A detailed historical look at how copyright was negotiated and
protected by authors, publishers, and the state in late imperial and
modern China
In Pirates and Publishers, Fei-Hsien Wang reveals the unknown social
and cultural history of copyright in China from the 1890s through the
1950s, a time of profound sociopolitical changes. Wang draws on a vast
range of previously underutilized archival sources to show how copyright
was received, appropriated, and practiced in China, within and beyond
the legal institutions of the state. Contrary to common belief,
copyright was not a problematic doctrine simply imposed on China by
foreign powers with little regard for Chinese cultural and social
traditions. Shifting the focus from the state legislation of copyright
to the daily, on-the-ground negotiations among Chinese authors,
publishers, and state agents, Wang presents a more dynamic, nuanced
picture of the encounter between Chinese and foreign ideas and customs.
Developing multiple ways for articulating their understanding of
copyright, Chinese authors, booksellers, and publishers played a crucial
role in its growth and eventual institutionalization in China. These
individuals enforced what they viewed as copyright to justify their
profit, protect their books, and crack down on piracy in a changing
knowledge economy. As China transitioned from a late imperial system to
a modern state, booksellers and publishers created and maintained their
own economic rules and regulations when faced with the absence of an
effective legal framework.
Exploring how copyright was transplanted, adopted, and practiced,
Pirates and Publishers demonstrates the pivotal roles of those who
produce and circulate knowledge.
