1990年9月7日第七届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第十五次会议通过
根据2001年10月27日第九届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第二十四次会议《关于修改〈中华人民共和国著作权法〉的决定》修正
 目 录
第一章 总 则
 第二章 著 作 权
 第一节 著作权人及其权利
 第二节 著作权归属
 第三节 权利的保护期
 第四节 权利的限制
 第三章 著作权许可使用和转让合同
 第四章 出版、表演、录音录像、播放
 第一节 图书、报刊的出版
 第二节 表 演
 第三节 录音录像
 第四节 广播电台、电视台播放
 第五章 法律责任和执法措施
 第六章 附 则
 
第一章 总 则
 第一条 为保护文学、艺术和科学作品作者的著作权，以及与著作权有关的权益，鼓励有益于社会主义精神文明、物质文明建设的作品的创作和传播，促进社会主义文化和科学事业的发展与繁荣，根据宪法制定本法。
 第二条 中国公民、法人或者其他组织的作品，不论是否发表，依照本法享有著作权。
 外国人、无国籍人的作品根据其作者所属国或者经常居住地国同中国签订的协议或者共同参加的国际条约享有的著作权，受本法保护。
 外国人、无国籍人的作品首先在中国境内出版的，依照本法享有著作权。
 未与中国签订协议或者共同参加国际条约的国家的作者以及无国籍人的作品首次在中国参加的国际条约的成员国出版的，或者在成员国和非成员国同时出版的，受本法保护。
 第三条 本法所称的作品，包括以下列形式创作的文学、艺术和自然科学、社会科学、工程技术等作品：
 （一） 文字作品；
 （二） 口述作品；
 （三） 音乐、戏剧、曲艺、舞蹈、杂技艺术作品；
 （四） 美术、建筑作品；
 （五） 摄影作品；
 （六） 电影作品和以类似摄制电影的方法创作的作品；
 （七） 工程设计图、产品设计图、地图、示意图等图形作品和模型作品；
 （八） 计算机软件；
 （九） 法律、行政法规规定的其他作品。
 第四条 依法禁止出版、传播的作品，不受本法保护。
 著作权人行使著作权，不得违反宪法和法律，不得损害公共利益。
 第五条 本法不适用于：
 （一） 法律、法规，国家机关的决议、决定、命令和其他具有立法、行政、司法性质的文件，及其官方正式译文；
 （二） 时事新闻；
 （三） 历法、通用数表、通用表格和公式。
 第六条 民间文学艺术作品的著作权保护办法由国务院另行规定。
 第七条 国务院著作权行政管理部门主管全国的著作权管理工作；各省、自治区、直辖市人民政府的著作权行政管理部门主管本行政区域的著作权管理工作。
 第八条 著作权人和与著作权有关的权利人可以授权著作权集体管理组织行使著作权或者与著作权有关的权利。著作权集体管理组织被授权后，可以以自己的名义为著作权人和与著作权有关的权利人主张权利，并可以作为当事人进行涉及著作权或者与著作权有关的权利的诉讼、仲裁活动。
 著作权集体管理组织是非营利性组织，其设立方式、权利义务、著作权许可使用费的收取和分配，以及对其监督和管理等由国务院另行规定。
 
第二章 著作权
 
第一节 著作权人及其权利
 第九条 著作权人包括：
 （一） 作者；
 （二） 其他依照本法享有著作权的公民、法人或者其他组织。
 第十条 著作权包括下列人身权和财产权：
 （一） 发表权，即决定作品是否公之于众的权利；
 （二） 署名权，即表明作者身份，在作品上署名的权利；
 （三） 修改权，即修改或者授权他人修改作品的权利；
 （四） 保护作品完整权，即保护作品不受歪曲、篡改的权利；
 （五） 复制权，即以印刷、复印、拓印、录音、录像、翻录、翻拍等方式将作品制作一份或者多份的权利；
 （六） 发行权，即以出售或者赠与方式向公众提供作品的原件或者复制件的权利；
 （七） 出租权，即有偿许可他人临时使用电影作品和以类似摄制电影的方法创作的作品、计算机软件的权利，计算机软件不是出租的主要标的的除外；
 （八） 展览权，即公开陈列美术作品、摄影作品的原件或者复制件的权利；
 （九） 表演权，即公开表演作品，以及用各种手段公开播送作品的表演的权利；
 （十） 放映权，即通过放映机、幻灯机等技术设备公开再现美术、摄影、电影和以类似摄制电影的方法创作的作品等的权利；
 （十一） 广播权，即以无线方式公开广播或者传播作品，以有线传播或者转播的方式向公众传播广播的作品，以及通过扩音器或者其他传送符号、声音、图像的类似工具向公众传播广播的作品的权利；
 （十二） 信息网络传播权，即以有线或者无线方式向公众提供作品，使公众可以在其个人选定的时间和地点获得作品的权利；
 （十三） 摄制权，即以摄制电影或者以类似摄制电影的方法将作品固定在载体上的权利；
 （十四） 改编权，即改变作品，创作出具有独创性的新作品的权利；
 （十五） 翻译权，即将作品从一种语言文字转换成另一种语言文字的权利；
 （十六） 汇编权，即将作品或者作品的片段通过选择或者编排，汇集成新作品的权利；
 （十七） 应当由著作权人享有的其他权利。
 著作权人可以许可他人行使前款第（五）项至第（十七）项规定的权利，并依照约定或者本法有关规定获得报酬。
 著作权人可以全部或者部分转让本条第一款第（五）项至第（十七）项规定的权利，并依照约定或者本法有关规定获得报酬。
 
第二节 著作权归属
 第十一条 著作权属于作者，本法另有规定的除外。
 创作作品的公民是作者。
 由法人或者其他组织主持，代表法人或者其他组织意志创作，并由法人或者其他组织承担责任的作品，法人或者其他组织视为作者。
 如无相反证明，在作品上署名的公民、法人或者其他组织为作者。
 第十二条 改编、翻译、注释、整理已有作品而产生的作品，其著作权由改编、翻译、注释、整理人享有，但行使著作权时不得侵犯原作品的著作权。
 第十三条 两人以上合作创作的作品，著作权由合作作者共同享有。没有参加创作的人，不能成为合作作者。
 合作作品可以分割使用的，作者对各自创作的部分可以单独享有著作权，但行使著作权时不得侵犯合作作品整体的著作权。
 第十四条 汇编若干作品、作品的片段或者不构成作品的数据或者其他材料，对其内容的选择或者编排体现独创性的作品，为汇编作品，其著作权由汇编人享有，但行使著作权时，不得侵犯原作品的著作权。
 第十五条 电影作品和以类似摄制电影的方法创作的作品的著作权由制片者享有，但编剧、导演、摄影、作词、作曲等作者享有署名权，并有权按照与制片者签订的合同获得报酬。
 电影作品和以类似摄制电影的方法创作的作品中的剧本、音乐等可以单独使用的作品的作者有权单独行使其著作权。
 第十六条 公民为完成法人或者其他组织工作任务所创作的作品是职务作品，除本条第二款的规定以外，著作权由作者享有，但法人或者其他组织有权在其业务范围内优先使用。作品完成两年内，未经单位同意，作者不得许可第三人以与单位使用的相同方式使用该作品。
 有下列情形之一的职务作品，作者享有署名权，著作权的其他权利由法人或者其他组织享有，法人或者其他组织可以给予作者奖励：
 （一） 主要是利用法人或者其他组织的物质技术条件创作，并由法人或者其他组织承担责任的工程设计图、产品设计图、地图、计算机软件等职务作品；
 （二） 法律、行政法规规定或者合同约定著作权由法人或者其他组织享有的职务作品。
 第十七条 受委托创作的作品，著作权的归属由委托人和受托人通过合同约定。合同未作明确约定或者没有订立合同的，著作权属于受托人。
 第十八条 美术等作品原件所有权的转移，不视为作品著作权的转移，但美术作品原件的展览权由原件所有人享有。
 第十九条 著作权属于公民的，公民死亡后，其本法第十条第一款第（五）项至第（十七）项规定的权利在本法规定的保护期内，依照继承法的规定转移。
 著作权属于法人或者其他组织的，法人或者其他组织变更、终止后，其本法第十条第一款第（五）项至第（十七）项规定的权利在本法规定的保护期内，由承受其权利义务的法人或者其他组织享有；没有承受其权利义务的法人或者其他组织的，由国家享有。
 
第三节 权利的保护期
 第二十条 作者的署名权、修改权、保护作品完整权的保护期不受限制。
 第二十一条 公民的作品，其发表权、本法第十条第一款第（五）项至第（十七）项规定的权利的保护期为作者终生及其死亡后五十年，截止于作者死亡后第五十年的12月31日；如果是合作作品，截止于最后死亡的作者死亡后第五十年的12月31日。
 法人或者其他组织的作品、著作权（署名权除外）由法人或者其他组织享有的职务作品，其发表权、本法第十条第一款第（五）项至第（十七）项规定的权利的保护期为五十年，截止于作品首次发表后第五十年的12月31日，但作品自创作完成后五十年内未发表的，本法不再保护。
 电影作品和以类似摄制电影的方法创作的作品、摄影作品，其发表权、本法第十条第一款第（五）项至第（十七）项规定的权利的保护期为五十年，截止于作品首次发表后第五十年的12月31日，但作品自创作完成后五十年内未发表的，本法不再保护。
 
第四节 权利的限制
 第二十二条 在下列情况下使用作品，可以不经著作权人许可，不向其支付报酬，但应当指明作者姓名、作品名称，并且不得侵犯著作权人依照本法享有的其他权利：
 （一） 为个人学习、研究或者欣赏，使用他人已经发表的作品；
 （二） 为介绍、评论某一作品或者说明某一问题，在作品中适当引用他人已经发表的作品；
 （三） 为报道时事新闻，在报纸、期刊、广播电台、电视台等媒体中不可避免地再现或者引用已经发表的作品；
 （四） 报纸、期刊、广播电台、电视台等媒体刊登或者播放其他报纸、期刊、广播电台、电视台等媒体已经发表的关于政治、经济、宗教问题的时事性文章，但作者声明不许刊登、播放的除外；
 （五） 报纸、期刊、广播电台、电视台等媒体刊登或者播放在公众集会上发表的讲话，但作者声明不许刊登、播放的除外；
 （六） 为学校课堂教学或者科学研究，翻译或者少量复制已经发表的作品，供教学或者科研人员使用，但不得出版发行；
 （七） 国家机关为执行公务在合理范围内使用已经发表的作品；
 （八） 图书馆、档案馆、纪念馆、博物馆、美术馆等为陈列或者保存版本的需要，复制本馆收藏的作品；
 （九） 免费表演已经发表的作品，该表演未向公众收取费用，也未向表演者支付报酬；
 （十） 对设置或者陈列在室外公共场所的艺术作品进行临摹、绘画、摄影、录像；
 （十一） 将中国公民、法人或者其他组织已经发表的以汉语言文字创作的作品翻译成少数民族语言文字作品在国内出版发行；
 （十二） 将已经发表的作品改成盲文出版。
 前款规定适用于对出版者、表演者、录音录像制作者、广播电台、电视台的权利的限制。
 第二十三条 为实施九年制义务教育和国家教育规划而编写出版教科书，除作者事先声明不许使用的外，可以不经著作权人许可，在教科书中汇编已经发表的作品片段或者短小的文字作品、音乐作品或者单幅的美术作品、摄影作品，但应当按照规定支付报酬，指明作者姓名、作品名称，并且不得侵犯著作权人依照本法享有的其他权利。
 前款规定适用于对出版者、表演者、录音录像制作者、广播电台、电视台的权利的限制。
 
第三章 著作权许可使用和转让合同
 第二十四条 使用他人作品应当同著作权人订立许可使用合同，本法规定可以不经许可的除外。
 许可使用合同包括下列主要内容：
 （一） 许可使用的权利种类；
 （二） 许可使用的权利是专有使用权或者非专有使用权；
 （三） 许可使用的地域范围、期间；
 （四） 付酬标准和办法；
 （五） 违约责任；
 （六） 双方认为需要约定的其他内容。
 第二十五条 转让本法第十条第一款第（五）项至第（十七）项规定的权利，应当订立书面合同。
 权利转让合同包括下列主要内容：
 （一） 作品的名称；
 （二） 转让的权利种类、地域范围；
 （三） 转让价金；
 （四） 交付转让价金的日期和方式；
 （五） 违约责任；
 （六） 双方认为需要约定的其他内容。
 第二十六条 许可使用合同和转让合同中著作权人未明确许可、转让的权利，未经著作权人同意，另一方当事人不得行使。
 第二十七条 使用作品的付酬标准可以由当事人约定，也可以按照国务院著作权行政管理部门会同有关部门制定的付酬标准支付报酬。当事人约定不明确的，按照国务院著作权行政管理部门会同有关部门制定的付酬标准支付报酬。
 第二十八条 出版者、表演者、录音录像制作者、广播电台、电视台等依照本法有关规定使用他人作品的，不得侵犯作者的署名权、修改权、保护作品完整权和获得报酬的权利。
 
第四章 出版、表演、录音录像、播放
 
第一节 图书、报刊的出版
 第二十九条 图书出版者出版图书应当和著作权人订立出版合同，并支付报酬。
 第三十条 图书出版者对著作权人交付出版的作品，按照合同约定享有的专有出版权受法律保护，他人不得出版该作品。
 第三十一条 著作权人应当按照合同约定期限交付作品。图书出版者应当按照合同约定的出版质量、期限出版图书。
 图书出版者不按照合同约定期限出版，应当依照本法第五十三条的规定承担民事责任。
 图书出版者重印、再版作品的，应当通知著作权人，并支付报酬。图书脱销后，图书出版者拒绝重印、再版的，著作权人有权终止合同。
 第三十二条 著作权人向报社、期刊社投稿的，自稿件发出之日起十五日内未收到报社通知决定刊登的，或者自稿件发出之日起三十日内未收到期刊社通知决定刊登的，可以将同一作品向其他报社、期刊社投稿。双方另有约定的除外。
 作品刊登后，除著作权人声明不得转载、摘编的外，其他报刊可以转载或者作为文摘、资料刊登，但应当按照规定向著作权人支付报酬。
 第三十三条 图书出版者经作者许可，可以对作品修改、删节。
 报社、期刊社可以对作品作文字性修改、删节。对内容的修改，应当经作者许可。
 第三十四条 出版改编、翻译、注释、整理、汇编已有作品而产生的作品，应当取得改编、翻译、注释、整理、汇编作品的著作权人和原作品的著作权人许可，并支付报酬。
 第三十五条 出版者有权许可或者禁止他人使用其出版的图书、期刊的版式设计。
 前款规定的权利的保护期为十年，截止于使用该版式设计的图书、期刊首次出版后第十年的12月31日。
 
第二节 表 演
 第三十六条 使用他人作品演出，表演者（演员、演出单位）应当取得著作权人许可，并支付报酬。演出组织者组织演出，由该组织者取得著作权人许可，并支付报酬。
 使用改编、翻译、注释、整理已有作品而产生的作品进行演出，应当取得改编、翻译、注释、整理作品的著作权人和原作品的著作权人许可，并支付报酬。
 第三十七条 表演者对其表演享有下列权利：
 （一） 表明表演者身份；
 （二） 保护表演形象不受歪曲；
 （三） 许可他人从现场直播和公开传送其现场表演，并获得报酬；
 （四） 许可他人录音录像，并获得报酬；
 （五） 许可他人复制、发行录有其表演的录音录像制品，并获得报酬；
 （六） 许可他人通过信息网络向公众传播其表演，并获得报酬。
 被许可人以前款第（三）项至第（六）项规定的方式使用作品，还应当取得著作权人许可，并支付报酬。
 第三十八条 本法第三十七条第一款第（一）项、第（二）项规定的权利的保护期不受限制。
 本法第三十七条第一款第（三）项至第（六）项规定的权利的保护期为五十年，截止于该表演发生后第五十年的12月31日。
 
第三节 录音录像
 第三十九条 录音录像制作者使用他人作品制作录音录像制品，应当取得著作权人许可，并支付报酬。
 录音录像制作者使用改编、翻译、注释、整理已有作品而产生的作品，应当取得改编、翻译、注释、整理作品的著作权人和原作品著作权人许可，并支付报酬。
 录音制作者使用他人已经合法录制为录音制品的音乐作品制作录音制品，可以不经著作权人许可，但应当按照规定支付报酬；著作权人声明不许使用的不得使用。
 第四十条 录音录像制作者制作录音录像制品，应当同表演者订立合同，并支付报酬。
 第四十一条 录音录像制作者对其制作的录音录像制品，享有许可他人复制、发行、出租、通过信息网络向公众传播并获得报酬的权利；权利的保护期为五十年，截止于该制品首次制作完成后第五十年的12月31日。
 被许可人复制、发行、通过信息网络向公众传播录音录像制品，还应当取得著作权人、表演者许可，并支付报酬。
 
第四节 广播电台、电视台播放
 第四十二条 广播电台、电视台播放他人未发表的作品，应当取得著作权人许可，并支付报酬。
 广播电台、电视台播放他人已发表的作品，可以不经著作权人许可，但应当支付报酬。
 第四十三条 广播电台、电视台播放已经出版的录音制品，可以不经著作权人许可，但应当支付报酬。当事人另有约定的除外。具体办法由国务院规定。
 第四十四条 广播电台、电视台有权禁止未经其许可的下列行为：
 （一） 将其播放的广播、电视转播；
 （二） 将其播放的广播、电视录制在音像载体上以及复制音像载体。
 前款规定的权利的保护期为五十年，截止于该广播、电视首次播放后第五十年的12月31日。
 第四十五条 电视台播放他人的电影作品和以类似摄制电影的方法创作的作品、录像制品，应当取得制片者或者录像制作者许可，并支付报酬；播放他人的录像制品，还应当取得著作权人许可，并支付报酬。
 
第五章 法律责任和执法措施
 第四十六条 有下列侵权行为的，应当根据情况，承担停止侵害、消除影响、赔礼道歉、赔偿损失等民事责任：
 （一） 未经著作权人许可，发表其作品的；
 （二） 未经合作作者许可，将与他人合作创作的作品当作自己单独创作的作品发表的；
 （三） 没有参加创作，为谋取个人名利，在他人作品上署名的；
 （四） 歪曲、篡改他人作品的；
 （五） 剽窃他人作品的；
 （六） 未经著作权人许可，以展览、摄制电影和以类似摄制电影的方法使用作品，或者以改编、翻译、注释等方式使用作品的，本法另有规定的除外；
 （七） 使用他人作品，应当支付报酬而未支付的；
 （八） 未经电影作品和以类似摄制电影的方法创作的作品、计算机软件、录音录像制品的著作权人或者与著作权有关的权利人许可，出租其作品或者录音录像制品的，本法另有规定的除外；
 （九） 未经出版者许可，使用其出版的图书、期刊的版式设计的；
 （十） 未经表演者许可，从现场直播或者公开传送其现场表演，或者录制其表演的；
 （十一） 其他侵犯著作权以及与著作权有关的权益的行为。
 第四十七条 有下列侵权行为的，应当根据情况，承担停止侵害、消除影响、赔礼道歉、赔偿损失等民事责任；同时损害公共利益的，可以由著作权行政管理部门责令停止侵权行为，没收违法所得，没收、销毁侵权复制品，并可处以罚款；情节严重的，著作权行政管理部门还可以没收主要用于制作侵权复制品的材料、工具、设备等；构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任：
 （一） 未经著作权人许可，复制、发行、表演、放映、广播、汇编、通过信息网络向公众传播其作品的，本法另有规定的除外；
 （二） 出版他人享有专有出版权的图书的；
 （三） 未经表演者许可，复制、发行录有其表演的录音录像制品，或者通过信息网络向公众传播其表演的，本法另有规定的除外；
 （四） 未经录音录像制作者许可，复制、发行、通过信息网络向公众传播其制作的录音录像制品的，本法另有规定的除外；
 （五） 未经许可，播放或者复制广播、电视的，本法另有规定的除外；
 （六） 未经著作权人或者与著作权有关的权利人许可，故意避开或者破坏权利人为其作品、录音录像制品等采取的保护著作权或者与著作权有关的权利的技术措施的，法律、行政法规另有规定的除外；
 （七） 未经著作权人或者与著作权有关的权利人许可，故意删除或者改变作品、录音录像制品等的权利管理电子信息的，法律、行政法规另有规定的除外；
 （八） 制作、出售假冒他人署名的作品的。
 第四十八条 侵犯著作权或者与著作权有关的权利的，侵权人应当按照权利人的实际损失给予赔偿；实际损失难以计算的，可以按照侵权人的违法所得给予赔偿。赔偿数额还应当包括权利人为制止侵权行为所支付的合理开支。
 权利人的实际损失或者侵权人的违法所得不能确定的，由人民法院根据侵权行为的情节，判决给予五十万元以下的赔偿。
 第四十九条 著作权人或者与著作权有关的权利人有证据证明他人正在实施或者即将实施侵犯其权利的行为，如不及时制止将会使其合法权益受到难以弥补的损害的，可以在起诉前向人民法院申请采取责令停止有关行为和财产保全的措施。
 人民法院处理前款申请，适用《中华人民共和国民事诉讼法》第九十三条至第九十六条和第九十九条的规定。
 第五十条 为制止侵权行为，在证据可能灭失或者以后难以取得的情况下，著作权人或者与著作权有关的权利人可以在起诉前向人民法院申请保全证据。
 人民法院接受申请后，必须在四十八小时内作出裁定；裁定采取保全措施的，应当立即开始执行。
 人民法院可以责令申请人提供担保，申请人不提供担保的，驳回申请。
 申请人在人民法院采取保全措施后十五日内不起诉的，人民法院应当解除保全措施。
 第五十一条 人民法院审理案件，对于侵犯著作权或者与著作权有关的权利的，可以没收违法所得、侵权复制品以及进行违法活动的财物。
 第五十二条 复制品的出版者、制作者不能证明其出版、制作有合法授权的，复制品的发行者或者电影作品或者以类似摄制电影的方法创作的作品、计算机软件、录音录像制品的复制品的出租者不能证明其发行、出租的复制品有合法来源的，应当承担法律责任。
 第五十三条 当事人不履行合同义务或者履行合同义务不符合约定条件的，应当依照《中华人民共和国民法通则》、《中华人民共和国合同法》等有关法律规定承担民事责任。
 第五十四条 著作权纠纷可以调解，也可以根据当事人达成的书面仲裁协议或者著作权合同中的仲裁条款，向仲裁机构申请仲裁。
 当事人没有书面仲裁协议，也没有在著作权合同中订立仲裁条款的，可以直接向人民法院起诉。
 第五十五条 当事人对行政处罚不服的，可以自收到行政处罚决定书之日起三个月内向人民法院起诉，期满不起诉又不履行的，著作权行政管理部门可以申请人民法院执行。
 
第六章 附 则
 第五十六条 本法所称的著作权即版权。
 第五十七条 本法第二条所称的出版，指作品的复制、发行。
 第五十八条 计算机软件、信息网络传播权的保护办法由国务院另行规定。
 第五十九条 本法规定的著作权人和出版者、表演者、录音录像制作者、广播电台、电视台的权利，在本法施行之日尚未超过本法规定的保护期的，依照本法予以保护。
 本法施行前发生的侵权或者违约行为，依照侵权或者违约行为发生时的有关规定和政策处理。
 第六十条 本法自1991年6月1日起施行。
 
    全国人民代表大会常务委员会 2001年10月27日 颁布

Copyright Law of the People‘s Republic of China

Adopted at the Fifteenth Session of the Standing Committee of the Seventh National People's Congress on September 7, 1990
Amended in accordance with the Decisions on Amending the Copyright Law of the People's Republic of China adopted at the 24th Session of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People's Congress on October 27, 2001

 Contents
Chapter I General Provisions
Chapter II Copyright
Section 1 Copyright Owners and Their Rights
Section 2 Ownership of Copyright
Section 3 Term of Protection
Section 4 Limitations on Rights
Chapter III Contracts of Copyright Licensing and Contracts of Copyright Transfer
Chapter IV Publication, Performance, Sound Recording, Video Recording and Broadcasting
Section 1 Publication of Books, Newspapers and Periodicals
Section 2 Performance
Section 3 Sound Recording and Video Recording
Section 4 Broadcasting by A Radio Station or Television Station
Chapter V Legal Liabilities and Law Enforcement Measures
Chapter VI Supplementary Provisions
 
Chapter I General Provisions
 Article 1 This Law is enacted, in accordance with the Constitution for the purposes of protecting the copyright of authors in their literary, artistic and scientific works and rights related to copyright, of encouraging the creation and dissemination of works which would contribute to the construction of socialist spiritual and material civilization, and of promoting the development and flourishing of socialist culture and sciences.
 Article 2 Works of Chinese citizens, legal entities or other organizations, whether published or not, shall enjoy copyright in accordance with this Law.
Any work of a foreigner or stateless person which enjoys copyright under an agreement concluded between the country to which the author belongs or in which the author permanently resides and China, or under an international treaty to which both countries are parties, shall be protected by this Law.
Any work of a foreigner or stateless person published for the first time and within the territory of China shall enjoy copyright in accordance with this Law.
Any work of an author from a country not having concluded an agreement with China or entered into an international treaty jointly with China or of a stateless person, which is published for the first time in a country as a member of the international treaty into which China has entered or published in a member country and non- member country at the same time, shall be protected by this Law.
 Article 3 "Works" mentioned in this Law shall include works of literature, art, natural science, social science, engineering technology and the like made in the following forms:
 (1) written works;
 (2) oral works;
 (3) musical, dramatic, quyi, choreographic and acrobatic art works;
 (4) works of fine art and architecture
 (5) photographic works;
 (6) cinematographic works and works created in a way similar to cinematography
 (7) drawings of engineering designs and product designs, maps, sketches and other graphic works as well as model works;
 (8) computer software;
 (9) other works as provided in laws and administrative regulations.
 Article 4 Works the publication or dissemination of which is prohibited by law shall not be protected by this law.
Copyright owners, in exercising their copyright, shall not violate the Constitution or laws or infringe upon the public interests.
 Article 5 This Law shall not be applicable to:
 (1) laws, regulations, resolutions, decisions and orders of state organs; other documents of legislative, administrative or judicial nature; and their official translations;
 (2) news on current affairs;
 (3) calendars, numerical tables, forms of general use and formulas.
 Article 6 Regulations for the protection of copyright in expressions of folklore shall be separately established by the State Council.
 Article 7 The copyright administration department under the State Council shall be responsible for the nationwide administration of copyright. The copyright administration department of the people's government of each province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government shall be responsible for the administration of copyright within its own jurisdiction.
 Article 8 Copyright owners and the obligees related to copyright may authorize a collective management organization of copyright to exercise the copyright or the rights related to copyright. The collective management organization of copyright may, after being authorized, claim rights in its own name for the copyright owners and the obligees related to copyright, and may, as a party concerned, participate in the litigation and arbitration activities involved with copyright or the rights related to copyright.
A collective management organization of copyright shall be a non-profit organization, and the method of its establishment, its rights and obligations, the collection and distribution of the royalty for copyright licensing, as well as the supervision and management over it shall be separately provided by the State Council.
 
Chapter II Copyright
 
Section 1 Copyright Owners and Their Rights
 Article 9 "Copyright owners" shall include:
 (1) authors;
 (2) other citizens, legal entities and organizations enjoying copyright in accordance with this Law.
 Article 10 "Copyright" shall include the following personal rights and property rights:
 (1) the right of publication, that is, the right to decide whether to male a work available to the public;
 (2) the right of authorship, that is, the right to claim authorship and to have the author's name mentioned in connection with the work;
 (3) the right of alteration, that is, the right to alter or authorize others to alter one's work;
 (4) the right of integrity, that is, the right to protect one's work against distortion and mutilation;
 (5) the right of reproduction, that is, the right to produce one or more copies of the work by means of printing, Xeroxing, rubbing, sound recording, video recording, duplicating, or re-shooting, etc.;
 (6) the right of distribution, that is, the right to provide the public with original copies or reproduced copies of works by means of selling or donating;
 (7) the right of lease, that is, the right to nongratuitously permit others to temporarily exploit a cinematographic work, a work created in a way similar to cinematography or computer software, unless the computer software is not the main object under the lease;
 (8) the right of exhibition, that is, the right to publicly display the original copies or reproduced copies of works of fine art and cinematographic works;
 (9) the right of performance, that is, the right to publicly perform works, and to publicly transmit the performance of works by various means;
 (10) the right of projection, that is, the right to make, by such technical equipment as projector, episcope, etc., the works of fine art, photographic works, cinematographic works and works created in a way similar to cinematography, etc. reappear publicly;
 (11) the right of broadcasting, that is, the right to publicly broadcast or disseminate works by wireless means, to disseminate broadcast works to the public by wired dissemination or rebroadcast, and to disseminate broadcast works to the public by audio amplifier or other similar instruments for transmission of signs, sounds or images;
 (12) the right of information network dissemination, that is, the right to provide the public with works by wired or wireless means, so as to make the public able to respectively obtain the works at the individually selected time and place;
 (13) the right of production, that is, the right to fix works on the carrier by cinematography or in a way similar to cinematography;
 (14) the right of adaptation, that is, the right to modify a work for the purpose of creating a new work of original creation;
 (15) the right of translation, that is, the right to transform the language of a work into another language;
 (16) the right of compilation, that is, the right to choose or edit some works or fragments of works so as to form a new work;
 (17) other rights which shall be enjoyed by the copyright owners.
A copyright owner may permit others to exercise the rights provided in Items (5) through (17) of the preceding paragraph, and may receive remuneration as agreed upon in the contract or in accordance with the relevant provisions in this Law.
A copyright owner may wholly or partially transfer the rights provided in Items (5) through (17) of Paragraph 1 of this Article, and may receive remuneration as agreed upon in the contract or in accordance with the relevant provisions in this Law.
 
Section 2 Ownership of Copyright
 Article 11 Except otherwise provided in this Law, the copyright in a work shall belong to its author.
The author of a work is the citizen who has created the work.
Where a work is created according to the intention and under the supervision and responsibility of a legal entity or another organization, such legal entity or organization shall be the author of the work.
The citizen, legal entity or organization whose name is affixed to a work shall, without the contrary proof, be the author of the work.
 Article 12 Where a work is created by adaptation, translation, annotation or arrangement of a pre-existing work, the copyright in the work thus created shall be enjoyed by the adapter, translator, annotator or arranger, provided that the copyright in the original work is not infringed upon.
 Article 13 Where a work is created jointly by two or more co-authors, the copyright in the work shall be enjoyed jointly by those co-authors. Co-authorship may not be claimed by anyone who has not participated in the creation of the work.
If a work of joint authorship can be separated into independent parts and exploited separately, each co-author shall be entitled to independent copyright in the parts that he has created, provided that the exercise of such copyright does not infringe upon the copyright in the joint work as a whole.
 Article 14 A work created by compilation shall refer to the work which is compiled of some works, fragments of works or the data or other materials not constituting a work, and the choice or layout of the contents of which embodies the original creation. The copyright of the compilation work shall be enjoyed by the compiler, provided that the exercise of such copyright does not infringe upon the copyright of the pre-existing works included in the compilation.
 Article 15 The copyright of a cinematographic work or a work created in a way similar to cinematography shall be enjoyed by the producer, while any of the playwright, director, cameraman, words-writer, composer and other authors of the work shall enjoy the right of authorship, and shall be entitled to obtain remuneration as agreed upon in the contract between him and the producer.
The authors of the screenplay, musical works and other works that are included in a cinematographic work or a work created in a way similar to cinematography and can be exploited separately shall be entitled to exercise their copyright independently.
 Article 16 A work created by a citizen when fulfilling the tasks assigned to him by a legal entity or another organization shall be deemed to be a service work. Unless otherwise provided in Paragraph 2 of this Article, the copyright of such a work shall be enjoyed by the author, but the legal entity or organization shall have a priority right to exploit the work within the scope of its professional activities. During the two years after the completion of the work, the author shall not, without the consent of the legal entity or organization, authorize a third party to exploit the work in the same way as the legal entity or organization does.
In the following cases the author of a service work shall enjoy the right of authorship, while the legal entity or organization shall enjoy other rights included in the copyright and may reward the author:
 (1) drawings of engineering designs and product designs, maps, computer software and other service works, which are created mainly with the materials and technical resources of the legal entity or organization and under its responsibility;
 (2) service works of which the copyright is, in accordance with the laws or administrative regulations or as agreed upon in the contract, enjoyed by the legal entity or organization.
 Article 17 The ownership of copyright in a commissioned work shall be agreed upon in a contract between the commissioning and the commissioned parties. In the absence of such a contract or of an explicit agreement in the contract, the copyright in such a work shall belong to the commissioned party.
 Article 18 The transfer of ownership of the original copy of a work of fine art or another work shall not be deemed to include the transfer of the copyright in such a work, however, the right to exhibit the original copy of a work of fine art shall be enjoyed by the owner of such original copy.
 Article 19 Where the copyright of a work belongs to a citizen, his rights in respect of the work as provided in Items (5) through (17) of Paragraph 1 of Article 10 of this Law shall, after his death, during the term of protection provided in this Law, be transferred in accordance with the Inheritance Law.
Where the copyright of a work belongs to a legal entity or another organization, its rights in respect of the work as provided in Items (5) through (17) of Paragraph 1 of Article 10 of this Law shall, after the change or the termination of the status of the legal entity or organization, during the term of protection provided in this Law, be enjoyed by the succeeding legal entity or organization which has taken over the rights and obligations of the previous legal entity or organization, or, in the absence of such succeeding legal entity or organization, by the State.
 
Section 3 Term of Protection
 Article 20 The rights of authorship, alteration and integrity of an author shall be unlimited in time.
 Article 21 In respect of a work of a citizen, the term of protection of the right of publication and of the rights provided in Items (5) through (17) of Paragraph 1 of Article 10 of this Law shall be the lifetime of the author and fifty years after his death, expiring on December 31 of the fiftieth year after his death. In the case of a work of joint authorship, such term shall expire on December 31 of the fiftieth year after the death of the last surviving author.
The term of protection of the right of publication and of the rights provided in Items (5) through (17) of Paragraph 1 of Article 10 of this Law where the copyright belongs to a legal entity or another organization, or in respect of a service work where the legal entity or organization enjoys the copyright (except the right of authorship), shall be fifty years, expiring on December 31 of the fiftieth year after the first publication of such a work, however, any such work that has not been published within fifty years after the completion of its creation shall no longer be protected by this Law.
The term of protection of the right of publication and of the rights provided in Items (5) through (17) of Paragraph 1 of Article 10 of this Law in respect of a cinematographic work or a work created in a way similar to cinematography shall be fifty years, expiring on December 31 of the fiftieth year after the first publication of such a work, however, any such work that has not been published within fifty years after the completion of its creation shall no longer be protected by this Law.
 
Section 4 Limitations on Rights
 Article 22 In the following cases, a work may be exploited without the permission from, and without payment of remuneration to, the copyright owner, provided that the name of the author and the title of the work are mentioned and the other rights enjoyed by the copyright owner by virtue of this Law are not infringed upon:
 (1) use of a published work for the purposes of the user's own private study, research or self-entertainment;
 (2) appropriate quotation from a published work in one's own work for the purposes of introduction of, or comment on, a work, or demonstration of a point;
 (3) inevitable reappearance or citation of a published work in newspapers, periodicals, radio stations, television stations or other media for the purpose of reporting current events;
 (4) reprinting by newspapers or periodicals or other media, or rebroadcasting by radio stations or television stations or other media, of the current event articles on the issues of politics, economy and religion, which have been published by other newspapers, periodicals, radio stations or television stations or other media, except where the author has declared that publication or broadcasting is not permitted;
 (5) publication in newspapers or periodicals or other media, or broadcasting by radio stations or television stations or other media, of a speech delivered at a public assembly, except where the author has declared that publication or broadcasting is not permitted;
 (6) translation or reproduction, in a small quality of copies, of a published work for use by teachers or scientific researchers in classroom teaching or scientific research, provided that the translation or reproduction is not published or distributed;
 (7) use of a published work by a State organ within the reasonable scope for the purpose of fulfilling its official duties;
 (8) reproduction of a work in its collections by a library, archive, memorial hall, museum, art gallery or similar institution, for the purpose of the display or preservation of a copy of the work;
 (9) free of charge performance of a published work, that is, with respect to the performance, neither fees are charged from the public nor the remuneration is paid to the performers;
 (10) copying, drawing, photographing, or video recording of an artistic work located or on display in an outdoor public place;
 (11) translation of a work published by a Chinese citizen, legal entity or organization, which is created in the Han language (Chinese), into a minority nationality language for publication and distribution within the country;
 (12) translation of a published work into Braille and publication of the work so translated;
The provisions in the preceding paragraph shall be applicable to the limitations on the rights of publishers, performers, producers of sound recordings and video recordings, radio stations and television stations.
 Article 23 Anyone who compiles or publishes textbooks for the purpose of implementing the nine-year compulsory education or State education planning may, without the permission from the copyright owner, except that the author has declared in advance that the exploitation is not permitted, compile published fragments of works, short written works or musical works, a single work of fine art, or photographic works into the textbooks, however, he shall pay the remuneration as provided, mention the name of the author and the title of the work, and shall not infringe upon other rights which the copyright owner shall enjoy in accordance with this Law.
The provisions in the preceding paragraph shall be applicable to the limitations on the rights of publishers, performers, producers of sound recordings and video recordings, radio stations and television stations.
 
Chapter III Contracts of Copyright Licensing and Contracts of Copyright Transfer
 Article 24 Anyone who exploits a work created by another shall conclude a contract of licensing with the copyright owner, unless it is provided in this Law that the exploitation need not be licensed.
A contract of licensing shall include the following main contents:
 (1) the variety of the right to exploit the work covered by the license;
 (2) the exclusive or non-exclusive nature of the right to exploit the work covered by the license;
 (3) the territorial scope and term of the license;
 (4) the amount of the remuneration and the method of its payment;
 (5) the breach liability;
 (6) any other contents that both parties consider necessary.
 Article 25 Anyone who transfers any of the rights provided in Items (5) through (17) of Paragraph 1 of Article 10 of this Law shall conclude a written contract with the transferee.
A contract of copyright transfer shall include the following main contents:
 (1) the name of the work;
 (2) the variety and territorial scope of the transferred right;
 (3) the transfer price;
 (4) the date and method of the delivery of the transfer price;
 (5) the breach liability;
 (6) any other contents that both parties consider necessary.
 Article 26 The licensee or the transferee shall not, without the consent of the copyright owner, exercise any right that the copyright owner has not expressly licensed or transferred in the contract.
 Article 27 The standards of remuneration for the exploitation of a work may be either agreed upon by the parties concerned or be made by the copyright administration department under the State Council in collaboration with other departments concerned. Where the parties concerned fail to reach a clear agreement, the remuneration shall be paid in accordance with the standards of remuneration made by the copyright administration department under the State Council in collaboration with other departments concerned.
 Article 28 Publishers, performers, producers of sound recordings and video recordings, radio stations, television stations and other entities who or which exploit the works of others pursuant to this Law shall not infringe upon the author's rights of authorship, alteration or integrity, or their right to remuneration.
 
Chapter IV Publication, Performance, Sound Recording, Video Recording and Broadcasting
 
Section 1 Publication of Books, Newspapers and Periodicals
 Article 29 A book publisher who publishes a book shall conclude a publishing contract with, and pay remuneration to, the copyright owner.
 Article 30 With respect to a work delivered to a book publisher by the copyright owner for publication, the exclusive right to publish the work enjoyed by the book publisher as agreed upon in the contract shall be protected by law, and the work may not be published by others.
 Article 31 The copyright owner shall deliver the work within the term agreed upon in the contract. The book publisher shall publish the work in accordance with the quality requirements and within the term agreed upon in the contract.
The book publisher shall bear the civil liability provided in Article 53 of this Law if he fails to publish the work within the term agreed upon in the contract.
The book publisher shall notify, and pay remuneration to, the copyright owner when the work is to be reprinted or republished. If the publisher refuses to reprint or republish the work when stocks of the book are exhausted, the copyright owner shall have the right to terminate the contract.
 Article 32 Where a copyright owner has submitted the manuscript of his work to a newspaper or a periodical publisher for publication and has not received any notification of the said publisher's decision to publish the work, within fifteen days from the newspaper publisher or within thirty days from the periodical publisher, counted from the date of submission of the manuscript, the copyright owner may submit the manuscript of the same work to another newspaper or periodical publisher for publication, unless the two parties have agreed otherwise.
Except where the copyright owner has declared that reprinting or excerpting is not permitted, other newspaper or periodical publishers may, after the publication of the work by a newspaper or periodical, reprint the work or print an abstract of it or print it as reference material, but such other publishers shall pay remuneration to the copyright owner as provided in regulations.
 Article 33 A book publisher may alter or abridge a work with the permission from the copyright owner.
A newspaper or periodical publisher may make editorial modifications and abridgments in a work, but shall not make modifications in the content of the work unless permission has been obtained from the author.
 Article 34 When publishing works created by adaptation, translation, annotation, arrangement or compilation of pre-existing works, the publisher shall obtain permission from and pay remuneration to both the owners of the copyright in the works created by means of adaptation, translation, annotation, arrangement or compilation, and the owners of the copyright in the original work.
 Article 35 A publisher shall be entitled to permit others to exploit the format design of a published book or periodical of his or prohibit others from doing so.
The term of protection of the right provided in the preceding paragraph shall be ten years, expiring on December 31 of the tenth year after the first publication of the book or periodical that uses such a format.
 
Section 2 Performance
 Article 36 A performer (an individual performer or a performing group) who for a performance exploits a work created by another shall obtain permission from and pay remuneration to the copyright owner. A performance organizer who organizes a performance shall obtain permission from and pay remuneration to the copyright owner.
A performer who for a performance exploits a work created by adaptation, translation, annotation or arrangement of a pre-existing work shall obtain permission from and pay remuneration to both the owner of the copyright in the work created by adaptation, translation, annotation or arrangement and the owner of the copyright in the original work.
 Article 37 A performer shall, in relation to his performance, enjoy the rights:
 (1) to show his/her identity;
 (2) to protect the character in his performance from distortion;
 (3) to authorize others to make live broadcasts or to publicly transmit his live performance, and to receive remuneration for it;
 (4) to authorize others to make sound recordings and video recordings, and to receive remuneration for it.
 (5) to permit others to reproduce and distribute the sound recordings or video recordings which record his performance, and to receive remuneration for it;
 (6) to permit others to disseminate his performance to the public through information network, and to receive remuneration for it.
Anyone who is permitted to exploit the works in the ways provided in Items (3) through (6) of the preceding paragraph shall also obtain permission from and pay remuneration to the copyright owner.
 Article 38 The term of protection of the rights provided in Items (1) and (2) of Paragraph 1 of Article 37 of this Law shall not be limited.
The term of protection of the rights provided in Items (3) through (6) of Paragraph 1 of Article 37 of this Law shall be fifty years, expiring on December 31 of the fiftieth year after the performance is made.
 
Section 3 Sound Recording and Video Recording
 Article 39 A producer of sound recordings or video recordings who, for the production of a sound recording or video recording, exploits a work created by another, shall obtain permission from and pay remuneration to the copyright owner.
A producer of sound recordings or video recordings who exploits a work created by adaptation, translation, annotation or arrangement of a pre-existing work shall obtain permission from and pay remuneration to both the owner of the copyright in the work created by adaptation, translation, annotation or arrangement and the owner of copyright in the original work.
A producer of a sound recording who, for the production of a sound recording, exploits a musical work which has been lawfully recorded as a sound recording by another, does not need to obtain permission from, but shall, as provided in regulations, pay remuneration to the copyright owner; such work shall not be exploited where the copyright owner has declared that such exploitation is not permitted.
 Article 40 When producing a sound recording or video recording, the producer shall conclude a contract with, and pay remuneration to, the performers.
 Article 41 A producer of sound recordings or video recordings shall have the right to permit others to reproduce, distribute, lease and disseminate to the public through information network such sound recordings or video recordings and shall have the right to receive remuneration for it. The term of protection of such rights shall be fifty years, expiring on December 31 of the fiftieth year after the production of the recording is firstly completed.
A producer of sound recordings or video recordings who is permitted to reproduce, distribute, lease or disseminate to the public through information network a sound recording or video recording shall obtain permission from and also pay remuneration to both the copyright owner and the performer.
 
Section 4 Broadcasting by A Radio Station or Television Station
 Article 42 A radio station or television station that broadcasts an unpublished work created by another shall obtain permission from and pay remuneration to the copyright owner.
A radio station or television station that broadcasts a published work created by another does not need to obtain permission from, but shall pay remuneration to the copyright owner.
 Article 43 A radio station or television station that broadcasts a published sound recording does not need to obtain permission from, but shall pay remuneration to the copyright owner, unless the parties concerned have agreed otherwise. The specific measures shall be provided by the State Council.
 Article 44 A radio station or television station is entitled to prohibit the following acts which it has not permitted:
 (1) rebroadcasting the radio or television which it has broadcasted;
 (2) recording the radio or television which it has broadcasted in the audio or video carrier and to reproduce the audio or video carrier.
The term of protection of the rights provided in the preceding paragraph shall be fifty years, expiring on December 31 of the fiftieth year after the first broadcasting of the radio or television.
 Article 45 A television station that broadcasts another's cinematographic work, work created in a way similar to cinematography or videographic work shall obtain permission from and pay remuneration to the producer. A television station that broadcasts another's videographic work shall also obtain permission from and pay remuneration to the copyright owner.
 
Chapter V Legal Liabilities and Law Enforcement Measures
 Article 46 He who commits any of the following acts of infringement shall bear the civil liability for such remedies as ceasing the infringing act, eliminating the effects of the act, making a public apology or paying compensation for damages, depending on the circumstances:
 (1) publishing a work without the permission from the copyright owner;
 (2) publishing a work of joint authorship as a work created solely by oneself, without the permission from the other co-authors;
 (3) having his name mentioned in connection with a work created by another, in order to seek personal fame and gain, where he has not taken part in the creation of the work;
 (4) distorting a work created by another;
 (5) plagiarizing the works of others;
 (6) exploiting a work by means of exhibition, making cinematographic productions or a means similar to making cinematographic productions, or by means of adaptation, translation, annotation, etc. without the permission from the copyright owner, unless otherwise provided in this Law;
 (7) exploiting a work of another without paying the remuneration;
 (8) without the permission from the copyright owner or obligee related to the copyright of a cinematographic work or a work created in a way similar to cinematography, computer software, sound recordings or video recordings, leasing his work or sound recordings or video recordings, except where otherwise provided in this Law;
 (9) without the permission from a publisher, exploiting the format design of his published book or periodical;
 (10) without the permission from the performer, broadcasting or publicly transmitting his live performance or recording his performance;
 (11) committing other acts of infringement upon copyright and upon other rights related to copyright.
 Article 47 He who commits any of the following acts of infringement shall bear the civil liability for such remedies as ceasing the infringements, eliminating the effects of the act, making a public apology or paying compensation for damages, depending on the circumstances; where he damages public interests at the same time, the copyright administration department may order him to cease the act of tort, may confiscate his illegal gains, confiscate and destroy the reproductions of infringement, and impose a fine on him; if the case is serious, the copyright administration department may also confiscate the materials, instruments and equipment, etc. mainly used to make the reproductions of infringement; where his act has constituted a crime, he shall be investigated for criminal liabilities in accordance with the law:
 (1) without the permission from the copyright owner, reproducing, distributing, performing, projecting, broadcasting, compiling, disseminating to the public through information network his works, except where otherwise provided in this Law;
 (2) publishing a book where the exclusive right of publication belongs to another;
 (3) without the permission from a performer, reproducing, distributing the sound recordings or video recordings of his performance, or disseminating his performance to the public through information network, except where otherwise provided in this Law;
 (4) without the permission from a producer of sound recordings and video recordings, reproducing, distributing, disseminating to the public through information network the sound recordings or video recordings produced by him, except where otherwise provided in this Law;
 (5) without the permission, broadcasting or reproducing the radio or television, except where otherwise provided in this Law;
 (6) without the permission from the copyright owner or obligee related to the copyright, intentionally avoiding or destroying the technical measures taken by the obligee on his works, sound recordings or video recordings, etc. to protect the copyright or the rights related to the copyright, except where otherwise provided in laws or administrative regulations;
 (7) without the permission from the copyright owner or obligee related to the copyright, intentionally deleting or altering the electronic information on the management of the rights on the works, sound recordings or video recordings, except where otherwise provided in laws or administrative regulations;
 (8) producing or selling a work where the signature of another is counterfeited.
 Article 48 The infringer shall, when having infringed upon the copyright or the rights related to copyright, make a compensation on the basis of the obligee's actual losses; where the actual losses are difficult to be calculated, the compensation may be made on the basis of the infringer's illegal gains. The amount of compensation shall also include the reasonable expenses paid by the obligee for stopping the act of tort.
Where the obligee's actual losses or the infringer's illegal gains cannot be determined, the people's court shall, on the basis of the seriousness of the act of tort, adjudicate a compensation of 500,000 Yuan or less.
 Article 49 Where a copyright owner or obligee related to copyright has evidence to prove that another is committing or is going to commit an act infringing upon his right, and that his lawful rights and interests will suffer the damage which is difficult to be remedied if he does not stop it in time, he may, before bringing a lawsuit, apply to the people's court for an order to cease the relevant acts or for property preservation.
The people's court shall handle the application in the preceding paragraph in accordance with Article 93 through Article 96 and Article 99 of the Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China.
 Article 50 For the purpose of stopping the acts of tort, a copyright owner or an obligee related to copyright may, under circumstances that the evidence may be destroyed or lost or difficult to obtain later on, apply to the people's court for the evidence to be preserved.
The people's court must, after receiving the application, make an order within 48 hours; if the preservation is granted by an order, its implementation shall start immediately.
The people's court may order the applicant to provide a surety; if the applicant fails to do so, his application shall be rejected.
If the applicant fails to bring a lawsuit within 15 days after the people's court has adopted the preservation measures, the people's court shall cancel the property preservation.
 Article 51 The people's court may, when trying the cases of infringing upon copyright or the rights related to copyright, confiscate the illegal gains, the reproductions of infringement and the properties used for committing illegal acts.
 Article 52 Where a publisher or producer of reproductions is unable to prove the lawful authorization of his publication or production, or the distributor of the reproductions or the lessor of the reproductions of a cinematographic work or a work created in a way similar to cinematography, computer software, sound recordings or video recordings is unable to prove the lawful sources of his distribution or lease of the reproductions, he shall bear the legal liabilities.
 Article 53 Where a party concerned does not implement his contractual obligations or his implementation of the contractual obligations does not conform to the stipulated requirements, he shall bear the civil liabilities in accordance with the General Principles of the Civil Law of the People's Republic of China, the Contract Law of the People's Republic of China and other laws.
 Article 54 A dispute over copyright may be settled by mediation or be submitted for arbitration to a copyright arbitration institution under a written arbitration agreement concluded between the parties concerned, or under the arbitration clause in the copyright contract.
Any party may bring a lawsuit directly to the people's court in the absence of a written arbitration agreement or an arbitration clause in the copyright contract.
 Article 55 Any party who objects to an administrative penalty may bring a lawsuit to the people's court within three months as of the date when it received the written decision on the penalty. If a party neither bring a lawsuit nor implements the decision within the above time limit, the copyright administration department concerned may apply to the people's court for enforcement.
 
Chapter VI Supplementary Provisions
 Article 56 The term "author's right" shall have the same meaning as "copyright" in this Law.
 Article 57 The term "publication" mentioned in Article 2 of this Law shall refer to reproduction and distribution of works.
 Article 58 Regulations for the protection of computer software and of the right of information network dissemination shall be established separately by the State Council.
 Article 59 The rights of copyright owners, publishers, performers, producers of sound recordings and video recordings, radio stations and television stations as provided in this Law, of which the term of protection specified in this Law has not yet expired on the date of this Law's entry into force, shall be protected in accordance with this Law.
Any infringements upon copyright and the rights related to copyright or breaches of contract committed prior to the entry into force of this Law shall be dealt with under the relevant regulations or policies in force at the time when the infringement was committed.
 Article 60 This Law shall enter into force on June 1, 1991.
 
    Promulgated by The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on 2001-10-27