Despite those previously reported moves earlier this month to close down websites illegally hosting copyrighted content, the US is expected to put more pressure on China this week to combat the high levels of copyright piracy that continue to be conducted in the country.
The US made a number of demands of China in this domain via the World Trade Organisation last October, and the Chinese government has responded through various initiatives, including this month's website closures, but US officials say the country needs to do more to bring the large number of content pirates based in the country under control.
US concerns not only relate to the music pirates operating in the black market. A seemingly legitimate download service was recently launched in the country supported by Yao Ming, the Chinese born basketball star, who plays in the US's NBA league. While welcoming the arrival of a high profile legit download platform, some in the industry have expressed concerns regarding where it is getting some of its content - for example, Beatles tracks appeared in its catalogue even though the fab four's company Apple Corp have famously resisted selling their catalogue through any digital music service.
George Bush's Administration lawyer James Mendenhall is part of a US trade delegation in China this week and he is expected to raise copyright issues with Chinese officials. Some, however, wonder what more can be achieved given that the Chinese government is already taking a hard line approach in this area, suggesting that completely overcoming copyright violation in China will require a change in the country's business culture as much as in copyright law.