During the late autumn period from October 16 to November 16, Shanghai is again welcoming the month-long China Shanghai International Arts Festival (hereinafter the “Festival”). The Festival, hosted by the Ministry of Culture and organized by the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, had its grand opening today. As legal counsel for the Festival, W&B will continue to provide a full range of legal services for the entire duration. W&B has accumulated rich and comprehensive experience in providing culture-related legal services through its long-term representation of large enterprises such as the SMG Group and the MPAA. W&B has also provided legal services for large activities such as the Festival and the Shanghai EXPO.

Meanwhile W&B attorneys were invited to attend the 17^th China Shanghai International Arts Festival Fair and the opening reception dinner. They attended the Festival’s theme forum entitled Arts in the Era of Interconnection. W&B hopes to gain a deeper understanding of the culture and performance industry through communications with cultural and performance organizations so as to provide ideal legal services for its clients.

Representing a comprehensive law firm with over two decades in the practice of legal services related to the cultural industry, intellectual property and corporate and commercial matters, W&B’s participant attorneys provided introductions and communicated with various foreign attendees on topics including The Comprehensive Protection of Cultural Brands, Compliance Issues for Foreign Performance Organizations in China and Issues of Note in Special Cultural and Performance Contracts.

Shanghai is known as a major center of the arts, and it enjoys the best market in China, two realities that result in exceptional advantages for the Festival. Based on its pioneering advantages in intellectual property practice, W&B took the lead in establishing a special practice group to serve the culture and entertainment industry. The special practice group will continue its focus on the arts-related legal services market, providing efficient legal services as usual.