1 Liaoning
22 arrested for illegal Mir 2 online gaming network
Shenyang police seized 200 computer servers and arrested 22 suspects in the province's first infringement case involving private networks providing the popular online game Mir 2.
The private servers enabled operators to offer the game without authorization from copyright owners.
Three companies charged fees to gamers, according to police, with one making more than 1 million yuan ($152,000) in profit over the past two years.
www.cnr.cn
2 Beijing
Rights to famed Qing Dynasty ghost story sets new record
The overseas film distribution rights for a Chinese ghost story have been sold for $12 million, a new record in the genre, the film's producer announced at its global cinema signing ceremony held on Feb 23.
Adapted from the noted ancient novel Strange Tales by Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) novelist Pu Songling, the subject has been filmed several times before. The first version was made more than 50 years ago in Hong Kong.
Cinema representatives from 12 countries and regions in Europe, North America and Asia signed contracts at the ceremony.
The film is expected to be released in China in late April.
Nanfang Daily
China 21st in technology innovation as US tops the list
China ranks 21st globally in technological innovation and research capability, according to a report released by the Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development (CASTED) on Feb 24.
The report, the first of its kind in China, surveyed the innovation capacity in 40 countries with an edge in technology research.
It used statistics from the World Bank, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the National Bureau of Statistics and other organizations worldwide.
The United States topped the chart with a rating of 100 on the innovation index. China had a score of 57.9.
Switzerland, South Korea and Japan ranked second to fourth.
The survey included innovation indices such as resources, performance and environment, creation and corporate innovation.
China ranked top in the world in both R&D staff numbers and high-tech product exports. It was in fourth place in total R&D spending and among the top three countries in annual invention patents granted.
The next five years are crucial to sharpening China's edge in innovation, said Wang Yuan, CASTED executive vice president.
Investment in research is expected to account for about 2.5 percent of gross domestic product in 2020, according to national development plans.
Xinhuanet.com
3 Shanghai
180 million yuan deal for development of new drugs
Shanghai Pharmaceutical Holding Co Ltd recently invested 180 million yuan ($27.3 million) to purchase patents for four new drugs from Shanghai Fudan-Zhangjiang Bio-Pharmaceutical Co Ltd.
One of the new drugs is intended to relieve arthritis and the rest treat tumors.
The two companies will now jointly finish research on the new drugs within six years, according to the agreement
21st Century Business Herald
4 Shaanxi
200,000 pirate DVDs seized were sourced in Guangzhou
Police in the provincial capital Xi'an sized 200,000 pirated and pornographic DVDs worth an estimated 4 million yuan ($608,000) in a raid carried out after a two-month investigation.
The haul included illegally copied movies and TV series, said the police.
The discs, found in a video store and nearby storehouse, were brought in from Guangzhou, according to the shop owner.
Police are now trying to trace the source of the supply.
HSW.cn
5 Macao
Few unauthorized discs found on sale in region's stores
Pirated DVDs are rarely seen in stores in the special administrative region, said Ung Kuoc Iang, president of the Macau Association of Composers, Authors and Publishers, as he praised the intellectual property department of the Macao Customs Service for their efforts against counterfeits.
Cheng Kin Chong, head of the department, credited cooperation and frequent communication with customs departments on the Chinese mainland and in other regions.
The department will pay more attention to online infringement to further strengthen intellectual property protection, he said.
Fewer than 1,000 pirated discs were seized last year, most of them games, according to the department.
Macao Daily News
(China Daily 03/02/2011 page17)
