On January 22nd, 2016, Corbis Images, a company owned by US capitalist Bill Gates, announced the sale of images and copyrights to the Chinese company, Vision China Group, including a large number of historical photos from the 1989 Tian'anmen Square protests and massacre, such as the famous photo titled "Tank Man".

The Chinese Communist Party has been trying to block such photos from public view even since the Tian'anmen Square Incident; as a result, some fear that China might restrict and destroy these materials, erasing valuable historical moments. In response, Vision China Group issued a statement that it "will do its utmost to preserve and manage Corbis' photos, and will continue to ensure that they are available for use worldwide." Corbis also responded that Vision China Group is only an agency; other news agencies such as Reuters and the Associated Press own copyright to the photos, which will allow them to use the photos in other channels.

References: [德國之聲("Deutsche Welle")(Chinese)] (https://www.dw.com/zh/长平观察坦克人将会再次被秘密处决吗/a-19010113); [紐約時報中文網("New York Times Chinese Edition")(Chinese)] (https://cn.nytimes.com/business/20160128/c28xp-corbis/); [美國之音("Voice of America")(Chinese)] (https://www.voachinese.com/a/corbis-china-Tian'anmen-64-20160126/3163880.html)