WIPO China: WIPO Deputy Director General Wang Binying Delivers Address at 2026 National IP Publicity Week Copyright-Themed Event

Suzhou, April 17, 2026 - On the occasion of the upcoming 26th World Intellectual Property Day and the 31st World Book and Copyright Day, the Launch Ceremony of the Copyright-Themed Events of the 2026 National Intellectual Property Publicity Week and the Yangtze River Delta Copyright Collaborative Development Thematic Event, jointly organized by the Copyright Administration of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the copyright authorities of Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui, was held in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. Ms. Wang Binying, Deputy Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), delivered a video opening address at the event.

In her address, Ms. Wang noted that the theme "Building a Copyright Ecosystem and Empowering an Innovative Yangtze River Delta" underscores the critical role of regional collaboration and copyright protection in supporting innovation-driven development. She highlighted the growing importance of copyright in sectors such as sports, where it underpins activities ranging from broadcasting rights to the creation of cultural and creative content.

She emphasized that digital technologies are profoundly reshaping the global innovation landscape, with China making notable progress in artificial intelligence and the copyright industry. At present, China accounts for 60% of the world's AI patents, its copyright registrations have exceeded 10 million for two consecutive years, and the added value of its copyright industry now contributes 7.46% of the national GDP. She also noted that WIPO has maintained close and long-term cooperation with China in copyright legislation, enforcement, capacity building and industrial development. Together, the two sides have developed replicable best practices in copyright protection in the Yangtze River Delta region and provided efficient resolutions for cross-border disputes through WIPO's arbitration and mediation mechanisms.

She further noted that frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence bring new opportunities, while also posing challenges to copyright protection, the use of training data, and the legal status of AI-generated content, among other issues, calling for stronger international dialogue and cooperation. WIPO will continue to facilitate discussions on these issues, promote the development of a more balanced international rule framework, and ensure that the copyright system plays a greater role in bridging technology and culture and serving the innovation-driven creative economy.

The event featured multiple segments, including the release of key outcomes, project launches, an alliance initiative, and experience-sharing sessions. National Copyright Administration of China unveiled the official copyright-themed posters and videos for the 2026 National Intellectual Property Publicity Week, along with the 2025 China Copyright Protection and Development Report. Relevant authorities introduced a dedicated initiative to promote the use of licensed software and strengthen copyright education in universities. The "Top 10 Copyright Events in China (2025)" and the "Top 10 Copyright Protection Achievements of the Yangtze River Delta during the 14th Five-Year Plan" were announced. Representatives from Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang and Anhui jointly launched an inter-provincial alliance to strengthen copyright protection and initiated the "Fuyi Cup" international cultural and creative design solicitation and incubation program. The event brought together a wide range of participants, including officials from copyright administration departments at various levels, industry associations, experts, scholars, business representatives, and university students.