More than 30 different well-known companies, including Sony, Warner and Decca records, along with several Web-based music platforms like Music Box, bonded together in China to fight a common enemy: piracy.
The group's aim, more than just to fight music piracy, is to raise awareness and self-discipline within the music industry. The group published two documents, namely, "Anti-Piracy Declaration" and "Self-discipline Convention."
CEO of Music Box Shi Lixue said:
"The self-discipline convention regulates us, the Web-managers, on our own. If we find any unauthorized online music or music without proper copyright, we have to take it down. At the same time, members of the copyright association can notify us about any pirated music in our system. This way, we can clear it off our lists after we verify it's not copyrighted."
Despite numerous attempts on piracy crackdowns, the practice still persists in China's online music industry.
One of those pushing for harsher punishment for the pirates is Chinese composer Li Haiying, who said:
"I have been involved in two lawsuits with big music companies. But I was reluctant to get involved. I don't think any musicians or artists want to become embroiled in lawsuits, because we don't want to be involved in legal battles all the time."
Meanwhile, CEO of the China Music Corporation Xie Guomin said that "pirated music has negative consequences for the entire music industry."
Xie added: "The piracy issue has destroyed the whole system of online music, regardless of the music quality, its market or administration. As such, companies cannot earn much, and listeners are getting watered-down products. Another reason is that we do not have well-defined rules to protect the whole industry."
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry recently released a report stating that China's online music market has a consumer market reaching almost half a million people and ranks 21st in the world. With these figures, no wonder pirates are out and about.