China issued a regulation to start charging copyright fees for playing movies in Internet cafes and on long-distance buses on October 14.

The National Copyright Administration issued the regulation "in a bid to improve films' copyright protection," said Zhu Yongde, President of the China Film Copyright Association (CFCA).

Zhu said the regulation would be first carried out in eight municipalities and provinces, including Beijing, Shanghai and eastern Jiangsu Province.

Officials said the CFCA would begin collecting copyright royalties on January 1, 2011.