AN intellectual property dispute was the focus of the first live nationwide television broadcast of a mainland court case yesterday as part of efforts to clean up the legal system.
Under the hot glare of TV lights, lawyers for 10 major film studios argued for more than one million yuan (HK$930,000) in damages and fees from three firms for violating sales and distribution contracts on video discs of 27 popular feature films.
The lawyers exhibited little of the media savvy displayed in high-profile US trials. Seated behind high brown desks, they read lengthy statements with only quick glances from their papers. Their largely technical arguments centred on interpretations of copyright and contract laws.
The case against a Tianjin-based video CD maker, the Beijing Tiandu Film Agency and the China Audio Visual Production Company, was held in the Beijing First Intermediate Court.
The 4.5 hour broadcast - a co-operation between China Central Television (CCTV) and the Supreme Court - was advertised in advance, part of the campaign to stamp out corruption in the law enforcement system.
Leaders hope the judicial system will become more transparent and, therefore, more accountable.