MCLC: Mo Yan and piracy concerns

[Denton, Kirk]

MCLC LIST
From: kirk (denton.2 at osu.edu)
Subject: Mo Yan and piracy concerns
***********************************************************

Source: China Daily (10/23/12):
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2012-10/23/content_15837869.htm

Mo Yan's Nobel win sparks piracy concerns
By Mei Jia (China Daily)

Chinese writer Mo Yan's Nobel Prize in literature has led to Mo-mania
sweeping the nation, butas publishers rush to reprint the laureate's
works, confusion reigns over the copyright status of his books.

In a bid to curb piracy, Beijing Genuine and Profound Culture Development
Co, the claimed copyright holder of Mo's work, announced on Monday the
details of Mo's copyright, and released Mo's letter of authority on the
company to beat piracy, which had been witnessed byofficials from the
State and the Beijing municipal copyright authorities.

The company's legal representative said they are aware that there are
dozens of versions of Mo's books on the market, and 15 publishers claim to
have the right to Mo's works, including the digital rights. "Most of which
are unauthorized, and we are yet to collect more evidence to take legal
action," said Chen Zhongye, Guantao Law Firm partner.

As bookstores and online sellers report that they are out of stock,
reflecting domestic readers' increasing demand for the laureate's books,
publishers are eager to cash in on the surge in interest surrounding Mo.
Genuine and Profound Culture says it signed with Mo in May for the full
rights to his work, physical and digital, including his back catalogue,
any work in progress, and the right to recommend Mo's work to overseas
publishers, as well as all the rights regarding copyright protection.

"In respect to publishing Mo abroad, we have the right to recommend works
to interested foreign publishers and to help Mo with analysis and
decision," said Chen Liming, president of the company.

"Only a small portion of the titles being sold are within the terms of
previous contracts Mo signed with them (other publishers). Some are
reprinting even if the contract has expired," Chen added.

Shanghai Literature and Arts Press, which has been publishing Mo since the
1980s, says it holds copyright for 16 of Mo's works.

"We got the authorization in the very early days, and it's still valid,"
Cao Yuanyong, deputy editor-in-chief of the press, told Shanghai media.

Cao said the reason two publishers claim the same titles is that Mo never
promised anypublisher exclusive rights.

Genuine and Profound Culture's Chen said he knows the situation with the
Shanghai press, and said he hopes there will be more cooperation on
publication and copyright protection.

Zhao Hu, legal expert with Beijing H&J Law Firm, told Beijing Business
Today that the chaos is understandable because 30 years ago, when Mo first
started publishing, there was a lack of awareness among writers, readers
and publishers regarding copyright.

"Now that China's Copyright law is being perfected, and the country joined
internationalcopyright conventions in the 1990s, things have changed, and
the disputes are almost avoidable with the proper contracts," Zhao said.

On Monday, Genuine and Profound Culture's president Chen showed the public
anauthorization handwritten by Mo, asking the company to fight piracy on
his behalf.

Wang Zhicheng, an official with the State Copyright Administration, said
on Monday that he is hoping the publishing mania surrounding Mo's works is
a chance to further raise the awareness of copyright protection.

As Mo's authorized copyright holder, Genuine and Profound has released
Mo's first publication after the Nobel win - Our Jing Ke, a collection of
scripts. The publisher is also planning to release a 20-volume omnibus
together with the Writers Press.

"With four new unpublished works joining the omnibus, and with all
published ones revised byMo himself, it will be the newest and most
complete collection of Mo released so far," saidChen.