In 2006, the Culture administrative authorities in GD conducted numerous special raids on markets of audio-visual (A/V) products to forcefully combat piracy and infringement. They dispatched a force of over 315,816 persons for law enforcement, inspecting 194,446 business units (54,844 of which were engaged in A/V products business); they received 5,941 complaints of piracy and infringement, among which 5,033 were investigated and 541 transferred to other authorities; nearly 49 million pieces of pirated goods like optical disks were seized. Those efforts effectively suppressed piracy in the A/V product markets, and the percentage of legal products in A/V shops witnessed a significant increase.

Special operations were persistently carried out across the province to inspect A/V product markets. In January, the Culture authorities in GD focused on cracking down on piracy in computer markets, electronics markets and night markets. For example, Guangzhou Culture Market Law Enforcement Team raided some key markets and confiscated more than 100 thousand copies of pirated A/V products; this operation was commended by the Ministry of Culture.

Between March and April, under the planning of the Provincial Department of Culture, Guangzhou and Shenzhen Culture Bureaus launched a special operation against A/V products suspected of pirating U.S. movies. In this operation, over 80 A/V stores suspected of piracy reported by American Motion Picture Association (MPA) were raided and a number of pirated A/V products were confiscated. During the period, Culture Market Law Enforcement Teams at all levels in Guangzhou inspected 360 AV stores and confiscated 13,000 illegal A/V products. Culture law enforcement teams at all levels in Shenzhen dispatched a force of 2,293 persons and inspected 700 A/V stores and confiscated 107,688 illegal A/V products. 42 stores were fined and the licenses of 9 stores revoked. Through the operation, A/V store piracy was punished and the illegal acts of selling pirated American films and compressed optical discs were brought under control.

In April, culture authorities in GD launched the Sunshine Operation with A/V markets as the key target for rectification. The operation aimed at raiding the areas where piracy and other illegal activities were widespread and confiscating pirated film and music CDs of foreign copyrights; it laid a sound foundation for the One-Hundred-Day Campaign Against Piracy.

In 2006, the One-Hundred-Day Campaign Against Piracy was launched in GD. Culture departments, the police, press and publication authorities, copyright bureaus, customs and AICs across GD worked closely together to combat piracy. Under unified planning, the operation was rapidly activated across the province. To ensure the effectiveness of the campaign, the Provincial Department of Culture enhanced law enforcement supervision; During the period, it took part in 5 raids against pirated A/V products, and organized a number of supervisions and gave guidance in key areas.

Editor: Wing