Title: Seminary in Taiwan Withdraws Book and Apologizes for Copyright Violation Taiwan Church News 2819, 6-12 March 2006 Reported by Lin Yi-ying. Written by David Alexander
In coordination with commemorations of February 28th, a Taiwan national holiday that marks the violent 1947 suppression of local action against the takeover of this island by forces under the government of Chiang Kai-shek, China Evangelical Seminary (CES) in Taipei recently published 228 Reflections, a book of essays.
One of its articles, "The Family Testimony of 228 Victim Chang Chi-lang", was included without obtaining permission of the author or copyright holder. Last week CES posted an apology on its web site, addressed to Su Nan-chiou, the head of the Ya-ko Publishing Society, for the violation of intellectual property rights. The school has withdrawn the book from circulation and destroyed all published copies. On March 6th Mr. Su formally accepted the apology and witnessed the destruction of the offending materials.
CES vice-president Wang Kuei-heng said that the school stood firmly on ethical ground in regards to copyright, and acknowledged that there was no written or implied permission to use the piece. No case could be made in the school's favor. "This is clearly defective and very regrettable." The apology is openly offered to those affected, and the book's withdrawal from circulation and destruction is certain.
Mr. Su pointed out that two days following as the press conference announcing publication vice-president Wang had begun discussions with him on resolution of the matter. This includes publication of apologies in ecclesiastical and secular newspapers and other print media. Before the ads could appear, the apology was posted on the web site on March 6th. According to Mr. Wang, print publication is still being considered. The two sides did agree on the text of the apology as a step towards resolution. A face-to-face meeting between Mr. Su and CES president Lai Chien-kuo was hosted by former Member of Parliament Yao Li-ming, who witnessed the signing of the agreement.
When asked if the volume will be published and re-released without the material at issue, vice-president Wang said that many opinions would first be heard before any decision would be made.
Full Text of the CES Letter of Apology
China Evangelical published the book 228 Reflections without obtaining permission from the Ya-ko Publishing Society for inclusion of the article "The Family Testimony of 228 Victim Chang Chi-lang" nor did it indicate thanks to the Ya-ko Publishing Society for use of the material. In this way offense was caused to Su Nan-chiou, the publisher. Respectfully recognizing this error, we offer our deepest apologies to Mr. Su and the original writer, and hope that he will not seek redress through the courts.
Recognizing that the book has already been printed and distributed, we have recalled all copies and collected the printing plates. After these have been collected, in the presence of Mr. Su, they will all be destroyed. For such copies as cannot be recovered and destroyed and that may be found in the future, Mr. Su will not find us at fault.
The apologizing party, President of China Evangelical Seminary, Lai Chien-kuo 6th March 2006
For More Information: China Evangelical Seminary www.ces.org.tw
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