The 9th China International Copyright Expo, taking place in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, is set to be a groundbreaking event showcasing a fusion of digital innovation and cultural heritage. From Thursday to Saturday, the expo promises an array of digital experiences and interactive showcases, including a notable first: an online metaverse exhibition. This feature will offer live broadcasts from the expo and forums, providing a virtual experience of the event enhanced by digital applications.
This pioneering metaverse initiative represents a significant leap in the digital copyright industry, utilizing digital guides to creatively display and promote industry-related services. These services include work registration, copyright certification, and supply-demand matchmaking, all integral to the transformation and development of the digital copyright landscape.
With 81 exhibitors from across the nation, the expo is set to display over 1,000 digital copyright works, including games, animation, film, intangible cultural heritage, cultural relics, and arts. A highlight of the event is the digitization of cultural heritage, particularly the “China Wenbao Chain” project. Cui Wei, the project leader, explained that the initiative aims to preserve and digitize outstanding Chinese cultural relics, thereby supporting the inheritance and popularization of Chinese culture.
The China Wenbao Chain project extends its digital services to various platforms, encompassing digital publishing, cultural tourism, museums, and metaverse scenarios. It also provides authoritative digital certification services, contributing to the protection and utilization of cultural heritage.
In alignment with China’s cultural digitization strategy, the project is poised to contribute to the high-quality development of new museum infrastructure and the construction of a National Cultural Heritage Comprehension Service Platform. This platform will assist in the protection, dissemination, and utilization of world cultural heritage.
The expo, themed “New Era of Copyright, Empowering New Development,” adopts a hybrid online and offline format, featuring four pavilions and five major exhibition areas over 52,000 square meters. It includes participants from over 20 countries and international organizations, such as the EU, East Asia, ASEAN, and Central Africa, fostering international copyright exchange and cooperation.
One of the highlights is the Capital Copyright Society’s exhibition area, which celebrates the one-year implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty in China. Wo Shuping, chief editor of China Braille Press, shared that the area will showcase accessible copyright products for the visually impaired, including Braille books and computers.
The expo also emphasizes cultural heritage, allowing visitors to experience the power of copyright in cultural inheritance. The Anhui exhibition area will display traditional folk art like the “Four Treasures of the Study,” while Guangdong’s hall will feature folk performances unique to the Lingnan region.
As the only comprehensive, international, and national-level professional expo in China’s copyright field, this event, organized by the National Copyright Administration since 2008, has become a key platform for the exchange and development of the country’s copyright industry. The 9th edition of the expo in Chengdu is set to be a significant milestone in showcasing China’s commitment to intellectual property and cultural preservation in the digital age.
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