MPAA efforts in combating intellectual property theft of films in China 2012-2016

Abstract

Piracy in China is not something that is not often seen anymore, especially film piracy. Film piracy in China has become its own industry in several cities and towns. Due to the massive amount of film piracy and its consumption by the people, this industry has even contributed as one of the biggest source of income for a few cities and towns. The lack of access and high prices of acquiring legal entertainment for the people has caused the development of the film piracy industry in China. Of course this has upset the international community that felt they have been harmed. The massive amount of film piracy in China has upset the international community because it has violated the Intellectual Property Rights by TRIPS (The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects). One of the actors who are very troubled by this violation was the MPAA ((Motion Pictures Association of America). In order to deal with the rampant cases of film piracy in China, the MPAA had to take several measures. This was, of course, not easy to be implemented as China’s policies tend to be not open to outside perspectives, especially the United States of America’s. This thesis is attempting to explain about the problems as well as the efforts made by the MPAA using the theory of Intellectual Property Theft and economic liberalism. The conclusion of this thesis is that the MPAA’s efforts are lobbying, raising public awareness and assisting as well as filing lawsuits about film piracy in 2012-2016.