Copyright infringement and protection in holographic performances: From the Chinese perspective

Abstract

The last several years have witnessed the growing popularity of holographic forms which show images of deceased or living celebrity performers on stage. The growing use of holograms in live performances has caused legal issues with respect to copyright protection, trademark, and right of publicity. The discussion in this note focuses on the two following primary questions on copyrights. First, in order to produce holographic images and avoid copyright infringement, from whom should the producer obtain copyright and what kind of rights do they have? Second, are the produced holographic performances copyrightable so that the producer can prohibit unauthorized use? A discussion of these issues will lend clarity to the boundaries of copyright infringement and copyright protection in the production of holographic performances and promote widespread use of holographic images in live performances.