This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-33772057

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Is China's Winter Olympics song a Frozen rip off? Is China's Winter Olympics song a Frozen rip-off?
(about 1 hour later)
From smartphones to designer handbags to cars even, counterfeiting has long been a part of Chinese industry, where trademarks can be a slippery concept.From smartphones to designer handbags to cars even, counterfeiting has long been a part of Chinese industry, where trademarks can be a slippery concept.
But a new accusation of intellectual borrowing has the potential to cause embarrassment at the highest levels.But a new accusation of intellectual borrowing has the potential to cause embarrassment at the highest levels.
Keen (and not-so-keen) listeners have noticed that Beijing's Winter Olympics song sounds suspiciously like a runaway hit from the Disney musical Frozen.Keen (and not-so-keen) listeners have noticed that Beijing's Winter Olympics song sounds suspiciously like a runaway hit from the Disney musical Frozen.
Beijing was awarded the 2022 games on Friday despite the city's lack of snow.Beijing was awarded the 2022 games on Friday despite the city's lack of snow.
Piggy-backing on the massive popularity of Frozen might be just the ticket to dampen down some of the criticisms levelled at the decision - from the lack of snow to China's poor human rights record.Piggy-backing on the massive popularity of Frozen might be just the ticket to dampen down some of the criticisms levelled at the decision - from the lack of snow to China's poor human rights record.
But just how similar are the two songs? Judge for yourself: here's China's promotional number and here's Frozen's "Let It Go".But just how similar are the two songs? Judge for yourself: here's China's promotional number and here's Frozen's "Let It Go".
The official YouTube video has attracted hundreds of mocking comparisons - although because YouTube is blocked in China, they are likely to be from Hong Kong, Taiwan, or other parts of Asia. The official YouTube video for the Chinese song has attracted hundreds of mocking comparisons - although because YouTube is blocked in China they are likely to be from Hong Kong, Taiwan, or other parts of Asia.
"Does anyone want to burst out into 'Let It Go' at 01:14?", said one user, Shiu-Wah Wong."Does anyone want to burst out into 'Let It Go' at 01:14?", said one user, Shiu-Wah Wong.
"Plagiarism, stealing, copying - that's the only thing China can do," said another YouTube user, zn4807. "There's nothing you can do, this is China, from officials to the people, there's a culture of plagiarism, theft and copying.""Plagiarism, stealing, copying - that's the only thing China can do," said another YouTube user, zn4807. "There's nothing you can do, this is China, from officials to the people, there's a culture of plagiarism, theft and copying."
Chinese business magazine Caijing Online, cited by the New York Times, analysed the instrumentation in the songs and said they had similar prelude chords and an eight-beat introduction, and run at almost exactly the same tempo.Chinese business magazine Caijing Online, cited by the New York Times, analysed the instrumentation in the songs and said they had similar prelude chords and an eight-beat introduction, and run at almost exactly the same tempo.
The New York Times approached both the Beijing Games' organising committee and Disney but both declined to comment. No-one was available for comment at either the Beijing Games' organising committee or Disney.
The Oscar-winning Frozen is the biggest animated feature of all time, having taken more than $1.3 bn (£790m) at the box office worldwide.The Oscar-winning Frozen is the biggest animated feature of all time, having taken more than $1.3 bn (£790m) at the box office worldwide.
Disney announced in March that it would release a sequel.Disney announced in March that it would release a sequel.