Shenzhen Zhiming Lawyer Interprets: WeChat Mini Program Users Exceed 800 Million, How to Sign Platform Account Sharing and Copyright Authorization Contracts
On September 1, 2026, the "Management Measures for the Development of Short Dramas" will be officially implemented, which will make classified arrangements for the filing and publicity, content review, and distribution licensing of short dramas; In the same month, the National Radio and Television Administration disclosed that the number of users of micro dramas nationwide had exceeded 800 million. The larger the market size, the more complex the transaction structure - from the completion of filming and approval to the launch on multiple platforms, to slicing promotion and brand joint development, every link involves the use of upstream rights such as script, music, and performance. Director Lawyer Shen Jinlong from Shenzhen Zhiming Law Firm pointed out that the current core legal risks in the micro drama industry have shifted from "whether it can be filmed" to "whether the authorization is sufficient or not, and whether the account can be calculated clearly". The precision of contract terms directly determines whether the project can continue to be realized.
1、 Classification filing and version delivery: The contract cannot only write the word 'online'
The "Management Measures for the Development of Micro dramas" classify micro dramas into categories one, two, and three, with different categories corresponding to different filing, review, and distribution documents. For the three types of short dramas that are not exclusively broadcasted, each broadcasting unit should label the program number according to the version reviewed by their own unit and shall not mix them up. This means that when the same drama is broadcasted on different platforms, the submitted files, platform revisions, and actual online content must be able to correspond one by one.
In practice, commissioned production contracts often include "completed filming," "approved," and "officially launched" in the same set of terms, but the corresponding delivery content, responsibility, and payment terms for the three are not the same. The completion of filming indicates that the production progress meets the standard, and the approval depends on the application materials and submitted content. The official launch still needs to wait for the platform's schedule. Director Shen Jinlong's lawyer suggested that the contract should specify who is responsible for filing and supplementing materials, how to provide feedback on review opinions, and how to adjust fees and delivery dates when modifications exceed the original workload. If there are significant changes in the content during the production process that may trigger re filing or change procedures, and the original schedule cannot continue to apply, both parties need to agree on a new performance node in advance. If the contract only states' delivery of qualified products', there will be a lack of criteria for determining responsibilities and expenses in case of additional modifications or changes to the online plan.
2、 Adaptation authorization chain and slice usage: ownership of the entire piece does not equal full rights
Article 29 of the Copyright Law stipulates that without the consent of the copyright owner, the other party shall not exercise the rights that are not explicitly licensed or transferred in the license and transfer contracts. In adaptation projects, rights are usually formed earlier than the script, and the authorization relationship of the original work is often more than one layer after it is circulated on the platform. When the production agency obtains the script, it needs to verify whether the provider has the right to license adaptation and filming, and confirm whether the existing authorization can cover the distribution and subsequent development of the work. The general rights guarantee in downstream contracts cannot replace the verification of upstream authorization documents.
Even if the copyright ownership of the film is clear, the content that can be used separately in the drama still has its own rights boundaries. Article 17 of the Copyright Law reserves the right of authors of music and other works to independently exercise copyright. Whether the music license obtained by the production agency covers off screen promotion or subsequent commercial use should be judged based on the agreement on the license period, usage method, and authorized subject, and cannot be directly inferred from the ownership of the film.
After the complete series is released, it is usually divided into trailers, plot slices, or brand promotional materials. Shortening a segment does not diminish the rights it contains - the script expression, music, and actor performances may still be retained in the frame, and re editing may alter the narrative order or character presentation. The platform's acquisition of the broadcasting rights for the complete series does not imply its simultaneous acquisition of commercial slicing production, third-party secondary editing, or advertising rights. In a micro drama dispute in April 2025, a certain operator changed the title of someone else's short drama and played it on their own WeChat mini program. The court found that the operator had infringed on their rights to modify and disseminate information on the internet, and ordered compensation for economic losses and reasonable expenses for rights protection totaling 46000 yuan. In this case, the commissioned production agreement, promotion link, and mini program page mutually confirmed each other, forming a complete evidence chain between the rights holder, protected content, and the sued behavior.
3、 Platform splitting and revenue verification: there are two variables besides the ratio
Article 26 of the Copyright Law lists the types of licensed rights, exclusive or non exclusive use, geographical scope, duration, and remuneration standards and methods as the main contents of the license contract. After the work enters the platform, the scope of authorization and payment method need to be understood in the same transaction. When the platform obtains exclusive authorization, it also needs to verify whether the exclusive scope covers slice dissemination, brand cooperation, and subsequent derivative development, in order to avoid a general exclusive clause blocking other business paths.
Disputes over account splitting are more likely to focus on the calculation process. Although the distribution ratio is intuitive, the actual settlement is still influenced by at least two factors: one is the revenue base, which is based on the total platform revenue as the starting point, or the redistribution after deducting costs such as promotion fees and channel fees. Even if the ratio is the same, the final amount obtained by the production party may still differ significantly; The second is data verification, where the platform has access to backend playback, payment, and refund information. Whether the production team can obtain reconciliation materials directly affects their ability to judge settlement results. Director Lawyer Shen Jinlong suggests that the definition of income, cost deduction, and verification mechanism should be handled in the same set of clauses: if promotion expenses enter the deduction scope, the upper limit of expenses, decision-making power of expenses, and obligation to provide vouchers should be further limited; When there are objections to settlement data, a review method and deadline shall be agreed upon to avoid disputes dragging over the statute of limitations for litigation.
The business model of micro dramas determines that legal services must be prioritized. From filing classification, version delivery, adaptation authorization chain verification, to the design of slice usage boundaries and ledger caliber, each item should be included in the contract text at the start of the project. Shenzhen Zhiming Law Firm has long been concerned about contract compliance and intellectual property disputes in the field of entertainment and the Internet. Chief lawyer Shen Jinlong reminded the production organization and the platform that user scale brings market opportunities, but only if authorization and settlement are clearly written, can a play have the basis for repeated development.
