WTO: Rejects China's Appeal on US Media Download

A win for the good guys. ---Quote---BEIJING (Dow Jones)--China's Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday it regrets the World Trade Organization's decision to reject China's appeal over the WTO's August ruling against Chinese restrictions on the distribution of Hollywood movies and other Western media. "China has conscientiously carried out its obligations under WTO rules in terms of access to the publishing market since its entry into the WTO," Yao Jian, a spokesman for the ministry, said in a statement posted on the ministry's Web site. He said China has made the channels for foreign entry into China's publication, film, and audio and video products markets very smooth. The statement said cultural products should be treated differently than other goods. The ministry didn't say whether China will implement the WTO decision, which could prove lucrative for U.S. and other foreign companies. Despite its size, China remains one of the least-profitable markets for U.S. movie studios. China allows only 20 foreign films to be released every year in theaters there. It is also illegal to sell music over the Internet in China, a hindrance to Apple Inc. and its iTunes music-downloading business. China now has one year to comply with the WTO ruling, which can no longer be appealed. If it doesn't, the U.S. would have the right to levy trade sanctions equivalent to the revenue lost by music, movie and videogame makers because of Chinese distribution laws, which could amount to billions of dollars.---End Quote---Source:Sorry [ Click here to register ]

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