Zhang Yimou sued over opera copyright

But Zhang Yimou's lawyer said the accusation is without merit, because no law in China regulates intangible cultural heritage copyright infringement and there is no line in the film saying the opera belongs to Yunnan.

"Film is a fictional art form and it is pointless to define a plot scenario as a real artistic form," he said.

The court adjourned after the defendant's side refused to accept the request from the plaintiff to entitle Anshun to the Dixi in the later-released copy of the film. No verdict was given Tuesday.

Dixi performance in Anshun/chinadaily.com.cn

"The director's job is to illustrate the subject of the film by using various artistic elements. I don't think we have to clarify between a real artistic form and artistic expression in a piece of artistic work," said a columnist named Wuyue Sanren.

"But I think it is improper not to credit the opera to Anshun."

Liu Shuliang, a professor of directing and performing with the Communication University of China, also called for the creation of a culture heritage protection law.

Without legal protection, the brawl could be considered an error of not giving credit in the film-making process.

"We have no specific law to protect such cultural heritage in China and Chinese filmmakers usually take introducing anything for granted," Liu said.

"Western films pay much attention to this and they even give credit to what is aired on the TV used in the film," he said.

But Zhang Yimou's lawyer said the accusation is without merit, because no law in China regulates intangible cultural heritage copyright infringement and there is no line in the film saying the opera belongs to Yunnan.

"Film is a fictional art form and it is pointless to define a plot scenario as a real artistic form," he said.

The court adjourned after the defendant's side refused to accept the request from the plaintiff to entitle Anshun to the Dixi in the later-released copy of the film. No verdict was given Tuesday.

Dixi performance in Anshun/chinadaily.com.cn

"The director's job is to illustrate the subject of the film by using various artistic elements. I don't think we have to clarify between a real artistic form and artistic expression in a piece of artistic work," said a columnist named Wuyue Sanren.

"But I think it is improper not to credit the opera to Anshun."

Liu Shuliang, a professor of directing and performing with the Communication University of China, also called for the creation of a culture heritage protection law.

Without legal protection, the brawl could be considered an error of not giving credit in the film-making process.

"We have no specific law to protect such cultural heritage in China and Chinese filmmakers usually take introducing anything for granted," Liu said.

"Western films pay much attention to this and they even give credit to what is aired on the TV used in the film," he said.