Challenges for foreign players in entertainment industry

While China’s film, television and culture entertainment industry is undergoing rapid development, capital and operational input from foreign investors is also on the rise in this sector. However, for the time being, foreign investors face significant challenges for investment in this industry.

COMPETENT AUTHORITIES

The entertainment industry in China involves a number of competent authorities, including the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT), the Ministry of Culture (MOC) and the State Administration for Industry & Commerce (SAIC).

As the name suggests, the SAPPRFT is in charge of press, publication, radio and television, while the National Copyright Administration, a branch of the SAPPRFT, is responsible for nationwide copyright administration. The MOC administers China’s cultural and artistic matters, with a particular focus on performances.

The SAIC is responsible for general market regulation and administrative law enforcement, and its Trademark Office is in charge of nationwide trademark registration and administration. The Anti-monopoly and Anti-unfair Competition Enforcement Bureau of the SAIC is responsible for investigation of unfair competition, commercial bribery and other related acts.

Therefore, given that foreign investors in the entertainment industry are so heavily supervised by a number of different authorities, it is important that foreign investors strengthen communication with these competent authorities.

CURRENT LEGISLATION

At the present time, China has no unified and special legislation for the entertainment industry. Instead, with a focus on creating policies for foreign investors in the entertainment industry, the SAPPRFT, MOC and other competent authorities have formulated relevant department rules and normative documents under the framework of general foreign investment legislation.

PRC legislation in the field of entertainment law is expected to be forthcoming, with the Film Industry Promotion Law (draft, pending official release) as an example. These upcoming changes in legislation and policy in the Chinese entertainment industry will inevitably have an impact on foreign investment.

ENCOURAGED AND RESTRICTED

PRC laws encourage foreign investors to invest in the encouraged categories specified under the Catalogue for the Guidance of Industries for Foreign Investment and other policy documents; for example, performance venue operation and intellectual property services.

On the other hand, production of radio and television programmes and films (on a co-operative basis), movie theatre construction and operation (under the control of the Chinese entity), and construction and management of large-scale theme parks are among the restricted areas for foreign investment, and these areas are not expected to be open to foreign investors in the short term. Successful cases of foreign investment are not rare in these areas; for example, Disney has set up two joint ventures with Chinese entities for the construction and operation of Shanghai Disneyland, respectively.

Some areas under the restricted category have witnessed a gradual relaxation. For instance, performance agency firms are only allowed to be controlled from the Chinese side. However, according to the policy on pilot expansion of entry to the service industry promulgated by the Beijing municipal government, a wholly foreign-owned enterprise (WFOE) is allowed to set up performance agencies in four “specific areas” in Beijing.

In addition, a WFOE may also establish performance agencies in China’s free trade zones. For example, based on public information, Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment, a well known Broadway entertainment agency, registered Shanghai Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone in 2014. It is possible that in the future, such pilots and preferential policies may be promoted throughout China and the performance agency business will be open to foreign investment on a full scale.

PROHIBITED CATEGORY

Foreign investors are often faced with legal obstacles for direct investment into, or direct operation and management of, entertainment-related industries under the prohibited category of the catalogue.

These industries include: (1) publication and production of audiovisual products and electronic publications; (2) film production companies, distribution companies and cinema circuits; (3) online publishing services; (4) network audiovisual programme services; and (5) internet cultural operations (excluding online music).

In practice, businesses under the prohibited category are normally conducted by foreign investors in co-operation with a PRC party by way of technology and intellectual property licensing, management and consultancy services, etc. For example, Warner Music, Sony Music and Universal Music, among others, have licensed their copyrighted music to Chinese music portals to provide to end users.

OTHER CHALLENGES

In addition to the above-mentioned policies on entry of foreign investment, new forms of business such as IPTV, private network mobile TV and Internet TV are constantly emerging in the entertainment industry. In order to enter into these sectors, foreign investors must satisfy new operation and compliance requirements.

In conclusion, as PRC legislation in the entertainment industry constantly improves along with industrial developments, foreign investors will also face increasing opportunities and challenges in investment and operation.

Ben Chai and Cloud Li are associates at DaHui Lawyers