China's entertainment industry, particularly in audiovisual content and music, has seen remarkable growth and transformation since the country's accession to the WTO in 2001. This pivot brought significant reforms to China’s copyright law, aligning it closely with international standards. Since then, China joined the ranks of influencers in international copyright, playing host to the Diplomatic Conference on the Protection of Audiovisual Performances in June 2012. The resulting treaty is bears the name of its capital and is commonly referred to as Beijing Treaty.
Together with economic growth, technological advancement, and a selective market access policy for tech, e-commerce and media services, China’s entertainment industry has undergone a sea-change. Like many other parts of the world, the rise of digital platforms and 5G connectivity has revolutionized content delivery. Streaming is dominating how audiovisual content and music are consumed where internet has penetrated. In June 2023, online music users account for 729 million or 66.3% of internet users. For online video, it hit 1.07 billion or more than 95% of netizens in June 2024.
China's entertainment market is now worth over US$241 billion (2023). Video and music (including “live” and short videos) streaming generate US$34 billion, 14% of the total. Exponential growth has been projected. By 2030, the industry’s revenue is expected to reach US$576.2 billion. Double that of 2023. The streaming platforms would account for US116 billion or 20% of the total entertainment market.
Restrictions have prevented access for global platforms like Netflix and Spotify, creating a unique ecosystem. Together with consumer preference for local content, the industry is shaped by local players who lead in content creation, distribution, and streaming. Tencent dominates video and music streaming, while Alibaba owns Youku for video content. In cinema, Wanda Group leads cineplex operations. China's entertainment sector thrives on homegrown innovation, making it one of the most dynamic markets globally.
Leading experts on PRC copyright law and entertainment industry will discuss the interplay and development between policy, technology, market forces and copyright law behind the “Great Firewall”.
Why Attend?
- Find out from experts on the unique copyright ecosystem of PRC.
- Learn practical insights into copyright development and protection strategies in the audiovisual and music industries.
- Understand the latest innovations and challenges brought by AI in content creation.
Speakers:
- PATTON YEUNG, Senior Legal Counsel at Tencent Music Entertainment Group
- ALLEN WANG, Managing Partner at Beijing TA Law Firm
Moderator: GEORGE HWANG, George Hwang LLC
Read about the speakers here.