Japanese TV station suspected of infringement upon Chinese teleplays

On August 19, Beijing Chidong Culture Communications Co., copyright owner of the teleplay "The Lettuce," announced that it instituted an indemnity proceeding against Japanese SKY Perfect Communications Inc. SKY Perfect Communications Inc. was suspected of broadcasting the teleplay "The Lettuce" via its SKYperfecTV! Channel 785 without any authorization from the copyright owner.

According to Chidong Culture, in 2005, it found that the teleplay "The Lettuce" was broadcast on SKYperfecTV! Channel 785 without any authorization. Then Chidong Culture sent a warning letter to SKYperfecTV!. However, the TV station did not stop broadcasting the teleplay. Chidong Culture instituted a proceeding against SKYperfecTV! Channel 785 before a Japanese court. The court established the defendant's act of infringement and delivered the decision of punishment to the TV station. At present, the plaintiff has instituted an indemnity proceeding and would claim for a compensation about 20 million RMB yuan.

In the evidence provided by the Japanese party, it was found that, from 2003 to 2005, SKYperfecTV! had broadcast nearly 500 Chinese teleplays via its Channel 785 and Channel 781, including "Huan Zhu Ge Ge," "Days with Passion" and "My Own Swordsman." Most of the teleplays were not authorized by the copyright owners.

Up to now, five copyright owners of the Chinese teleplays, including Beijing Chidong Culture Communications Co. and Hangzhou Jinshi Communications Co. Ltd., have joined in a collective litigation against SKY Perfect Communications Inc.