The China Written Works Copyright Society Association hosted its annual event on Monday afternoon, showcasing the top 10 authors and literary works of 2023.  Photo: Li Hang/GT

The China Written Works Copyright Society Association hosted its annual event on Monday afternoon, showcasing the top 10 authors and literary works of 2023, alongside the release of its annual report.  

Established in 2008, the association is a non-profit social organization dedicated to safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of copyright holders, and engaging in copyright services, protection and management. It is the only collective management organization for written works copyright in China. 

The rankings were determined based on criteria including the frequency of authorized works, market acceptance, and the amount of copyright fees collected by the association. The "Top 10 Most Popular Authors" of 2023 are Chen Bochui, Yan Wenjing, Jin Jin, Zhu Guangqian, Sun Youjun, Song Yee-shui, Bing Bo, Guan Hua, Yu Dazhen and Jia Lanpo.

The top 10 most beloved works of 2023 were also unveiled during the event and include classics by renowned writers such as Guo Moruo, Ba Jin, Mao Dun and Ye Shengtao.

In his remarks, Zhang Hongbo, the executive vice president and director-general of the association, highlighted the longstanding tradition of hosting the "Top Ten" event around the World Intellectual Property Day, which falls on April 26 .

The aim is to demonstrate the crucial role of collective management organizations in advocating for authors' legal rights, fostering literary creation, promoting work dissemination, enhancing copyright protection, and facilitating cross-cultural exchanges, thereby showcasing the allure and significance of copyright endeavors, according to Zhang.

In addition to honoring authors and literary works, the association recognized the top 10 outstanding partners at the event. Partners such as the People's Education Press, the "Xuexi Qiangguo" learning platform and the Beijing People's Art Theatre were honored for their contributions to copyright protection and cultural dissemination.

Liang Fei, a deputy director-general of the association, presented the association's 2023 annual report at the event, outlining the organization's efforts in promoting copyright knowledge, enhancing copyright awareness, improving service quality, and safeguarding authors' rights. 

In 2023, the association collected a total of 22.8 million yuan ($3.14 million) in copyright usage fees for rights holders of written works, Liang said.

The report also reveals that collective management services, including information network dissemination rights, compilation rights and theatrical performance rights, accounted for 72 percent of total revenue. 

Meanwhile, statutory duties such as royalties for newspaper reprints and textbook licenses comprised 10 percent, with rights protection and international copyright trading contributing 18 percent.

Throughout the year, the organization issued 442 copyright usage licenses to 149 publishing institutions, cultural companies, and other user units, covering 541 books and seven theatrical works.

According to Liang, the association distributed 9.71 million yuan in copyright usage fees to members and other rights holders through 57 allocations, benefiting more than 2,000 authors with more than 6,000 articles, and distributing 1,276 sample books.

During the closing session of the conference, Liang engaged in interactive discussions with both in-person attendees and online participants and provided legal guidance on issues related to book publishing, copyright trading, theatrical exchanges and litigation rights.

The event, held in a format combining both online and offline participation, attracted the attention of numerous people in the publishing industry, authors, readers, and media representatives.