More inspectors have been sent out on a "Summer Campaign" to the
streets and marketplaces around China in a fresh bid to crack down
on piracy, pornography and other illegal publications.
Activities are also being held in many places to publicize the
importance of intellectual property protection and to call on
the public not to buy illegal publications.
"All localities should crack down on piracy," says a document
for the campaign issued by the government. "The matter has bearing
on the overall interests of the nation."
As part of the campaign, which will run to August, the State
Administration for Industry and Commerce has issued a circular
ordering its local branches to uncover illegal publication
activities and enhance supervision over publishing houses and
printing plants.
In one of the publicity campaigns, nearly 1 million Chinese
youngsters have signed their names on a huge banner printed with
the slogan "Protect Intellectual Property and Don't Buy Pirated
Products: Starting with Myself".
In Shanghai, market regulators have handled 198 cases and
confiscated 640,000 illegal audio and video compact discs.
(Xinhua News Agency May 18, 2006)
