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According to a report from Xinhua News Agency dated March 2, a number of typical cases involving camcording and dissemination of theatrical films investigated and handled by local copyright law enforcement authorities during the 7th Special Campaign for Copyright Protection of Theatrical Films, which was jointly deployed and launched by relevant departments of the National Copyright Administration, China Film Administration, Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Culture and Tourism, have been officially released.

This special campaign delivers multiple benefits and is of strategic significance to film and television companies. First, by cracking down severely on acts of pirated recording and dissemination (such as investigating and handling 22 cases and deleting 2,295,700 infringing links), it has effectively curbed the erosion of box office revenue caused by piracy, and directly guaranteed the economic returns of key films released during schedules including the Spring Festival theatrical season. Second, the special early warning mechanism has included 10 films such as *Creation of the Gods II* and *Ne Zha: The Demonic Child Stirs the Sea* on the key protection list, requiring online platforms to take blocking measures in advance to reduce the risk of piracy proliferation from the source, and safeguarding the value of the exclusive market release period of film and television works. In addition, the series of major cases investigated and handled during the special campaign (including the case in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province involving an amount of RMB 14 million and the case in Anhui Province involving RMB 12 million) have produced a strong deterrent effect, promoted the establishment of a fair competition market environment, and boosted the confidence of film and television companies in copyright protection. In the long run, the enhancement of full-chain copyright protection covering pre-event early warning, in-process supervision and post-event accountability lays a foundation for the high-quality development of China's film industry, motivates enterprises to increase investment in high-quality content creation, and fosters a virtuous cycle of the industry.

### 1. Case Concerning Camcording and Dissemination of Theatrical Films by a Foreign National in Shunyi District, Beijing Pursuant to the clues transferred by the National Copyright Administration of China, the copyright law enforcement authorities of Beijing Municipality launched an investigation into this case. Upon investigation, since December 2024, the aforesaid foreign national, acting at the instigation of an overseas piracy gang, made camcorder recordings of the films *Venom: The Last Dance* and *Blaze* at a cinema in Beijing and distributed the infringing copies via cloud storage services. At present, the Beijing Municipal General Team of Comprehensive Law Enforcement for Cultural Market has officially placed the case on file for investigation and punishment against the said foreign national.

2. Case of Zhao Moumou from Binhai, Tianjin Involving Illegal Recording and Dissemination of Spring Festival Theatrical Films Pursuant to the clues transferred by the National Copyright Administration of China, the copyright law enforcement department of Binhai New Area, Tianjin Municipality investigated and handled the case. Upon investigation, on January 30, 2025, for the purpose of increasing the popularity of his personal account on social platforms, Zhao Moumou illegally recorded the film *Ne Zha: The Demon Child Wreaks Havoc in the Sea* at a cinema in Tianjin and disseminated the film through his personal account on online social platforms, resulting in the rapid proliferation of the pirated film via the Internet. At present, the Culture and Tourism Bureau of Binhai New Area, Tianjin Municipality has placed the case involving Zhao Moumou on file for investigation and punishment.

3. Case of Zhang Moumou from Lüliang, Shanxi Province Involving Illegal Recording and Dissemination of Spring Festival Theatrical Films Pursuant to the clues transferred by the National Copyright Administration of China, the copyright law enforcement department of Lüliang City, Shanxi Province investigated and handled this case. Upon investigation, on January 29, 2025, for the purpose of allowing others to watch the film, Zhang Moumou illegally recorded *Boonie Bears: Back to the Future* at a cinema in Lüliang and disseminated the film through his personal account on online social platforms, leading to the rapid spread of the pirated film via the internet. At present, the Cultural Market Law Enforcement Detachment of Lüliang City, Shanxi Province has placed the case on file for investigation and punishment against Zhang Moumou.

4. Case of Lin Moumou from Yongji County, Jilin Province, Involving Unauthorized Recording and Dissemination of Spring Festival Theatrical Release Films Pursuant to the clues transferred by the National Copyright Administration, the copyright law enforcement department of Jilin City, Jilin Province investigated and handled this case. Upon investigation, on January 29, 2025, Lin Moumou watched the film *Ne Zha: The Demon Child Wreaks Havoc in the Sea* at a cinema in Yongji County, and livestreamed the film via his personal account on an online social platform, resulting in the rapid spread of the pirated film across the Internet. At present, the Comprehensive Administrative Law Enforcement Team for Cultural Market of Yongji County, Jilin City, Jilin Province has placed the case on file for investigation and punishment against Lin Moumou.

5. Case of Wang Moumou from Suqian, Jiangsu Province Involving Illegal Recording and Dissemination of Spring Festival Theatrical Films According to the clues transferred by the National Copyright Administration, the copyright law enforcement authority of Suqian City, Jiangsu Province investigated and handled this case. Upon investigation, on January 29, 2025, for the purpose of profiting from selling pirated films online, Wang Moumou illegally recorded the film *Boonie Bears: Back to the Future* at a cinema in Shuyang County and disseminated it via the Internet. At present, the Comprehensive Cultural Market Law Enforcement Brigade of Shuyang County, Suqian City, Jiangsu Province has placed the case on file for investigation and punishment against Wang Moumou.

6. Case of Wang Moumou et al. from Pingxiang, Jiangxi Province Concerning Unauthorized Recording and Dissemination of Spring Festival Theatrical Release Films Pursuant to the investigative leads transferred by the National Copyright Administration of China, the copyright law enforcement authorities of Pingxiang City, Jiangxi Province investigated and handled this case. Upon investigation, for the purpose of seeking illegal profits by selling pirated films online, Wang Moumou and two other individuals successively made unauthorized recordings of *Creation of the Gods II: Battle for West Qi*, *Operation Dragon*, *The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Great Hero* and *Boonie Bears: Restart the Future* at multiple cinemas in Pingxiang on January 29 and 30, 2025, and disseminated the aforesaid pirated films via the Internet. At present, the Comprehensive Cultural Market Law Enforcement Detachment of Pingxiang City, Jiangxi Province has placed the case on file for investigation and punishment against Wang Moumou and the other two individuals.

7. Case of Li Moumou et al. Concerning Unauthorized Recording and Dissemination of Spring Festival Theatrical Films in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province Pursuant to the clues transferred by the National Copyright Administration of China, the copyright law enforcement authority of Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province investigated and handled this case. Upon investigation, on January 30, 2025, for the purpose of seeking illegal profits through online sale of pirated films, 5 persons including Li Moumou successively made unauthorized recordings of *Detective Chinatown 1900* and *Ne Zha: The Demon Child Wreaks Havoc in the Sea* at a cinema in Lianjiang, and disseminated the aforesaid films through cloud storage services. At present, the Comprehensive Cultural Market Law Enforcement Detachment of Lianjiang City, Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province has placed the case on file for investigation and punishment against Li Moumou and the other 4 persons.

8. A series of cases involving Ren Mou and others concerning the distribution of pirated theatrical films were cracked in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province. Based on clues obtained from online patrols, the public security organ of Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province cracked the aforesaid cases. Upon investigation, criminal suspects including Ren Mou set up pirated websites and mobile applications, distributed infringing pirated film works such as *Ne Zha 2: The Demon Child Stirs the Sea* and *Creation of the Gods Ⅱ: Warfare in West Qi*, and sought illegal profits through means including publishing paid advertisements, with the value involved in the cases exceeding RMB 14 million. At present, 11 criminal suspects have been arrested.

9. A series of cases involving the dissemination of pirated theatrical films by Tang Mou and others were cracked in Anhui Province. Acting on clues obtained from online patrols, the public security organs of Anhui Province solved the aforesaid cases. Upon investigation, criminal suspects including Tang Mou set up pirated film and television websites and Apps, disseminated infringing pirated cinematographic works such as the film *Ne Zha: The Boy King*, and profited through such means as publishing paid advertisements, with the total value involved in the cases exceeding RMB 12 million. Up to now, 10 criminal suspects have been apprehended.

10. Chongqing Cracks a Series of Cases Involving Zhou and Others in Disseminating Theatrical Films Acting on clues reported by the copyright administrative law enforcement authorities, the public security organs of Chongqing Municipality have cracked the aforesaid case. Upon investigation, criminal suspects including Zhou collected customer orders through online stores, processed infringing and pirated copies of various animated film and television works such as *Ne Zha: Chaos in the Sea*, produced USB flash drives storing such infringing and pirated audio-visual works and sold them to the public for illegal gains. The value involved in the case exceeds RMB 5.3 million. At present, 5 criminal suspects have been arrested.