A batch of typical cases of illegal recording and distribution of movies in cinemas have been investigated by local copyright law enforcement departments during the seventh special action on copyright protection of cinemas, tly launched by the National Copyright Administration, the National Film Administration, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, according to Xinhua News Agency on March 2.
This special operation holds multiple benefits and strategic significance for film and television companies. Firstly, by cracking down on piracy and unauthorized distribution (including investigating 22 cases and removing 2.2957 million infringing links), it effectively curbed the erosion of box office revenue caused by piracy, directly safeguarding the economic returns of key films those during the Spring Festival season. Secondly, the special early warning mechanism included ten films such as "The Legend of Deification: Part II" and "Ne Zha: The Demon Childs Rebellion" on the priority protection list, requiring online platforms to implement preemptive blocking measures to reduce piracy risks at the source, thereby maintaining the market exclusivity value of film and television works. Additionally, major cases investigated during the operation (such as the 14 million yuan case in Jinhua, Zhejiang, and the 12 million yuan case in Anhui) created a strong deterrent effect, promoting the establishment of a fair competitive market environment and enhancing film companies confidence in copyright protection. In the long term, the comprehensive reinforcement of copyright protection across the entire chain (covering pre-incident warnings, mid-process supervision, and post-incident accountability) lays the foundation for high-quality development in the film industry, incentivizing enterprises to increase investment in premium content creation and fostering a virtuous cycle within the sector.
1. Case of Foreigners Unauthorized Film Recording and Distribution in Beijings Shunyi District. Following leads from the National Copyright Administration, Beijings copyright enforcement authorities investigated the case. Investigations revealed that since December 2024, a foreign national, acting on instructions from an overseas piracy syndicate, had secretly recorded the films "Venom: The Last Dance" and "Burnt City" at a Beijing cinema and distributed them via cloud storage. The Beijing Municipal Cultural Market Comprehensive Law Enforcement Corps has now initiated formal proceedings against the individual.
2. Tianjin Binhai Zhao Moumous Case of Unauthorized Recording and Dissemination of Spring Festival Cinema Films. Following leads from the National Copyright Administration, copyright enforcement authorities in Tianjin Binhai New Area investigated the case. Investigations revealed that on January 30,2025, Zhao Moumou recorded the film "Ne Zha: The Demon Childs Rebellion" from a cinema in Tianjin to boost his social media visibility. He then circulated the pirated footage through his personal accounts, causing the unauthorized film to rapidly spread online. Currently, the Tianjin Binhai New Area Culture and Tourism Bureau has initiated formal proceedings against Zhao Moumou.
3. Shanxi Lüliang Zhang Moumous Case of Unauthorized Recording and Dissemination of Spring Festival Cinema Films. Based on leads transferred by the National Copyright Administration, copyright enforcement authorities in Lüliang City, Shanxi Province, investigated the case. Investigations revealed that on January 29,2025, Zhang Moumou secretly recorded the film "Boonie Bears: Rebooting the Future" at a cinema in Lüliang for unauthorized viewing and spread it through his personal social media account, causing the pirated film to rapidly spread online. Currently, the Lüliang City Cultural Market Enforcement Brigade has initiated an investigation against Zhang Moumou.
4. Jilin Yongji County Case of Lin Moumous Unauthorized Recording and Dissemination of Spring Festival Cinema Films. Based on leads transferred by the National Copyright Administration, copyright enforcement authorities in Jilin City, Jilin Province, investigated the case. Investigations revealed that on January 29,2025, Lin Moumou watched the film "Ne Zha: The Demon Childs Rebellion" at a cinema in Yongji County and live-streamed it through his personal social media account, causing the pirated film to spread rapidly online. Currently, the Yongji County Cultural Market Comprehensive Administrative Law Enforcement Brigade in Jilin City has initiated an investigation against Lin Moumou.
5. The Case of Wang Moumou from Suqian, Jiangsu for Stealing and Distributing Spring Festival Cinema Films. Based on leads transferred by the National Copyright Administration, the copyright enforcement department of Suqian City, Jiangsu Province, investigated the case. Investigations revealed that on January 29,2025, Wang Moumou illegally recorded the film "Boonie Bears: Reboot" at a cinema in Shuyang County and distributed it online to profit from pirated film sales. Currently, the Cultural Market Comprehensive Law Enforcement Brigade of Shuyang County, Suqian City, Jiangsu Province has initiated an investigation against Wang Moumou.
6. Jiangxi Pingxiang Wang Moumou and Others Case of Unauthorized Recording and Dissemination of Spring Festival Cinema Releases. Based on leads transferred by the National Copyright Administration, the copyright enforcement department of Pingxiang City, Jiangxi Province, investigated the case. Investigations revealed that on January 29 and 30,2025, Wang Moumou and two others recorded pirated films including "The Legend of Deification: Part II: Flames of Xiqi", "Operation Jiaolong", "The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Greatest Hero", and "Boonie Bears: Reboot" from multiple cinemas in Pingxiang. They distributed the recordings online for profit. Currently, the Cultural Market Comprehensive Law Enforcement Brigade of Pingxiang City, Jiangxi Province has initiated an investigation against the three individuals.
7. Case of Li Moumou and Others in Zhanjiang, Guangdong for Unauthorized Recording and Dissemination of Spring Festival Cinema Releases. Based on leads transferred by the National Copyright Administration, copyright enforcement authorities in Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, investigated the case. Investigations revealed that on January 30,2025, Li Moumou and four others recorded pirated films "Detective Chinatown 1900" and "Ne Zha: The Demon Childs Rebellion" from a cinema in Lianjiang City and distributed them via cloud storage platforms. Currently, the Lianjiang City Cultural Market Comprehensive Law Enforcement Brigade in Zhanjiang has initiated legal proceedings against the five individuals involved.
8. Zhejiang Jinhua Cracks Down on Rens Online Film Piracy Syndicate. Based on cyber surveillance leads, Jinhua Citys public security authorities in Zhejiang Province have busted the case. Investigators found that suspects including Ren operated a pirate website and app to distribute pirated copies of films "Ne Zha: The Demon Childs Rebellion" and "The Legend of Deification: Part II: War in Xi Qi", generating over 14 million yuan through paid ads. So far, 11 suspects have been arrested.
9. Anhui Cracks Down on Tangs Online Film Piracy Syndicate. Following cyber surveillance leads, local police in Anhui Province cracked a major case involving Tang and accomplices. Investigators found the suspects had operated a pirate streaming platform and app, distributing pirated versions of films Ne Zha: The Demon Childs Rebellion while profiting through paid ads, with illicit proceeds exceeding 12 million yuan. Ten suspects have been arrested in the crackdown.
10. Chongqing Cracks Down on Zhous Online Film Piracy Operation. Following leads from copyright enforcement authorities, Chongqing police solved a major case involving Zhou and accomplices. Investigators found the suspects had been collecting customer orders through online stores, producing pirated copies of animated films "Ne Zha: The Demon Childs Rebellion", and selling these pirated U-disk products for illegal profits totaling over 5.3 million yuan. Five suspects have been arrested in the crackdown.
