Licensing Magazine shared a moment of discussion with Ao Ran, Executive Vice Director of China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association. With remarkable experience in publishing, distribution, and management, Ran shares insights on the evolving digital content landscape and the role of the Chinese content industry on a global scale.
by Sara Wang, Licensing Magazine Representative in China
What role does CADPA play in the Chinese licensing industry?
The China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association (CADPA) is a social organization comprising enterprises from relevant industries in China, boasting over 1,500 membersamong major publishing houses, record labels, and internet content service enterprises, spanning games, music, and online literature.
With the rapid development of the Chinese licensing industry, CADPA aims to discover outstanding works and encourage content creation. Its annual research reports – delving into digital reading, online literature, music, games, and related fields – unveil valuable market insights, industry trends, and technological innovations. The CADPA also hosts annual industry conferences and exhibitions. Among them, China Joy, a gaming expo organized by the association in Shanghai, ranks as the second-largest of its kind globally, attracting over 350,000 visitors annually.
How is the Chinese content industry positioned on a global scale?
Over the past three years, China’s publishing industry has re-emerged as an active player on the global scene. We have witnessed a rise in activitieshosted by Chinese exhibitors, who showcase their publications and engage in buying or promoting copyrights internationally. Moreover, we have observed remarkable progress both in foreign publications, thriving in Chinese bookstores, and China’s domestic original publishing.
The international publication of Chinese literary works has helped spread Chinese culture globally. International book fairs serve as key platforms for copyright trading and cross-border licensing. These exchanges also drive the adoption of technologies like AI, blockchain, and AR in the publishing industry. Initiatives like the EU’s “Open Science” promote global sharing of research, showing that international publishing goes beyond commerce and fosters cultural dialogue. In a globalized digital era, deeper collaboration can promote equitable knowledge sharing, cultural growth, and industry innovation.
Could you delve deeper into the evolution of digital content in China?
In China, the label “digital publishing” encompasses e-books, audiobooks, and content database products, as well as online music, literature, and gaming, covering the entire digital content industry. In recent years, it has been profoundly influenced by digitization. Emerging technologieshave revolutionized production and dissemination strategies, and the boundaries of the content industry have continued to expand, facilitating cultural exchanges with significant implications for promoting economic transformation, preserving cultural heritage, and advancing societal progress. Regardless of how content will evolve in the future, data, information, and knowledge will remain at the core of the content industry.
Meanwhile, the content sector, including publishing, must confront the impact of technologyhead-on. Digital audio-visual content and imagery, digital humanities, and even virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) content will gradually become conventional resources for content enterprises. Additionally, people’s reading habits are shifting from pages to screens, and products include texts, images, videos, and audio.
The responsibility of associations like ours is to confront new technologies, collaborate with peers through continuous research and innovation, and take action, anticipating future trends and exploring new ways. For the publishing industry, the key is embracing change rather than clinging to outdated practices.
How are CADPA member companies engaging with the broader licensing industry?
We have always supported international cooperation in copyright-related businesses, aiming for mutual growth. Personally, as former General Manager of Children’s Fun Publishing Co., Ltd., a joint venture between China and Denmark’s Egmont, I witnessed firsthand how collaboration can lead to successful outcomes for both parties. China’s book, gaming, and music sectors have flourished through such partnerships, while international companies have also gained significant popularity.
International players like Elsevier, Springer, Universal Music, Warner Music, Sony Music, Ubisoft, and Blizzard hold significant market shares in China, exceeding the global reach of similar Chinese products. We believe copyright protection is the foundation of the content industry. Our members must strictly comply with local laws and respect cultural traditions when cooperating abroad, ensuring proper protection of intellectual property. Only through respectful, mutually beneficial partnerships can Chinese and international publishing enterprises thrive together.
Read the complete interview in our new Licensing Magazine’s issue, pagg 108 – 110.
