State publishing and educational authorities are intensifying their campaign against piracy of self-taught examination textbooks, which is believed to account for at least one third of China's illicit textbook market.

State and provincial anti-piracy teams established by offices for self-taught higher education examinations have launched an autumn campaign to target the illegal copying and selling of textbooks.

Award funds have been set up to encourage students and other people to report piracy cases to the authorities. Anyone reporting a major piracy case that is ultimately proven by the authorities will receive an award of between 2 and 4 per cent of the total value of books confiscated.

Joint anti-piracy action teams have also been established with 31 publishing houses throughout the country to protect their common rights and interests.

Up to 12 million students take the examination, which is initiated by the Ministry of Education in 1981 and held twice a year.

The 30-plus State-authorized publishers release more than 700 textbooks annually, not including those produced by local publishers, according to the China Council for Self-Taught Higher Education Examinations.

According to the examination council's estimate, at least one third of the self-taught examination textbook market involves pirated books, which translates into annual sales of more than 100 million (US$12 million).

(Xinhua News Agency November 4, 2003)