How can copyright empower the creative transformation and development of fine traditional Chinese culture? Industry representatives, expertsand scholars were looking for an answer at the9th Nishan Forum on World Civilization, asubforum titled "Copyright Empowering theCreative Transformation and Development of FineTraditional Chinese Culture" in Qufu, ShandongProvince - hometown of Confucius, discussing oninternational cooperation of copyright,communication and mutual learning amongcivilizations, and contributing their fresh thoughtsand plans for value transformation, inheritance anddevelopment of folklore.

Protection brightens traditional treasures

Fine Traditional Chinese culture is the spiritual artery of the Chinese people. The cultural heritage accumulated after thousands of years is the precious wealth of the Chinese people. At themoment when the internet accelerates everything how to protect fine works and let more people understand and like fine traditional Chinese culture is becoming an increasingly pressing topic.

It is the first time for Nishan Forum on WorldCivilization to embed a parallel event with a themeon copyright, which invited a host of industryrepresentatives, experts and scholars from thepublishing and folklore community to sharewisdom on digital copyright, folklore copyrightprotection and other most updated topics forfinding the right copyright solution for the creativetransformation and development of fine traditionaChinese culture.

Zhang Jianchun, Vice Minister of the PublicityDepartment of the CPC Central Committeestressed the critical role of copyright protection incultural inheritance. Copyright empowerment canboost the creative transformation anddevelopment of fine traditional Chinese culture,serving as an important avenue for inspiring thevigor for cultural innovation and creation andelevation of a nation's cultural soft power. Fullyunleashing copyright's functions in safeguardingand promoting fine traditional Chinese culture,serving and protecting the inheritance anddevelopment of fine traditional culture prop up thepassingon and venturing out of fine traditional Chinese culture.

Liu Hua, Director of the World IntellectualProperty Organization (WIPO) Office in China,emphasized that copyright plays a crucial role inpreserving and revitalizing traditional culturewhile driving the development of its creativeindustries. Digital technologies provideopportunities for copyright protection but alsointroduce challenges such as complex forms ofinfringement and cultural distortion. The WIPOlooks forward to strengthening its collaborationwith China to enhance the protection andutilization of intellectual property, promotingglobal innovation and cultural diversity.

As an integral part of Chinese materialcivilization and spiritual civilization, how cancopyright protection and cultural inheritance applyto folklore craftmanship? Pan Lusheng, ViceChairman of China Federation of Literary and ArtCircles and Chairman of the Chinese Folk Literatureand Art Association advised that throughprofound international copyright trade,authorization, development and application as wellas a string of incubation policies, folklorecraftmanship all over the world can be stimulatedto exhibit the unique charm of different nations.

Innovation adds colors to culture

Jiangsu Nantong textiles, Fujian Dehuaceramics, and Jiangsu Wujiang silk are projectsused by the WiPO to promote successful copyrightprotection experiences to the world. Theseinitiatives provide valuable insights, particularly interms of industrial development and thepreservation of traditional culture. Xi'an KissFutureNetwork Technology Co., Ltd., the winner of the2023 WIPO Global Awards, has developed aTerracotta Army VR cinema, showcasing theintegration of digital experiences with historicaculture and serving as a model for the protectionand utilization of traditional culture. Throughcopyright creation, protection and utilization, anincreasing number of fine traditional Chinesecultural treasures rejuvenate based on inheritanceand development, marked by the launch of a slewof creative works and proven cases.

The forum venue - Shandong is one of thebetter known epitomes of using copyrightprotection to safeguard and promote culturalinnovation. As the birthplace of Confucianism,Shandong boasts long history and rich culture withabundant intangible cultural heritage resources. Inrecent years, the province has been boostingcopyright protection, constantly working on theconstruction of shandong Copyright Protectionand Service Platform, exploring new mode ofdynamic cultural inheritance through creativemaking, building up a public brand in traditionalcraftmanship- Handmade in Shandong andassisting local intangible cultural heritage andtraditional folklore to find new markets.

Bai Yugang, Member of the StandingCommittee and Vice Minister of the PublicityDepartment of Shandong Provincial Committee.said in his keynote speech that Shandong isactively exploring the "+ copyright + digitalization+ IP derivatives" model, with a focus on revitalizingrural culture, preserving folklore, traditionalhandicrafts, and boosting the cultural and creativeindustry. This approach aims to transform culturalresource advantages into industrial developmentstrengths, promoting mutual enrichment andcomplementarity

Embarking a new journey fueled by copyrightthe boat loaded with Chinese culture is sailing withcultural confidence and will blow through the longriver of human civilization.