Page 290 - A Study on the Role of UGC Platforms in Copyright Law：An Intermediary-oriented Approach

A Study on the Role of UGC Platforms in Copyright Law: Appendix 6 Interview Record (Participant E)
An Intermediary-oriented Approach

Participant E: There is not an exact period. If I record my travel, I will update my account
once a day. If I record my exam, I will update my account after the exam, about once a
month.

Huang: That’s interesting. Does your account have the reward (dashang) function?
Participant E: Not yet. Only when you have enough fans can you set the reward function for
your account.
Huang: So do you want to set this function in the future?
Participant E: Yeah. I want to be a lawyer in the future and I wish to use this account as a
self-marketing platform. Right now this is a non-profit account which records interesting
things. Later on I will publish some professional issues on my legal career.

Huang: Does your article being reproduced by other public account or paper media?
Participant E: Not yet, I have not shared other accounts’ content. Some of my classmates
have promoted each other’s public accounts. Some of them have suggested me to join
them and help each other, but I refused because I do not want my account to look so…
en…
Huang: So what’s the purpose of promoting each other?
Participant E: To attract fans. I promote your account and you promote my account, so that
the number of fans for both our accounts can increase.
Huang: Then your account can have the reward function?
Participant E: Exactly. At first, the fans can comment your content, and then they can reward
it. When your account is really popular, it can attract advertisements.
Huang: Has any of your classmates or friends has a public account with such function you
mentioned above?
Participant E: Some of my friends have reached the criteria for the “comment” function, but
I guess they have not met the criteria for the “reward” function.

Huang: Has the public account taken a lot of your time?
Participant E: I think I can handle it. I only update my account at weekend or vacations, so it
will not affect my study.
Huang: I guess the account for the law school will not take much time.
Participant E: Yes, the work for the law school’s account is much easier. What I need to do is
to release a notice before the game, and a newsletter after the game.

Huang: Do you know some of your classmate or friend has a public account for profit?
Participant E: Yes, one of my classmates has good photography skills. He created a public
account and made some advertisement for himself. Those who shared his account in
the Moment (a platform in WeChat to share your daily life with your friends) can get a

• 276 •