Monday, May 17 12:00 AM EDT

China Tries to Improve Copy Quality

Beijing, China - After years of international pressure, the Chinese government recognized the problems of its massive export of low quality copies of western entertainment products in an official statement from the Secretary of Industry and Commerce.

"In this, the year of the monkey, we must study the monkey and learn from him," Secretary Xiao stated. "The monkey stands for cleverness and mimicking, and therefore, we should strive to make smarter, better copies. Illegal copying is one of the most important cornerstones in the Chinese industrial miracle, and we cannot allow foreign competition to steal our market."

In a move aimed at strengthening the copying industry, the Chinese are launching Operation: Smarter Copy Control. So far, Xiao is pleased with the operation. "The regional governments have taken on their duties with admirable zeal. Terminating incapable managers is way ahead of the schedule. The Guangdong province even reports a backlog in the Department of Termination."

Also, improvements in major-city theaters have given recorders ideal conditions. The most noticeable improvement is a new "tapers only" balcony that gives recorders not only a clear shot at the screen, but also a line out jack for sound recording.

The American Copier Association (ACA) warns that the Chinese move could cripple the American industry that has been under pressure for many years. Ken Cooper, President of the ACA, said, "So far, we've been able to stay ahead thanks to superior American quality. If the Chinese improve their quality, thousands of corner bootleggers all over the country could be threatened."

The RIAA is pleased with the Chinese plan. Simon Walsh from the RIAA said, "We’re still waiting to see the long-term effects of this, but anything that involves killing people is right up our alley."