Study Of Copyright Protection On WeChat Platform

WeChat has become a mobile instant messenger with the highest coverage of internet users in Asia since it was launched by Ten cent in 2011.With the works of others reprinted by official accounts and forwarded and shared by personal accounts on WeChat,massive information is widely spread on the platform.The inapplicability of liability exemptions prescribed in Copyright Law in China to WeChat and the insufficient knowledge of users on the legal nature of their behaviors in dissemination have contributed to serious damage to the interests of copyrighters and frequent infringement on copyright on the WeChat platform.On the basis of the identification of WeChat works,this thesis analyzes the current copyright infringement of WeChat platform and the ground of pleading,and meanwhile,taking the status quo of copyright protection and the problems faced into consideration,proposes suggestions on improving the protection of copyright in online media represented by WeChat.This thesis is composed of introduction,body and conclusion,with the body part divided into five chapters.In the first chapter,case analysis is conducted and problems are presented.Besides,the definition and characteristics of WeChat as well as the necessity to protect copyright on it are briefly introduced.The second chapter introduces the general principles on the identification of works,analyzes whether the contents on WeChat can constitute works,and differentiates the infringement features of WeChat works with those of traditional ones.In the third chapter,a classified discussion is conducted on the utilization of official accounts on WeChat to determine whether or not it constitutes infringement act,and conforms to the grounds of pleading of fair use and implied license.In the fourth chapter,a classified discussion is conducted on the utilization of personal accounts on WeChat to determine whether or not it constitutes infringement act,and conforms to the grounds of pleading of fair use and implied license.The fifth chapter analyzes the status quo of legislation related to copyright protection on WeChat in China and the existing problems,and proposes the approaches and suggestions on the copyright protection in online media,such as WeChat from four aspects,namely,improving legislation,perfecting WeChat user agreement,establishing relevant copyright collective management system and introducing knowledge sharing agreement.