Actress Chang Ju-chun (張如君) and 14 models yesterday appeared at the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office to accuse Total Swiss International of violating the Copyright Act (著作權法) and the Fair Trade Act (公平交易法) with its Global City Angels competition.
Chang accused the drug manufacturing company of copying its entire competition process and simply exchanging the word Miss Globalcity for the word “angel,” as well as plagiarizing its documentation for application forms and promotions.
Chang is the founder of the Miss Globalcity Pageant Association.
Photo: CNA
Chang asked for NT$10 million (US$314,861) in damages, which she said she would donate to the Kaohsiung Autism Foundation.
Chang said that beauty pageants are for public welfare and should not be plagiarized, adding that Matsu, the goddess of the sea, would not condone such actions.
Chang achieved fame for her role in the 300-episode-long TV series Matsu (媽祖) from 1998 to 2001, and also appeared in the 70-episode long TV drama Guanshiyin (觀世音, goddess of mercy).
“We hope by our presence at the prosecutors’ office today to show what true beauty pageants are supposed to be,” Chang said, adding that she hoped the lawsuit could help women looking to enter such competitions avoid joining the wrong pageant.
Chang took third place in a Miss Kaohsiung competition, which helped launched her career as an actress.
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