Research On The Legal Protection Of Television Program Format

TV format(Television program format) is a stable scheme created independently by producer,aiming at making a series of programs and bring commercial interests to it’s possessor. TV format is the intellectual activity result of producer and its process of producing needs a lot of manpower, material and financial investment.The innovation and development of TV format industry needs the protection of law, safeguard the rights of producers and consumers is also inseparable from the law. This article start from the legal meaning of TV format, learn from the experience of foreign-related legislation and judicial practice to discuss the main question that the feasibility of different law can have to protect TV format especially the specification form Copyright Law and Anti-Unfair Competition Law. In connection with the development statue of TV format industry in our country and the problems faced by legislative and judicial practice in order to solve the disputes,This article does not deny the possibility of TV format that can obtain the protection of Copyright Law. At last, Anti-Unfair Competition Law is recommended as the primary way to protect and regulate the market order of TV format’s businesses.