This article originally appeared in The Hollywood Reporter.
Beijing courts promised heavier fines for Internet cafes that allow patrons to illegally download movies, laying down harsh fines for offenders, state-run media reported Thursday.
The new rulings are part of a trend toward greater enforcement of intellectual property rights in China.
The judge in the Beijing Internet cafe cases said that infringements occur in one of two ways: some outlets download movies without any authorization at all, while others sign service agreements with suppliers who falsely claim to have copyright authorization.
