A SYSTEM designed to cut copyright piracy in China has failed with just one check made on the authenticity of music copied over the past year.
And no checks have been made with record companies to verify that orders to manufacture compact discs in mainland factories do not breach copyright.
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry blames a lack of co-ordination between provincial and central authorities for the failure of the title verification system.
Its experience backs complaints by the United States that not enough is being done to combat the piracy problem.
The system was established in an agreement between Chinese copyright authorities and record companies in October last year and was later adopted in a deal with the US to avert a trade war, according to the federation's regional director, Giouw Jui-chian.
It requires the National Copyright Administration to refer applications to copy foreign recordings to the federation, which makes checks. But only one referral has been made - for a karaoke soundtrack for music videos.