Chinese authorities have initiated a comprehensive nationwide campaign targeting film piracy in anticipation of increased viewership during the upcoming Spring Festival holiday period. The multi-agency operation brings together the National Copyright Administration, China Film Administration, Ministry of Public Security, and Ministry of Culture and Tourism in a coordinated effort to combat copyright infringement across the film industry.
The enforcement strategy employs a dual approach combining physical inspections of entertainment venues with sophisticated digital monitoring of online platforms. Primary targets include clandestine cinema recordings, unauthorized distribution channels, and the illicit trade of pirated intellectual property merchandise. Particular attention is being directed toward preventing the exploitation of minors who might be recruited for illegal recording activities.
Beyond enforcement measures, the campaign incorporates significant educational components aimed at elevating public consciousness regarding intellectual property rights. Authorities are emphasizing the importance of industry integration and technological upgrades within the film sector to create sustainable copyright protection mechanisms.
Recent enforcement data demonstrates the scale of the challenge: during last year’s comparable initiative, authorities disabled over 762,600 pirated movie web links and imposed restrictions on 1,667 online accounts. The current crackdown has already produced significant judicial outcomes, with twelve prominent cases highlighted as deterrent examples.
In Zhejiang province, a criminal syndicate operating piracy websites received prison sentences ranging from three to seven years alongside substantial financial penalties. Separately, a Shanghai individual received a two-year-eight-month suspended sentence and a 1.2 million yuan fine for unauthorized distribution of more than 5.2 million copyrighted episodes. Lesser administrative punishments have been applied in cases involving the online sale of edited films through e-commerce platforms.
This intensified anti-piracy effort reflects China’s continuing commitment to strengthening intellectual property protection frameworks and maintaining orderly market conditions within the rapidly expanding creative industries.