The National Copyright Administration attaches great importance to the protection of copyright for pictures in response to heated questions about the digital image service Visual China Group’s (VCG) claiming its copyright to the photo of the first-ever black hole. 

Miniblog screenshot

The copyright administration said that it will safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of copyright owners in accordance with the law, according to a post from its WeChat official account Friday.

Dubbed as "Jianwang 2019", (in English it means 2019 Sword at the internet campaign), the campaign aims to improve the copyright management mechanism in all picture companies, regulate copyright operations, legally and reasonably safeguard rights, without abusing them.

The campaign will further regulate the copyright order of the picture market in China, the post said. 

The black hole photo was allegedly on sale after it was released late on Wednesday. According to screenshots spread on the internet, VCG wrote in the note on the black hole photo that the photo was for press use only and consultation was required before any commercial use. Some netizens then interpreted such notice as the photo provider claiming copyright to the photo.

Based in Tianjin, VCG was urged to make adjustments to its service website by the Internet Network Information Office in the city Thursday night. 

Right after the WeChat post circulated from the National Copyright Administration, another giant photo provider IC photo’s website did not work either. 

VCG’s shares dropped by the daily limit of 10 percent at Friday’s opening, after the platform suspended operation due to the black hole image scandal.

For 14 consecutive years, Sword at the internet campaign aims to crackdown on internet infringement and piracy.