Chinese websites come to the defence of Western intellectual property

THE government of China allows only a trickle of foreign films and television shows to be imported, claiming the restrictions are “necessary to protect public morals”. Yet there is no better place in the world for fans of Western television and cinema to live than in China. Although the authorities censor the internet heavily in other respects, the pearls of Western entertainment are usually just a click away.

Because foreign entertainment companies cannot sell their products in China, they cannot claim damages from the pirates. China’s government has vowed to protect intellectual property, but its enthusiasm is manifestly limited. Foreign spluttering has had little effect; observers had assumed that the government would not crack down until there was a domestic constituency demanding action. But now, for unexpected reasons, there is. …