From Colin in Shanghai:
“Hi Stephan,
I just read the interesting article about China’s enforcement of IP laws, that you mention on the LRC blog.
The article paints a very unrealistic picture of the ‘so called’ enforcement of IP laws here. Having lived in Shanghai for over 3 years I’ve watched the pirated DVD industry explode and become ever more open and easily obtained. Prices have dived from 10RMB (US$1.20) to 6RMB (US$0.80) per DVD and quality continues to improve. There must be at least 50,000 people employed in selling DVDs in Shanghai alone, just 1/80th of China’s population.
It would be hard to overstate the influence that Sex in the City, in particular, but also shows like Friends and Ally McBeal are having on the Chinese. It is the best thing for English learning that has ever happened to the country. The report above is just lip-service to the powerful industries that the Chinese government must please in order to fulfill its WTO obligations.
9:30 am on January 9, 2004
