COPYRIGHT LAW OF THE PEOPLE''S REPUBLIC OF CHINA [*1]

　　Important Notice:  This English document is coming from the "LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE PEOPLE''S REPUBLIC OF CHINA GOVERNING FOREIGN-RELATED MATTERS" (1991.7) which is compiled by the Brueau of Legislative Affairs of the State Council of the People''s Republic of China, and is published by the China Legal System Publishing House. In case of discrepancy, the original version in Chinese shall prevail.

Whole Document 

COPYRIGHT LAW OF THE PEOPLE''S REPUBLIC OF CHINA [*1] (Adopted at the 15th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Seventh National People''s Congress on September 7, 1990, promulgated by Order No. 31 of the President of the People''s Republic of China on September 7, 1990, and effective as of June 1, 1991)

Contents

 Chapter I     General Provisions
 Chapter II    Copyright
                Section 1 Copyright Owners and Their Rights
                Section 2 Ownership of Copyright
                Section 3 Term of Protection of Rights
                Section 4 Limitations on Rights
  Chapter III   Copyright Licensing Contracts
  Chapter IV    Publication, Performance, Sound Recording, Video Recording
                and Broadcasting
                Section 1 Publication of Books, Newspapers and Periodicals
                Section 2 Performance
                Section 3 Sound Recording and Video Recording
                Section 4 Broadcasting by Radio Station or Television
                Station
  Chapter V     Legal Liability
  Chapter VI    Supplementary Provisions

Chapter I General Provisions

  Article 1

  This Law is enacted, in accordance with the Constitution for the  purposes
  of protecting the copyright of authors in  their  literary,  artistic  and
  scientific works  and  rights  and  interests  related  to  copyright,  of
  encouraging the creation and dissemination of works which would contribute
  to the building of an advanced  socialist  culture  and  ideology  and  to
  socialist material development,  and  of  promoting  the  development  and
  flourishing of socialist culture and sciences.

  Article 2

  Works of  Chinese  citizens,  legal  persons  or  entities  without  legal
  personality, whether published or not, shall enjoy copyright in accordance
  with this Law.  Works of foreigners first published in  the  territory  of
  the People''s Republic of China shall enjoy copyright  in  accordance  with
  this Law.
  Any work of a foreigner published outside the territory  of  the  People''s
  Republic of China which is eligible to enjoy copyright under an  agreement
  concluded between the country to which the foreigner belongs and China, or
  under an international treaty to which both countries are  parties,  shall
  be protected in accordance with this Law.

  Article 3

  For  the  purpose  of  this  Law,  the  term  "works"  includes  works  of
  literature, art, natural science, social science,  engineering  technology
  and the like which are created in the following forms:
  (1) written works;
  (2) oral works;
  (3) musical, dramatic, quyi and choreographic works;
  (4) Works of fine art and photographic works;
  (5) cinematographic, television and video-graphic works;
  (6) drawings of engineering designs and product designs, and  descriptions
  thereof;
  (7) maps, sketches and other graphic works;
  (8) computer software;
  (9) other works as provided  for  in  law  and  administrative  rules  and
  regulations.

  Article 4

  Works the publication or distribution of which is prohibited by law  shall
  not be protected by this law.
  Copyright owners, in exercising their copyright,  shall  not  violate  the
  Constitution or laws or prejudice the public interests.

  Article 5

  This law shall not be applicable to:
  (1) laws; regulations; resolutions, decisions and orders of state organs;
  other documents of legislative, administrative and  judicial  nature;  and
  their official translations;
  (2) news on current affairs; and
  (3) calendars, numerical tables, forms of general use and formulas.

  Article 6

  Measures for the protection of copyright in works of folk  literature  and
  art shall be established separately by the State Council.

  Article 7

  Where any scientific or technological work is protected under  the  Patent
  Law, the Law on Technology Contracts or similar laws,  the  provisions  of
  those laws shall apply.

  Article 8

  The copyright administration department under the State Council  shall  be
  responsible for the nationwide administration of copyright. The  copyright
  administration department under the people''s government of each  province,
  autonomous region and municipality directly under the  Central  Government
  shall be responsible for the administration of copyright in its respective
  administrative area.

　Chapter II  Copyright

  Section 1 Copyright Owners and Their Rights

  Article 9

  The term "copyright owners" shall include:
  (1) authors; and
  (2) other citizens, legal persons and entities without  legal  personality
  enjoying copyright in accordance with this Law.

  Article 10

  The term "copyright" shall  include  the  following  personal  rights  and
  property rights:
  (1) the right of publication, that is, the right to decide whether to make
  a work available to the public;
  (2) the right of authorship, that is, the right to claim authorship and to
  have the author''s name indicated on his works;
  (3) the right of alternation, that is, the right  to  alter  or  authorize
  others to alter one''s work;
  (4) the right of integrity, that is,  the  right  to  protect  one''s  work
  against distortion and mutilation;
  (5) the right of exploitation and the right to remuneration, that is,  the
  right of exploiting one''s work  by  means  of  reproduction,  performance,
  broadcasting, exhibition distribution, making cinematographic,  television
  or video production, adaptation, translation, annotation, compilation  and
  the like, and the right of authorizing others to exploit one''s work by the
  above-mentioned means, and of receiving remuneration therefor.

  Section 2 Ownership of Copyright

  Article 11

  Except where otherwise provided in this Law, the copyright in a work shall
  belong to its author.
  The author of a work is the citizen who has created the work.
  Where a work is created according to the will and  under  the  sponsorship
  and the responsibility of a legal or  entity  without  legal  personality,
  such legal person or entity without legal personality shall be  deemed  to
  be the author of the work.  The citizen, legal person  or  entity  without
  legal personality whose name is indicated on a work shall, in the  absence
  of proof to the  contrary,  be  deemed  to  be  the  author  of  the  work
  

  Article 12

  Where  a  work  is  created  by  adaptation,  translation,  annotation  or
  arrangement of a pre-existing work, the copyright in the work thus created
  shall be enjoyed by the adaptor, translator or arranger, provided that the
  exercise of such copyright  shall  not  prejudice  the  copyright  in  the
  original work.

  Article 13

  Where a work is created jointly by two or more co-authors,  the  copyright
  in the work shall be enjoyed jointly by those co-authors. Any  person  who
  has not participated in the creation of the work may  not  claim  the  co-
  authorship.
  If a work of joint authorship can be separated into independent parts  and
  exploited separately,  each  co-author  may  be  entitled  to  independent
  copyright in the parts that he has created, provided that the exercise  of
  such copyright shall not prejudice the copyright in the joint  work  as  a
  whole.

  Article 14

  The copyright in a work created by compilation shall  be  enjoyed  by  the
  compiler, provided that the exercise of such copyright shall not prejudice
  the copyright in the preexisting works included in the compilation.
  The authors of such works included in a compilation as  can  be  exploited
  separately shall be entitled to exercise their copyright  in  their  works
  independently.

  Article 15

  The  director,  screenwriter,  lyricist,  composer,  cameraman  and  other
  authors of a cinematographic, television or video-graphic work shall enjoy
  the right of authorship in the work, while the other  rights  included  in
  the copyright shall be enjoyed by the producer of the work.
  The authors of screenplay, musical works and other works that are included
  in  a  cinematographic,  television  or  video-graphic  work  and  can  be
  exploited  separately  shall  be  entitled  to  exercise  their  copyright
  independently.

  Article 16

  A work created by a citizen in the fulfillment of tasks assigned to him by
  a legal person or entity without legal personality shall be deemed to be a
  work created in the course of employment. The copyright  in  such  a  work
  shall, subject to the provisions of the second paragraph of this  Article,
  be enjoyed by the author, provided that the legal person or entity without
  legal personality shall have a right  of  priority  to  exploit  the  work
  within the scope of its professional  activities.  During  the  two  years
  after the completion of the work, the author may not, without the  consent
  of the legal person or entity without legal personality, authorize a third
  party to exploit the work int the same way as the legal person  or  entity
  without legal personality does.  The author  of  a  work  created  in  the
  course of employment in one of the following circumstances shall enjoy the
  right of authorship, while  the  legal  person  or  entity  without  legal
  personality shall enjoy the other rights included in the copyright and may
  reward the author:
  (1) drawings of engineering designs and product designs  and  descriptions
  thereof; computer software; maps and other works created in the course  of
  employment mainly with the material and technical resources of  the  legal
  person or entity without legal personality and under its responsibility;
  (2) works created in the course of employment where the copyright  is,  in
  accordance with laws, administrative rules and  regulations  or  contracts
  concerned,  enjoyed  by  the  legal  person  or   entity   without   legal
  personality.

  Article 17

  The ownership of copyright in a commissioned work shall be agreed upon  in
  a contract between the commissioning and the commissioned parties. In  the
  absence of a contract or of an explicit agreement  in  the  contract,  the
  copyright in such a work shall belong to the commissioned party.

  Article 18

  The transfer of ownership of the original copy of a work of fine  art,  or
  other works, shall not be deemed to include the transfer of the  copyright
  in such work, provided that the right to exhibit the original  copy  of  a
  work of fine art shall be enjoyed by the owner of such original copy.

  Article 19

  Where the copyright  in  a  work  belongs  to  a  citizen,  the  right  of
  exploitation and the right to remuneration in respect of the  work  shall,
  after his death, during the term of protection provided for in  this  Law,
  be transferred in accordance with the provisions of the Law of Succession.
  Where the copyright in a work belongs to a legal person or entity  without
  legal personality, the right of exploitation and the right to remuneration
  shall, after the change or the termination of the legal person  or  entity
  without legal personality, during the term of protection provided  for  in
  this Law, be enjoyed by the succeeding  legal  person  or  entity  without
  legal  personality  which  has  taken  over  the   former''s   rights   and
  obligations, or, in the absence of such a successor entity, by the state.

  Section 3 Term of Protection of Rights

  Article 20

  The term of protection  of  the  rights  of  authorship,  alteration,  and
  integrity of an author shall be unlimited.

  Article 21

  The term  of  protection  of  the  right  of  publication,  the  right  of
  exploitation and the right to remuneration in  respect  of  a  work  of  a
  citizen shall be the life time of the author and  fifty  years  after  his
  death, expiring on December 31 of the fiftieth year after  his  death.  In
  the case of a work of joint authorship, such term shall expire on December
  31 of the fiftieth year after the death of the last surviving author.  The
  term of protection of the right of publication, the right of  exploitation
  and the right to remuneration in respect of a  work  where  the  copyright
  belongs to a legal person or  entity  without  legal  personality,  or  in
  respect of a work created in the course  of  employment  where  the  legal
  person or entity without legal personality enjoys  the  copyright  (except
  the right of authorship), shall be fifty years, expiring on December 31 of
  the fiftieth year after the first publication of such work, provided  that
  any such work that has not been published within  fifty  years  after  the
  completion of its creation shall no longer be protected under this Law.
  The term  of  protection  of  the  right  of  publication,  the  right  of
  exploitation  and  the   right   to   remuneration   in   respect   of   a
  cinematographic, television, video-graphic or photographic work  shall  be
  fifty years, expiring on December 31 of the fiftieth year after the  first
  publication of such work, provided that any such work that  has  not  been
  published within fifty years after the completion of its creation shall no
  longer be protected under this Law.

  Section 4 Limitations on Rights

  Article 22

  In the following cases, a work may be used without  permission  from,  and
  without payment of remuneration to, the copyright owner, provided that the
  name of the author and the title of the work shall be  indicated  and  the
  other rights enjoyed by the copyright owner by virtue of  this  Law  shall
  not be prejudiced:
  (1) use of a published work of others for the user''s  own  private  study,
  research or self entertainment;
  (2) appropriate quotation from a published work of others  in  one''s  work
  for  the  purposes  of  introduction  to,  or  comment  on,  a  work,   or
  demonstration of a point;
  (3) use of a published work in newspapers, periodicals, radio  programmes,
  television programmes or newsreels for the purpose  of  reporting  current
  affairs;
  (4) reprinting by newspapers or periodicals, or  rebroadcasting  by  radio
  stations or television stations, of editorials or  commentator''s  articles
  published by other newspapers, periodicals, radio stations  or  television
  stations;
  (5) publication in newspapers or periodicals,  or  broadcasting  by  radio
  stations or television  stations,  of  a  speech  delivered  at  a  public
  gathering, except where the author has declared that  the  publication  or
  broadcasting is not permitted;
  (6) translation or reproduction in  a  small  quantity  of  copies,  of  a
  published work for use by teachers or scientific researchers, in classroom
  teaching  or  scientific  research,  provided  that  the  translation   or
  reproduction shall not be published or distributed;
  (7) use of a published work by a state organ for the purpose of performing
  its official duties;
  (8) reproduction of a work in its collections by a  library,  an  archives
  center,  a  memorial  hall,  a  museum,  an  art  gallery  or  a   similar
  institution, for the purposes of display, or preservation of  a  copy,  of
  the work;
  (9) free performance of a published work;
  (10) copying, drawing, photographing, or video recording  of  an  artistic
  work located or on display in an outdoor public place;
  (11) translation of  a  published  work  from  the  language  of  the  Han
  nationality  into  minority  nationality  languages  for  publication  and
  distribution in the country;
  (12) transliteration of a published work into Braille and  publication  of
  the work so transliterated.
  The above limitations on rights shall be applicable also to the rights  of
  publishers,  performers,  producers  of   sound   recordings   and   video
  recordings, radio stations and television stations.

　Chapter III Copyright Licensing Contracts

  Article 23

  Anyone who exploits a work  created  by  others  shall,  except  where  no
  permission is required in accordance with  the  provisions  of  this  Law,
  conclude a  contract  with,  or  otherwise  obtain  permission  from,  the
  copyright owner.

  Article 24

  A contract shall include the following basic clauses:
  (1) the manner of exploitation of the work covered by the license;
  (2) the exclusive or nonexclusive nature of the right to exploit the  work
  covered by the license;
  (3) the scope and term of the license;
  (4) the amount of remuneration and the method of its payment;
  (5) the liability for breach of contract; and
  (6) any other matter which the contracting parties consider necessary.

  Article 25

  Without permission from the  copyright  owner,  the  other  party  to  the
  contract shall not exercise the right which the copyright  owner  has  not
  explicitly licensed in the contract.

  Article 26

  The term of validity of  a  contract  shall  not  exceed  ten  years.  The
  contract may be renewed on expiration of that term.

  Article 27

  The tariffs of  remuneration  for  the  exploitation  of  works  shall  be
  established by the copyright administration  department  under  the  State
  Council jointly with other departments concerned.
  Where otherwise agreed to in a  contract,  remuneration  may  be  paid  in
  accordance with the terms of the said contract.

  Article 28

  Publishers,  performers,  producers  of   sound   recordings   and   video
  recordings, radio stations, television stations and other entities who  or
  which have, pursuant to this  Law,  obtained  the  right  of  exploitation
  included in the copyright of others, shall  not  prejudice  such  authors''
  rights  of  authorship,  alteration,  integrity   and   their   right   to
  remuneration.

 Chapter IV  Publication, Performance, Sound Recording, Video Recor- ding and Broadcasting

  Section 1 Publication of Books, Newspapers and Periodicals

  Article 29

  A book publisher who publishes a book shall conclude a publishing contract
  with, and pay remuneration to, the copyright owner.

  Article 30

  A book publisher shall, during the term of the contract, have an exclusive
  right to publish  the  work  delivered  to  him  for  publication  by  the
  copyright owner. The term of the exclusive  right  to  publish  the  work,
  enjoyed by the book publisher as specified  in  the  contract,  shall  not
  exceed ten years. The contract may be renewed on expiration of that term.
  The exclusive right to publish a work enjoyed by the book publisher shall,
  during the term specified in the contract, be protected by  law,  and  the
  work may not be published by others.

  Article 31

  The copyright owner shall deliver the work to  the  publisher  within  the
  time limit specified in the contract. The book publisher shall publish the
  work according to the quality  requirements  and  within  the  time  limit
  specified in the contract.   The  book  publisher  shall  bear  the  civil
  liability in accordance with the provisions of Article 47 of this  Law  if
  he fails to publish the work  within  the  time  limit  specified  in  the
  contract.
  The book publisher shall notify, and pay remuneration  to,  the  copyright
  owner when the work is  to  be  reprinted  or  republished.  If  the  book
  publisher refuses to reprint or republish the work when the stocks of  the
  book are exhausted, the copyright owner shall have the right to  terminate
  the contract.

  Article 32

  Where a copyright owner has submitted the manuscript  of  his  work  to  a
  newspaper or a periodical publisher for publication and has  not  received
  any notification of the said publisher''s decision  to  publish  the  work,
  within fifteen days from the newspaper publisher  or  within  thirty  days
  from  the  periodical  publisher  from  the  date  of  submission  of  the
  manuscript, the copyright owner may submit the manuscript of the same work
  to another newspaper or periodical publisher for  publication  unless  the
  two parties have agreed otherwise.
  After a work is published in a newspaper or a periodical, other  newspaper
  or periodical publisher may, except where the copyright owner has declared
  that reprinting or excerpting is not permitted, reprint the work or  print
  an abstract of it or print  it  as  reference  material,  but  such  other
  publishers shall pay remuneration to the copyright owner as prescribed  in
  regulations.

  Article 33

  A book publisher may alter or abridge a work with the  permission  of  the
  copyright owner.  A newspaper publisher or periodical publisher  may  make
  editorial modifications and abridgments in a work, but shall not make  any
  modifications in the content  of  the  work  unless  permission  has  been
  obtained from the author.

  Article 34

  When publishing a work created  by  adaptation,  translation,  annotation,
  arrangement or compilation of a pre-existing work, the publisher shall pay
  remuneration both to the owner of the copyright in  the  work  created  by
  adaptation, translation, annotation, arrangement or  compilation,  and  to
  the owner of the copyright in the original work.

  Section 2 Performance

  Article 35

  A performer (an individual performer or a performing  troupe)  who  for  a
  performance exploits an unpublished work created by  others  shall  obtain
  permission from, and pay remuneration to, the copyright owner.
  A performer who for a commercial performance  exploits  a  published  work
  created by others does not need permission from, but shall, as  prescribed
  by regulations, pay remuneration to the copyright owner; such  work  shall
  not be  exploited  where  the  copyright  owner  has  declared  that  such
  exploitation is not permitted.
  A performer who for a commercial performance exploits a  work  created  by
  adaptation, translation, annotation or arrangement of a pre-existing  work
  shall pay remuneration both to the owner of  the  copyright  in  the  work
  created by adaptation, translation, annotation or arrangement and  to  the
  owner of the copyright in the original work. Where a performer performs  a
  work created by others for the purpose of  producing  a  sound  recording,
  video recording, radio programme or television programme,  the  provisions
  of Article 37 and 40 of this Law shall apply.

 Article 36

  A performer shall, in relation to his performance, enjoy the right:
  (1) to claim performership;
  (2) to protect the image inherent in his performance from distortion;
  (3) to authorize others to make live broadcasts; and
  (4) to authorize others to make sound recordings and video recordings  for
  commercial purposes, and to receive remuneration therefor.

  Section 3  Sound Recording and Video Recording

  Article 37

  A producer of  sound  recordings  who,  for  the  production  of  a  sound
  recording, exploits an unpublished work created  by  others  shall  obtain
  permission from, and pay remuneration to, the copyright owner. A  producer
  of sound recordings who, for the production of a sound recording, exploits
  a published work created by others, does not  need  permission  from,  but
  shall, as prescribed by regulations, pay remuneration  to,  the  copyright
  owner; such work shall not be exploited  where  the  copyright  owner  has
  declared that such exploitation is not permitted.
  A producer of  video  recordings  who,  for  the  production  of  a  video
  recording, exploits a work created by others shall obtain permission from,
  and pay remuneration to, the copyright owner.
  A producer of sound recordings or video recordings  who  exploits  a  work
  created by adaptation, translation, annotation or arrangement  of  a  pre-
  existing work shall pay remuneration both to the owner of the copyright in
  the work created by adaptation, translation,  annotation  or  arrangement,
  and to the owner of the copyright in the original work.

  Article 38

  When producing a sound recording or video recording,  the  producer  shall
  conclude a contract with, and pay remuneration to, the performer.

  Article 39

  A producer of sound recordings or video recordings shall have the right to
  authorize others to reproduce and distribute his sound recordings or video
  recordings and the right to receive remuneration  therefor.  The  term  of
  protection of such rights shall be fifty years, expiring on December 31 of
  the fiftieth year  after  the  first  publication  of  the  recordings.  A
  producer of sound recordings or video  recordings  who  is  authorized  to
  reproduce and distribute a sound recording or video recording  created  by
  others shall also pay remuneration to  the  copyright  owner  and  to  the
  performer as prescribed by regulations.

  Section 4  Broadcasting by Radio Station or Television Station

  Article 40

  A radio station or television station which exploits, for  the  production
  of a radio or television programme, an unpublished work created by others,
  shall obtain permission from,  and  pay  remuneration  to,  the  copyright
  owner.
  A radio station or television station which exploits, for  the  production
  of a radio or television programme, a published  work  created  by  others
  does not need permission from the copyright owner, but such a  work  shall
  not be  exploited  where  the  copyright  owner  has  declared  that  such
  exploitation is not permitted. In addition, remuneration shall be paid  as
  prescribed by regulations unless this Law provides  that  no  remuneration
  needs to be paid.
  A radio station or television station which exploits, for  the  production
  of a  radio  or  television  programme,  a  work  created  by  adaptation,
  translation, annotation, or arrangement of a pre-existing work, shall  pay
  remuneration both to the owner of the copyright in  the  work  created  by
  adaptation, translation, annotation or arrangement and to the owner of the
  copyright in the original work.

  Article 41

  When producing a radio or  television  programme,  the  radio  station  or
  television station shall conclude a contract with,  and  pay  remuneration
  to, the performer.

  Article 42

  A radio station or television station shall, in  respect  of  a  programme
  produced by it, enjoy the right:
  (1) to broadcast the programme;
  (2) to authorize  others  to  broadcast  the  programme,  and  to  receive
  remuneration therefor; and
  (3)  to  authorize  others  to  reproduce  and  distribute  the  radio  or
  television programme, and to receive remuneration therefor.
  The term of protection of the rights specified in the preceding  paragraph
  shall be fifty years, expiring on December 31 of the fiftieth  year  after
  the first broadcasting of the programme.
  A producer of sound recordings or video recordings who  is  authorized  to
  reproduce and distribute a radio or television programme  shall  also  pay
  remuneration to the copyright owner and the  performer  as  prescribed  by
  regulations.

  Article 43

  A radio station or television station  may  broadcast,  for  noncommercial
  purposes, a published sound recording without seeking permission from,  or
  paying remuneration to, the copyright owner, performer and producer of the
  sound recording.

  Article 44

  A television station which broadcasts  a  cinematographic,  television  or
  video-graphic work produced by others shall obtain  permission  from,  and
  pay remuneration to, the producer of the  cinematographic,  television  or
  video-graphic work.

　Chapter V  Legal Liability

  Article 45

  Anyone who commits any of the following acts of  infringement  shall  bear
  civil  liability  for  such  remedies  as  ceasing  the  infringing   act,
  eliminating  its  ill  effects,  making  a  public   apology   or   paying
  compensation or damages, etc., depending on the circumstances:
  (1) publishing a work without the permission of the copyright owner;
  (2) publishing a work of joint authorship as  a  work  created  solely  by
  oneself without the permission of the other co-authors;
  (3) having one''s name indicated on a work created by others, in  order  to
  seek personal fame and  gain,  where  one  has  not  participated  in  the
  creation of the work;
  (4) distorting or mutilating a work created by others;
  (5)  exploiting  a  work   by   performance,   broadcasting,   exhibition,
  distribution, making cinematographic,  television  or  video  productions,
  adaptation, translation, annotation, and compilation, or by  other  means,
  without the permission of the copyright owner, unless  otherwise  provided
  in this Law;
  (6) exploiting a work created by others  without  paying  remuneration  as
  prescribed by regulations;
  (7)  broadcasting  a  live  performance  without  the  permission  of  the
  performer; or (8) committing other acts of infringement of  copyright  and
  of other rights and interests related to copyright.

  Article 46

  Anyone who commits any of the following acts of  infringement  shall  bear
  civil  liability  for  such  remedies  as  ceasing  the  infringing   act,
  eliminating  its  ill  effects,  making  a  public   apology   or   paying
  compensation for damages, etc., depending on the circumstances,  and  may,
  in addition, be subjected by the copyright  administration  department  to
  such administrative penalties as confiscation of unlawful income from  the
  act, or imposition of a fine:
  (1) plagiarizing a work created by others;
  (2) reproducing and distributing a work, for commercial purposes,  without
  the permission of the copyright owner;
  (3) publishing a book where the exclusive right of publication belongs  to
  another publisher;
  (4) producing and publishing a sound recording or  video  recording  of  a
  performance without the permission of the performer;
  (5) reproducing and distributing a  sound  recording  or  video  recording
  produced by others without the permission of its producer;
  (6) reproducing and distributing a radio programme or television programme
  without the permission of the radio station or  television  station  which
  has produced that programme; or
  (7) producing or selling a work of fine art where  the  signature  of  the
  author is forged.

  Article 47

  A party who fails to perform his contractual obligations, or performs them
  in a manner which is not in conformity with the agreed  terms  shall  bear
  civil liability in accordance with the relevant provisions of the  General
  Principles of the Civil Law.

  Article 48

  A dispute over copyright infringement may  be  settled  by  mediation.  If
  mediation is unsuccessful, or if one of  the  parties  retracts  from  his
  promise after  a  mediation  agreement  is  reached,  proceedings  may  be
  instituted in a people''s court. Proceedings may also  instituted  directly
  in a people''s court if the parties do not wish to settle  the  dispute  by
  mediation.

  Article 49

  A dispute over a copyright contract may be settled by  mediation.  It  may
  also, in accordance with the arbitration clause of contract, or a  written
  arbitration agreement concluded after the contract  has  been  signed,  be
  submitted to a copyright arbitration body for arbitration.
  The parties shall implement the arbitration award. If one of  the  parties
  fails to implement the award, the other party  may  apply  to  a  people''s
  court for execution.  If the people''s court which has  been  requested  to
  execute an arbitration award finds that the arbitration award is  contrary
  to law, it shall have the right to refuse the execution.
  Where the people''s court refuses to  execute  an  arbitration  award,  the
  parties may institute proceedings in  a  people''s  court  for  contractual
  dispute.
  Where no arbitration clause is stipulated in the contract and  no  written
  arbitration agreement is concluded after the contract has been signed, any
  party may institute proceedings directly in a people''s court.

  Article 50

  Any party  who  is  not  satisfied  with  an  administrative  penalty  may
  institute proceedings in a people''s court within three months from receipt
  of the written decision  of  the  administrative  penalty.  If  the  party
  neither institutes proceedings nor executes the decision within  the  time
  limit, the copyright administration department may  apply  to  a  people''s
  court for execution.

　Chapter VI Supplementary Provisions

  Article 51

  For the purpose of this Law, the term "zhuzuoquan"  (author''s  rights)  is
  synonymous with the term "banquan" (copyright).

  Article 52

  The term "reproduction" as used in this Law means the act of producing one
  or  more  copies  of  a   work   by   printing,   photocopying,   copying,
  lithographing, making a sound recording or video recording, duplicating  a
  recording, or duplicating a photographic work or by other means.
  The  term  "reproduction"  as  used  in  this  Law  does  not  cover   the
  construction or  manufacture  of  industrial  products  on  the  basis  of
  drawings of engineering designs  and  product  designs,  and  descriptions
  thereof.

  Article 53

  Measures for the protection of  computer  software  shall  be  established
  separately by the State Council.

  Article 54

  The implementing regulations  of  this  Law  shall  be  drawn  up  by  the
  copyright administration department under  the  State  Council  and  shall
  enter into force after approval by the State Council.

  Article 55

  The rights of copyright owners, publishers, performers, producers of sound
  recordings and video recordings, radio stations and television stations as
  provided for in this Law shall, if their term of protection  as  specified
  in this Law has not yet expired on the date of entry into  force  of  this
  Law, be protected in accordance with this Law.  Any act of infringement or
  breach of contract committed prior to the entry into  force  of  this  Law
  shall be dealt  with  in  accordance  with  the  relevant  regulations  or
  policies in force at the time when such act was committed.

  Article 56

  This Law shall enter into force as of June 1, 1991.

  Note:
  [*1] This English version is the preliminary English translation  provided
  by the Legislative Affairs Commission of the  Standing  Committee  of  the
  National People''s Congress of the People''s Republic of China. It shall  be
  republished after being further revised and finalized by  the  Legislative
  Affairs Commission of the Standing  Committee  of  the  National  People''s
  Congress of the People''s Republic of China. - The Editor