BEIJING - China's "core network copyright industry" has seen rapid growth over the past decade, according to a recent industry report.

In 2016, the scale of the industry exceeded 500 billion yuan ($76.5 billion), maintaining a growth rate of over 30 percent a year, according to a report by the country's network copyright industry research center.

In 2006, the volume of the industry was about 16 billion yuan, the report said.

The report focuses on China's "network industry," described as network gaming and online content, including video and music.

"With the continuous increase of copyright protection in China and the upgrade of domestic consumption, China's network copyright industry will have huge market potential and is expected to contribute more to the country's economy growth," said Tian Xiaojun, a researcher with the network copyright industry research center.