Mapping the Cultural and Creative Sectors in the EU and China

The mapping exercise aims to increase understanding on the potential value of increased trade in IP rights, given that they, notably copyrights, are the main tools for commercial transactions in CCIs.

These transactions can take the form of IP licensing agreements to govern manufacturing and distribution of cultural goods and services, and building these business relationships is vital to the development of these industries in Europe and China. A better understanding of the intrinsic value of these IPRs should help support their enforcement and open up new business opportunities between European and Chinese companies.

Very few economic sectors have revealed as much economic potential in China and the EU as the cultural and creative industries have over the past few years. China is leading Asia in the development of a creative economy.

Its cultural sector records ? 50.32 billion of value added, contributes to 2.45% of Chinese GDP, registering growth 6.4% higher than growth of the general economy.

European CCIs are worth 2.6% of the EUs GDP and generate a turnover of more than ? 654 billion (2003), much more than that generated by the car manufacturing industry (? 271 billion in 2001) and by ICT manufacturers (? 541 billion in 2003).

The insufficient enforcement of IPR, the lack of IP understanding as a tool to foster trade transactions, together with the size of the cultural operators SMEs with little access to foreign markets as well as the lack of political awareness on the economic importance of the creative industries, are the main structural reasons for insufficient trade relationships between Europe and China in the cultural and creative sectors.

This forms part of IPRs work on helping to ensure that IPR is better understood as a strategic tool for business development.

DOWNLOAD the report: http://ec.europa.eu/culture/news/pdf/creative_industries_working_paper.pdf

IPR2 is a partnership project between the European Union and the Peoples Republic of China on the

protection of intellectual property rights in China.