A nationwide crackdown on fake Chinese calligraphy and paintings will be launched, according to China's national copyright watchdog on Monday.

Calligraphy and paintings fabricating signatures of renowned artists infringe on the legal rights of the copyright holders and dampen the culture of the art market as well as China's image, says Yan Xiaohong, deputy director of the National Copyright Administration of China (NCAC).

He adds that the crackdown will be the focus of NCAC this year, and it will coordinate forces between both government and non-government organizations, including the Ministry of Culture and the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles.

Fake artworks fall into three categories: copies of famous artists' works, pieces with a fabricated signature and printed copies being sold at traditional culture zones, antique markets, hotels, airports, bookstores and the online shops, says a Xinhua report.