How can copyright empower the creative transformation and development of fine traditional Chinese culture? Industry representatives, experts and scholars were looking for an answer at the 9th Nishan Forum on World Civilization, a subforum titled "Copyright Empowering the Creative Transformation and Development of Fine Traditional Chinese Culture" in Qufu, Shandong Province – hometown of Confucius, discussing on international cooperation of copyright, communication and mutual learning among civilizations, and contributing their fresh thoughts and plans for value transformation, inheritance and development of folklore.
Protection brightens traditional treasures
Fine Traditional Chinese culture is the spiritual artery of the Chinese people. The cultural heritage accumulated after thousands of years is the precious wealth of the Chinese people. At the moment when the internet accelerates everything, how to protect fine works and let more people understand and like fine traditional Chinese culture is becoming an increasingly pressing topic.
It is the first time for Nishan Forum on World Civilization to embed a parallel event with a theme on copyright, which invited a host of industry representatives, experts and scholars from the publishing and folklore community to share wisdom on digital copyright, folklore copyright protection and other most updated topics for finding the right copyright solution for the creative transformation and development of fine traditional Chinese culture.
Zhang Jianchun, Vice Minister of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee stressed the critical role of copyright protection in cultural inheritance. Copyright empowerment can boost the creative transformation and development of fine traditional Chinese culture, serving as an important avenue for inspiring the vigor for cultural innovation and creation and elevation of a nation's cultural soft power. Fully unleashing copyright's functions in safeguarding and promoting fine traditional Chinese culture, serving and protecting the inheritance and development of fine traditional culture prop up the passingon and venturing out of fine traditional Chinese culture.
Liu Hua, Director of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Office in China, emphasized that copyright plays a crucial role in preserving and revitalizing traditional culture while driving the development of its creative industries. Digital technologies provide opportunities for copyright protection but also introduce challenges such as complex forms of infringement and cultural distortion. The WIPO looks forward to strengthening its collaboration with China to enhance the protection and utilization of intellectual property, promoting global innovation and cultural diversity.
As an integral part of Chinese material civilization and spiritual civilization, how can copyright protection and cultural inheritance apply to folklore craftmanship? Pan Lusheng, Vice Chairman of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and Chairman of the Chinese Folk Literature and Art Association advised that through profound international copyright trade, authorization, development and application as well as a string of incubation policies, folklore craftmanship all over the world can be stimulated to exhibit the unique charm of different nations.
Innovation adds colors to culture
Jiangsu Nantong textiles, Fujian Dehua ceramics, and Jiangsu Wujiang silk are projects used by the WIPO to promote successful copyright protection experiences to the world. These initiatives provide valuable insights, particularly in terms of industrial development and the preservation of traditional culture. Xi'an KissFuture Network Technology Co., Ltd., the winner of the 2023 WIPO Global Awards, has developed a Terracotta Army VR cinema, showcasing the integration of digital experiences with historical culture and serving as a model for the protection and utilization of traditional culture. Through copyright creation, protection and utilization, an increasing number of fine traditional Chinese cultural treasures rejuvenate based on inheritance and development, marked by the launch of a slew of creative works and proven cases.
The forum venue – Shandong is one of the better known epitomes of using copyright protection to safeguard and promote cultural innovation. As the birthplace of Confucianism, Shandong boasts long history and rich culture with abundant intangible cultural heritage resources. In recent years, the province has been boosting copyright protection, constantly working on the construction of Shandong Copyright Protection and Service Platform, exploring new mode of dynamic cultural inheritance through creative making, building up a public brand in traditional craftmanship – Handmade in Shandong and assisting local intangible cultural heritage and traditional folklore to find new markets.
Bai Yugang, Member of the Standing Committee and Vice Minister of the Publicity Department of Shandong Provincial Committee, said in his keynote speech that Shandong is actively exploring the "+ copyright + digitalization + IP derivatives" model, with a focus on revitalizing rural culture, preserving folklore, traditional handicrafts, and boosting the cultural and creative industry. This approach aims to transform cultural resource advantages into industrial development strengths, promoting mutual enrichment and complementarity.
Embarking a new journey fueled by copyright, the boat loaded with Chinese culture is sailing with cultural confidence and will blow through the long river of human civilization.