As China’s economic focus continues to shift from manufacturing to design, a new research centre examining Chinese digital copyright launched at The University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) on Friday 6 March 2015.
Combining British and Chinese expertise, the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Digital Copyright and IP Research Centre in China will investigate the global copyright challenges and opportunities for creative and tech industries.
Copyright and IP laws are critical considerations for start-ups, entrepreneurs and corporations, particularly “disruptive innovators” who use technology to shake-up existing business models. Netflix, which moved from posted DVDs to streaming film and TV content online, is a prime example.
“The Centre's research will have relevance to government, business and education sectors in China”, said Professor Julie Sanders, Vice Provost (Teaching and Learning), UNNC. “Its findings aim to inform policy and support the development of consistent copyright and intellectual property regulation and to aid business innovation and commercial design across China.
“There is the opportunity to have real impact in China as well as to bridge the best of UK and Chinese research capacity in this field.”
The Centre is supported by a £500,000 grant from the AHRC and Newton Fund over two years with match funding from the Ningbo Science and Technology Bureau. It will act as a key national research hub with links to related projects and research groups in Beijing, Shanghai and other major cities.
“From music, film and fashion to engineering and software development, the digital environment is changing everything and needs to be understood through joint working, research and communication across countries and sectors,” said Professor Rick Rylance, CEO of the AHRC at the launch event held at UNNC.
“This is not just a matter of consistent regulation and the but the exploration of copyright in the digital age opens up possibilities and opportunities in very many fields including publishing and digital archives as well as design and industry.”
Currently being recruited, the Professor of Digital Copyright Research will direct the Centre and develop a small team in Ningbo, including research fellows and postgraduate researchers.
The launch announcement coincided with a UNNC presence at the GREAT Festival in Shanghai last week. The festival, which showcased British digital innovation and creativity in sectors from education to entertainment, was organised by the UK Embassy, the China-British Business Council, the British Council and UK Trade & Investment.
Other collaborators on the AHRC Digital Copyright and IP Research Centre in China include the Horizon Centre for Digital Economy Research at the University of Nottingham and the RCUK CREATe consortium led by the University of Glasgow
— Ends —
Our academics can now be interviewed for broadcast via our Media Hub, which offers a Globelynx fixed camera and ISDN line facilities at University Park campus. For further information please contact a member of the Communications team on +44 (0)115 951 5798, email mediahub@nottingham.ac.uk or see the Globelynx website for how to register for this service.
For up to the minute media alerts, follow us on Twitter
Notes to editors: The University of Nottingham has 43,000 students and is ‘the nearest Britain has to a truly global university, with campuses in China and Malaysia modelled on a headquarters that is among the most attractive in Britain’ (Times Good University Guide 2014). It is also one of the most popular universities in the UK among graduate employers, in the top 10 for student experience according to the Times Higher Education and winner of ‘Research Project of the Year’ at the THE Awards 2014. It is ranked in the world’s top one per cent of universities by the QS World University Rankings, and 8th in the UK by research power according to REF 2014.
The University of Nottingham in Malaysia (UNMC) is holding events throughout 2015 to celebrate 15 years as a pioneer of transnational education. Based in Semenyih, UMNC was established as the UK's first overseas campus in Malaysia and one of the first world-wide.
Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, its biggest-ever fundraising campaign, is delivering the University’s vision to change lives, tackle global issues and shape the future. More news…