The bookstores around National Taiwan University (台灣大學) used to be flooded with pirated foreign publications during my university days some 40 years ago. As soon as a professor had assigned a foreign book as the textbook, students would get hold of a pirated copy of that book. None of them felt that this was inappropriate. Nor did they feel guilty about it.
Taiwan was very poor back then. The tuition for the first semester of my freshman year was NT$495. Room and board at my school cost NT$180 per month. Taiwan was still receiving US aid at that time. It was absolutely impossible for impoverished students to buy expensive foreign textbooks. Perhaps for that reason, the US and European countries did not take strong action against the flagrant piracy in the country at the time.
Pirated foreign publications could still be seen all over the place for several years after my graduation. In 1968, I bought many pirated books -- including Grove's Dictionary of Music & Musicians -- at cheap prices during a clearance sale at a bookstore in Taipei. Although all the books were relatively cheap, the dictionary that I bought at half price cost me NT$900 -- about half my monthly salary. Though I majored in law, I had never thought of the legal issues involved in buying pirated textbooks during my school years or buying other pirated books after I graduated. I did not feel any guilt either, as it all seemed to be very natural.
A few years later, copyright issues began to receive attention, as foreign publishers started to authorize local companies to publish their books in Taiwan. Since buying an original copy of a dictionary of American slang, I have mended my ways and not bought any more pirated books. I also now strictly forbid members of my family from buying pirated CDs or other counterfeit goods.
The MP3 case at National Chengkung University (國立成功大學) last April showed that students do not respect intellectual property rights (IPR) in general. In fact, the whole case was a reflection of Taiwan's society. The public values neither private nor public morals, and does not appreciate -- much less observe -- the rule of law.
The downloading of copyrighted music from the Internet might appear to be a minor offense. But, if not nipped in the bud, such minor offenses could develop into the major crimes of the future. As an old Hokkien saying goes, "A child who steals a gourd may steal a cow when he or she grows up" (細漢偷挽瓠, 大漢偷牽牛). This is perhaps the most serious aspect of the IPR issue.
Taiwan is now a developed country. It has passed a comprehensive Copyright Law (著作權法) to protect intellectual property rights. We have no excuse for violating others' rights or otherwise taking advantage of others.
As it pursues the further development of its democracy, promotes law and order and participates in international affairs, Taiwan must start by respecting others' rights and by meeting its international obligations.
Technological development, economic prosperity and improvements to the quality of life and standard of living all depend on massive efforts on the part of organizations and individuals who immerse themselves in efforts to achieve long-term innovation in the name of progress and the pursuit of perfection. If the invaluable results of their endeavors are not protected by law and are therefore easily purloined, those who have invested so much time, effort and money will stand to gain nothing. In such circumstances, industry may hesitate to invest in such ventures, or at least scale back their research.
This will lead to economic decline and damage society. If we do not protect IPR, therefore, we will strangle people's creativity and destroy the driving force behind humanity's development.
The Executive Yuan has made this year "IPR protection year." It has also approved a special plan under which prosecutors' offices under the Ministry of Justice will spearhead a crackdown, involving local prosecutors, police, investigators and military police, on IPR violations. Furthermore, on Jan. 30, I instructed the Taiwan High Court Prosecutors' Office to come up with an action plan to combat piracy.
I appeal to the public to unite in boycotting pirated products and report on instances of piracy to clear Taiwan's bad name as a "pirate country." Meanwhile, we must respect IPR for the sake of all humanity, so we can encourage a greater abundance of intellectual property.
Chen Ding-nan is the minister of justice.
Translated by Eddy Chang
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