Chinese author Mian Mian sues Google

The Shanghai-based bad girl becomes the first Chinese writer to take on the internet giant over its digital library

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Mian Mian's novel "Candy" about a rock-n-roll drug addict was banned four months after publication

One of China's most controversial authors, known for her tales, and lifestyle, of drugs and sex, is taking Google to court over its digitalistion of her work.

At a hearing today in Beijing, Chinese author Mian Mian’s attorney presented evidence of copyright infringement against Google’s digital library.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the China Written Works Copyright Society called on local writers one month ago to take a stand against the internet giant’s proposal to authors and publishers on the Mainland.

The 39-year old novelist Mian Mian is no stranger to controversy, courting worldwide fame with her lurid tales of China’s underworld including novels “Candy” and “Panda Sex”. Her books are officially banned in China, but remain popular on the black market and overseas.

What’s she asking for? For starters, an apology and RMB 61,000 in damages for scanning her novel “Acid Lover” without permission or compensation.

Google China argues only snippets were published online, but deleted portions of Mian’s novel in November. Although, according to Ccsics's blog, Mian has also claimed for damage to her literary reputation as keyword searches continue to bring up what she describes as “….incoherent passages…ruining her story”.

The China Written Works Copyright Society claims via Daemon News that tens of thousands of books by Chinese authors have been added to Google’s digitalized library project. Other countries have also raised objections, including the United States, where a USD 125 million settlement was reached with authors and publishers last year. No comment from Google China so far.

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Stephanie Thomas is a freelance writer of all trades based in Shanghai.

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Tags: Mian Mian, Google China, Google, digital library, copyright infringement, Chinese author

user comments and reviews (4)

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peas8carrots

6 January, 2010

In fact there is a great documentary on the subject by National Geographic called "The Dark Trade." You should check it out.

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peas8carrots

6 January, 2010

In fact there is a great documentary on the subject by National Geographic called "The Dark Trade." You should check it out.

peas8carrots

4 January, 2010

Clearly you didn’t understand the point here. Hypocritical means that you do one thing to someone and say the same thing is wrong when someone does it to you. Yes, it's true that I don't buy fake DVD's but I am not suing anyone for theft either. For ME to be a hypocrite I would have to be saying one thing and doing another. This isn't about me though. It's about hiding behind the label of 'developing nation' to take shots at western companies while not addressing the problem at home. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. I am not talking about the people of China here; I am talking about the system. If the author cares so much about intellectual property it would make more sense to address that at home rather than attack a company that probably makes her work more marketable and (now) certainly more newsworthy. I would love to see the Government crack down on all illegal copies of everything and turn Shanghai into a place with honor for both the designers and buyers of products. What that would do is to force the system to CREATE Chinese designed products! This is a good thing...a potential source of National pride! Why would you attack me for saying something that is in the best interest of China???

kachiw

31 December, 2009

I am curious about your comments. I agree with you that there is a huge problem in China particularly with intellectual property, but i am a little bemused about your comments... It just does not make any sense to generalise in such a way about the Chinese. It is very distasteful. You should be ashamed. My guess you have never bought a fake dvd or cd whilst in Shanghai or even visited or taken your friends for a little shopping in Taobao city. Talk about hypocritical.

peas8carrots

30 December, 2009

Isn't it funny how the people who rip off the most also whine the loudest when something of theirs is stolen? Talk about hypocritical! Everything that is counterfeited in China represents stolen intellectual property. As a designer living in Shanghai, I am hyper-aware of how little value original work has here. The amount of stolen intellectual property that is purchased here every day is staggering. You can buy fake watches, DVD's, CD's, fake cosmetics, every kind of knock-off clothing, shoes, handbags, glasses, iPods and iPhones, books, computers, furniture, software. Virtually everything that has brand value is stolen here. You can even buy a knock off Mercedes-Benz. Copyright has no meaning in China so instead of attacking outside your country, maybe the thing to do would be to take a good look in the mirror. I know your book is being distributed here on the black market, so how dare you attack Google? When the practice of stealing other people’s work starts to affect Chinese people in a negative way maybe something will change. Wouldn’t it be nice if a collective consciousness developed before that?

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