on a “devastating scale” and threatening to throttle the potential of the legitimate market.
Moore called on the ISPs to help turn the crisis around. Moore said, “ISPs are uniquely placed to curb online infringement…specifically we need ISPs to take down infringing content that they host, but also to take action to block infringing websites and to help curb piracy over peer-to-peer networks.”
She also pointed out that another “major obstacle” to the music industry in China is the lack of performance rights.
Treading a careful line, which wouldn’t antagonize the host country, Moore praised China’s commitment to helping to promote creative and cultural industries. She added, “China has a long and rich musical tradition. We appreciate the Government’s desire to enforce intellectual property rights effectively and ensure a legal framework that permits rights holders to be fairly rewarded.”
Nothing particularly new or revelationary here. Just thought we would let you know