The Copyright Administration of Chongqing and the Chonqing Univeristy of Posts and Telecommunication developed a new online registration system, which enables residents to file copyright applications from home. 

The DCAS system, managed by the Copyright Protection Center of Chonqing, allows authors to reserve a copyright registration for their works. In China, one could already apply for a copyright registration, but only after the entire work was completed. Yet, non-finished works might leak or betas might be pirated, leaving the authors in an unfavorable position. After all, the author has no proof of being the original author of the pirated work. 

The DCAS system enables authors to register even non-completed works in the system; the author creates a record to which he uploads his files and this record will be provided with a reservation certificate, including the registration time. These records can be saved in the system or on the author’s own computer, but most importantly they can be used as evidence in copyright-disputes in the future.

From a European perspective, this is an interesting development, since in Europe copyright registration does not exist. In Europe, as a result of the Berner Convention, copyright is granted by law. The DCAS system does not act on copyright infringements, nor lets you search for others’ works or prior art. However, implementing a registration system could simplify the burden of proof in future copyright disputes. Considering the risk of online piracy and other online copyright infringements authors deal with, this could be beneficial for European countries as well. Additionally, China is a member of the WIPO, therefore this system must comply with the rules and directions laid down in the WIPO-treaty. 

Whether other countries would be interested in this system will depend on whether it proofs to be successful in China and on the benefits countries can expect from it compared to their current systems. Nonetheless, China is very actively searching for new solutions to copyright-issues, contributing to the debate on the future of copyright, which is an interesting development to follow.

Read more about copyright-development in China on Future of Copyright:

• Chinese government opens public consultation on new copyright to film productions
• Chinese court: copyright on adaptations to traditional art
• China plans to double penalties for copyright infringement

Source: China Daily

Written by: Nathalie Falot