WIC to host copyright salon in Xi’an

As digital technologies continue to deeply empower the preservation and transmission of cultural heritage, they are injecting fresh momentum into the revitalization of cultural relics, the communication of civilizations, and innovation in culture and tourism. 

Meanwhile, copyright has become an increasingly important institutional safeguard, playing a key role in regulating digital development, stimulating industrial growth, protecting the value of digital cultural heritage assets, and promoting cross-border cultural cooperation.

On July 22, during the 2026 World Internet Conference Digital Silk Road Development Forum, the World Internet Conference Digital & AI Academy will jointly host a salon under the theme Copyright Empowerment in Cultural Heritage Digitalization with the World Intellectual Property Organization Office in China and Shaanxi Provincial Copyright Bureau.

The event will focus on how copyright can empower the digital preservation and innovative transformation of cultural heritage. It will bring together representatives from international intellectual property organizations, experts from China's national copyright authorities and judicial institutions, experts from the WIC Specialized Committee on Cultural Heritage Digitalization, as well as representatives from enterprises including Tencent, KissFuture, TMTPost, and Starbucks.

Through keynote speeches and panel discussions, the salon will provide an international platform for exchange from multilateral perspectives, where participants explore copyright compliance and the role of digital and intelligent technologies in cultural heritage digitalization.

During the panel discussion, guests will exchange views on key questions such as: How to define and balance the boundary between “open sharing” and “copyright protection” in the process of cultural heritage digitalization? How can copyright empower industrial development, from digital IP creation to immersive experience, and help form replicable benchmark cases? How to achieve a virtuous cycle among the cultivation of intangible cultural heritage practitioners, community-based creation and market-oriented transformation?

From institutional norms and technological applications to industrial practices, participants will share their insights and practical experience. The salon aims to serve as a high-level exchange platform for representatives of international organizations, government officials, museum and cultural heritage administrators, cultural practitioners, academic researchers and professionals from the digital industry.

It will also help develop practical, applicable and scalable solutions and innovative ideas, supporting countries around the world, especially countries along the Belt and Road, in exploring replicable pathways for digital heritage preservation.

A limited number of seats are available for this event. Interested parties may scan the QR code to submit registration information, after which the organizing team will contact them with further details.

WICDA cultural digitalization related capacity-building events [Photo/wicinternet.org]

The WIC Digital & AI Academy (WICDA) serves as the WIC’s platform for capacity-building cooperation and exchange. It focuses on digital and AI capacity building worldwide, particularly in developing countries. WICDA aims to cultivate digital and AI talent, bridge the digital and AI divide, and ensure that all countries benefit from inclusive development.