US against film blackouts

US trade officials began talks in Beijing aimed at persuading Chinese authorities to drop plans for a two-month ban on screening foreign movies. The US is urging China to allow more American-made films to be screened, saying that blackouts are likely only to encourage a surge in film piracy. The two blackout periods are scheduled for July and October this year. The officials said they would also look for ways to speed up the approval process for screening films in China, saying delays also fuel piracy.