China destroys 30 mn pirated publications

Beijing, April 25 (IANS) Ahead of World Intellectual Property Day Friday, China said it had so far destroyed about 30 million pirated publications across the country this year.

According to the country's national anti-pornography and anti-illegal publications office, the publications included pirated audio and visual products, books, digital publications as well as illegal newspapers and magazines, Xinhua reported.

"Piracy and illegal publications are spreading more vehemently on the Internet... Local government departments must intensify efforts to deal with such cases," said Wu Shulin, deputy director of the State General Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television.

Wu urged for a special focus on piracy activities targeting bestselling publications on major topics as well as music and video websites, online retailers of books and electronic devices that circulate such publications.

Over the past five years, the office has destroyed 233 million illegal publications, it said.