Author Archives: maya

Asia Times: guilty of plagiarism?

Posted on 2007-07-13 by maya

She’s not the only one working in the “grey” economy Recently, your correspondent wrote a Danwei post about a study measuring the size of China’s “grey” economy, and its failure to take into account certain types of “grey” income earned … Continue reading →

Posted in Foreign media on China, IP and Law, Media and business gossip, Media business, Newspapers, Recently on Danwei, State media | Tagged | Comments Off on Asia Times: guilty of plagiarism?

China, US getting nowhere fast in the WTO

Posted on 2007-07-12 by maya

China “strikes hard” against counterfeits No news isn’t good news when it comes to the two IPR-related WTO cases that the US filed against China on April 11. According to WTO procedures, the parties were to have had 60 days … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, China and foreign relations, Intellectual Property, IP and Law, Law | Comments Off on China, US getting nowhere fast in the WTO

Shanxi slaves and the Labor Contract Law

Posted on 2007-06-30 by maya

Zhang Xubo, whose legs were severed in a Shanxi “black” brick kiln in 2002 On Friday, June 29, the National People’s Congress voted to pass the Labor Contract Law. Media coverage, including articles in China Daily, The New York Times … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Foreign media on China, IP and Law, Law, Recently on Danwei | Comments Off on Shanxi slaves and the Labor Contract Law

China’s unfavorable copyright imbalance

Posted on 2007-06-27 by maya

GAPP just released a report on the state of China’s publishing industries in 2006. The report concluded that, while China’s copyright-related trade has made strides, the “unfavorable copyright trade imbalance” hasn’t fundamentally reversed. In support of this conclusion, the report … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Business, China and foreign relations, Intellectual Property, IP and Law, Magazines, Media business, Newspapers, Publishing | Tagged | Comments Off on China’s unfavorable copyright imbalance

Traffic safety advice for Europeans

Posted on 2007-06-22 by maya

Jean-Pierre, how do I drive through this? No doubt responding to constituent demand, the folks at the European Union Chamber of Commerce are hosting a “Road Safety in China” seminar. The program’s stated goal “is to provide information and guidance … Continue reading →

Posted in Beijing, Humor, Transport | Comments Off on Traffic safety advice for Europeans

Copyright protection for online content

Posted on 2007-06-18 by maya

Beijing Business Today recently reported on China’s accession and ratification of two U.N. Internet-related treaties, the WIPO Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty. Together, the two treaties require signatory countries to provide copyright protection for computer programs, … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Blogs, Books, Business, Intellectual Property, Internet, IP and Law, Magazines, Media regulation, Music, Newspapers, Publishing | Comments Off on Copyright protection for online content

A Flickr fix

Posted on 2007-06-16 by maya

Nanny may not willingly take her meds, but nothing’s stopping the kids from slipping her a mickey. Regarding Nanny’s recent filtering of Flickr.com, Stewart Butterfield, co-founder and general manager of Flickr.com, offered some advice on a recent CNET News.com blog … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs, Internet, Media regulation, Net Nanny Follies, Recently on Danwei | Comments Off on A Flickr fix

China’s “gray” economy: what about the handjobs?

Posted on 2007-06-15 by maya

Busted at the hair salon Sohu.com reports on a new study finding that urban residents in China enjoy 4.4 trillion renminbi in “gray” income. “Gray income” includes any income that is (a) illegal, (b) “the rational merit of which is … Continue reading →

Posted in Business and Finance | Comments Off on China’s “gray” economy: what about the handjobs?

Legislating sexual morality in Guangdong

Posted on 2007-06-01 by maya

Model Ma Yanli, rumored to have been a mistress of the former Party secretary of Shanghai Guangdong’s legislature is currently considering a draft law that would prohibit mistresses, known as “er nai”. Tucked within a bill called “Women’s Rights Protection … Continue reading →

Posted in IP and Law | Comments Off on Legislating sexual morality in Guangdong

The blogger’s self-discipline pledge

Posted on 2007-05-26 by maya

The Internet Society of China is soliciting public opinions about its draft “Blog Service Self-discipline Public Pledge,” which sets forth the framework for making a civilized blogosphere. The provisions apply to Internet blog service providers (BSP) within China’s borders. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs, Internet, IP and Law, Media regulation | Comments Off on The blogger’s self-discipline pledge