At the China International Copyright Expo in Beijing last week, new online software designed for reading cartoons on cellphones was shown at Japan's pavilion - but the software was developed by Chinese high-tech firm Founder International.

Once installed, the program will enable users to log onto a website to read or download cartoons, said Sun Meng, a representative of the company.

Founder signed an agreement with Maruzen, a Japanese bookstore chain, and now has authorization to tap into its vast library of cartoon e-books produced in Japan, a powerhouse in the field.

To protect copyrights, the software has an encryption technology so users can only read or download stories on their own cellphone and cannot copy them to other handsets.

Another entertainment innovation on display at the expo was a Beijing firm's piracy-proof movie player.

The candy-box-sized hardware comes preloaded with 100 movies. More can be added through a designated portal.

Buyers can download movies free of charge for a year after purchase. They pay 1 yuan (about 15 cents) for each move after that, said a sales representative of the company.

The company has authorization from moviemakers including Warner and Disney as well as China's national broadcaster CCTV, he said.

Not all the expo exhibits were high-tech.

At one pavilion, visitors watched craftsmen make traditional writing brushes, ink slabs and paper.

The event's guest country Japan showcased traditional dances by a Japanese performer and her Chinese student.

A series of international copyright forums were also held during the event.

"It (hosting the expo) is a very good sign of China's commitment to building respect for intellectual property," said Francis Gurry, director-general of World Intellectual Property Organization.

(China Daily)