Golden Coconut Forum: International Film and Television Industry Cultural Exchange Forum — Copyright Innovation and New Industry Ecosystem in a Global Perspective

On the afternoon of December 7, the Golden Coconut Forum: International Film and Television Industry Cultural Exchange Forum of the 6th Hainan Island International Film Festival was held in the conference hall of the Conifer Resort in Sanya, Hainan Province. The forum, themed “Copyright Innovation and New Industry Ecosystem in a Global Perspective,” focused on in-depth discussions on how the Free Trade Port policies can support international copyright cooperation, the construction of the film industry ecosystem, and the empowerment of digital technologies. The event provided new paths and solutions for the prosperity and development of global film and television culture. During the forum, an international copyright cooperation signing ceremony was held, marking the signing of film copyright export agreements for five outstanding domestic film and television works. The Hainan Branch of the China Copyright Protection Center, in partnership with Huadai (Hainan) Metaverse Copyright Service Co., Ltd., focused on copyright transactions and facilitated international exchanges, successfully landing the first international copyright transaction for the collaborating parties in Hainan.

In his speech, Sun Baolin, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Party Secretary and Director of the China Copyright Protection Center, pointed out that the Hainan Island International Film Festival has become an important cultural pillar in supporting the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port. This forum aims to promote international cultural exchanges and cooperation within the film and television industry, contributing to the flourishing of the global film and television sector. He emphasized that the film industry reflects the industrial and cultural soft power of a country or region, and that copyright transactions serve as vital bridges and links for international film exchanges. In the current digital era, the rapid advancement of AI technology is bringing unprecedented changes to the film and television industry. Through the promotion and application of technologies and standards such as the Digital Copyright Identifier (DCI) system, better protection of copyrights for film works and other creative projects can be achieved. The data copyright management system will also drive global cooperation in cross-border data flow. During the signing session of this forum, the Hainan Branch of the China Copyright Protection Center and China Copyright Service Co., Ltd. facilitated the licensing cooperation for five Chinese films and television dramas with Spain, advancing cross-national cultural exchanges and cooperation.

Zhou Chunhua, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Sanya Municipal Committee and head of the Publicity Department, Xing Ruiwei, Executive Vice General Manager of China Copyright Service Co., Ltd., He Song, Deputy Party Secretary and General Manager of Sanya Media &Film Group Co., Ltd., Niu Jingjing, Director of the Sanya Business Environment Construction Bureau, Zhou Guowei, Deputy Director of the Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City Administration, Xu Wenjun, General Manager of Sanya Golden Coconut Film Co., Ltd., and Sheng Ye, Chairman of Huadai (Hainan) Metaverse Copyright Service Co., Ltd., among other distinguished leaders and guests, jointly launched the “Creative China·International Copyright Trading Platform.” The launch of this platform provides a more convenient and efficient venue for global film and television industry copyright transactions, which plays a significant role in promoting the internationalization of the film and television industry.

Spanish guests Carlos Moreno and Shi Moran, who came from afar, shared insights into the Spanish copyright market. In recent years, Spain's film industry has achieved success in international markets with works such as Contratiempo. The Spanish copyright market has seen trends such as the rise of streaming platforms, deeper international cooperation, and rapid technological innovations leading to digital transformation. At the same time, there are challenges in China-Spain film copyright cooperation, including cultural differences, disparities in copyright protection laws, and intensifying competition. However, there are also abundant opportunities, such as favorable tax policies from the Spanish government and cultural trade support policies from China, which provide a good environment for bilateral collaboration.

Iberian-American film production representative Ms. Nari Nelly, General Manager of Xi’an WeDio Cultural Technology Co., Ltd. Mr. Yang Biao, and Chairman of Huadai (Hainan) Metaverse Copyright Service Co., Ltd. Mr. Sheng Ye signed a copyright transaction agreement. Mr. Sun Baolin, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Party Secretary and Director of the China Copyright Protection Center, Mr. Zhang Zhenming, Vice Minister of the Publicity Department of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, and Ms. Zhou Chunhua, the CPC Sanya Municipal Committee and head of the Publicity Department, attended as witness guests. This signing promotes cooperation and exchange between the Chinese and foreign film industries, laying the foundation for resource sharing and complementary advantages between both sides.

After the signing ceremony, a roundtable discussion titled “Rights Protection for AI-Generated Content — Applications of AI in the Film Industry” was successfully held. The discussion was moderated by Professor Tao Qian, Director of the Intellectual Property, Innovation and Competition Research Center of China University of Political Science and Law. The panel featured Su Zhihui, Party Secretary and President of the Hainan Free Trade Port Intellectual Property Court; Zhao Xiang, Director of the Research Department of the China Copyright Protection Center; Professor Jiao Heping, Party Secretary of the Intellectual Property Research Center at Xi’an Jiaotong University; Ye Feng, Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at the School of New Media Art and Design at Beihang University, a National-Level High-Caliber Young Talent; and Wang Guozhu, Professor at the Law School of Jilin University. They collectively discussed the application of AI technology in the film industry and the protection of intellectual property rights.

In the guest speech session, representatives from various companies shared achievements and plans related to the film industry. Wang Xin from Beyondsoft Technology showcased the company’s AI achievements, including ecological cooperation, industry-academia-research collaboration, AI projects, and animated short films. He stated that AIGC (Artificial Intelligence Generated Content) has broad prospects, and the company will promote the integration of technology and film. Lyu Chao from the Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City introduced efforts to build the park’s brand through IP creation and cultural product series, emphasizing the importance of copyright registration and cultural dissemination. Li Qiongxue from Ling Shui Yingli Wanshang Digital Media Industry Co., Ltd. explained how the “fund + base + operation” model of the Lingshui Haifeng International Film and Television Base supports the global expansion of short films. While acknowledging copyright issues in the market, she highlighted Ling Shui’s multiple advantages in providing services. Tang Yao from the Hainan Ecological Software Park discussed the development and challenges of the digital copyright industry, noting that the Free Trade Port policy brings opportunities to the film industry. He mentioned the concentration of companies in the park and efforts to create a platform while inviting enterprises to participate in its development.

This forum was not only a feast for exchange but also a “booster” for the development of the film industry, building a global cultural exchange platform and laying a solid foundation for the prosperity of the industry. In the future, with the joint efforts of all parties, the film industry is poised for even more prosperous development.

The forum was hosted by the Hainan Island International Film Festival Organizing Committee, organized by Sanya Golden Coconut Film Co., Ltd., and co-organized by Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City Administration, the Hainan Branch of the China Copyright Protection Center, China Copyright Service Co. Ltd., Huadai (Hainan) Metaverse Copyright Service Co., Ltd., and the Intellectual Property, Innovation and Competition Research Center of China University of Political Science and Law.