According to a recent study, 40 percent of Disney products sold in China in 2014 were either counterfeit or of poor quality. Disney has been fighting these copyright issues for years in overseas markets, specifically China.
Until now, the government has turned a blind eye to companies who burn illegal copies of Disney DVDs or even sell unauthorized Disney merchandise and proclaim it is a legitimate Disney product.
One of the many reasons Disney is looking to open up what looks like the most impressive Magic Kingdom yet in China is brand awareness. Many Chinese families don’t know that Shrek isn’t Warner Brothers or that Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse don’t exactly hang out in the same universe. Well, except that one time.
Chinese officials will carry out a one-year special task force that will crack down on unauthorized use of Disney copyrighted materials just in time for the Shanghai Disneyland opening. This will end in October 2016. Which begs the question: will the people making illegal DVDs go back to their old ways in November 2016? Also, why does Disney get this protection and not other companies? Food for thought.
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