Pirates and Publishers

Více o knize

This work provides a detailed historical examination of copyright's evolution in late imperial and modern China, focusing on the interactions among authors, publishers, and the state from the 1890s to the 1950s during significant sociopolitical transformations. Fei-Hsien Wang utilizes a wealth of previously underutilized archival materials to illustrate how copyright was received, adapted, and practiced in China, often outside formal legal frameworks. Contrary to the prevailing belief that copyright was merely a foreign imposition, Wang shifts the narrative to highlight the active negotiations among Chinese authors, publishers, and state agents, presenting a more complex view of the integration of foreign and local customs. Chinese authors and booksellers were instrumental in shaping the understanding and institutionalization of copyright, using it to safeguard their profits, protect their works, and combat piracy amid a rapidly evolving knowledge economy. As China moved from a late imperial system to a modern state, these stakeholders established their own economic regulations in response to the lack of a robust legal structure. This exploration of copyright's transplantation and adaptation underscores the critical roles of those involved in the production and circulation of knowledge.