During the 2025 Chinese New Year film season, Nezha:
The Demon Child Wreaks Havoc in the Sea soared to the top
of China's all-time box office rankings, grossing over 7
billion yuan. However, the film's unprecedented popularity
sparked a nationwide debate over the boundaries of copyright law.
On social media, countless viewers shared photos and clips taken
directly from cinema screens. Meanwhile, short video platforms were
flooded with film commentary and edits, ranging from "Watch
the Whole Movie in 3 Minutes" to in-depth analyses. Are these
secondary creations acts of infringement — unauthorized
filming and re-editing — or are they examples of lawful
"transformative use"? In the digital economy era, content
involving film edits and commentary has grown into a massive
industry chain, yet its legal status remains in a gray area. With a
series of landmark decisions, such as those involving The
Princess Weiyoung and Life Matters, the
need to clarify how copyright law
