NPM Regards Chinese Distribution of Unauthorized Copies of NPM’s Porcelain Artwork Collection As Infringement of NPM’s IP Rights.　he Chinese Organization Imitator Said NPM’s Ownership of The Collection Is Disputable.

　According to a recent PRC news article, cultural and historical relics research group on both sides of the Taiwan Strait joined hands and successfully produced limited copies of some precious porcelain artwork collection kept in the National Palace Museum in Taipei.  According to that news article, the special working team of the project is consisted of a total of 15 experts from the China Cultural Relics Society and experts in Taiwan specialized in studying the collection of the National Palace Museum in Taipei (NPM) and it took three years for them to accomplish the successful reproduction of 20 pieces of precious historical porcelain artworks.

　Upon information of the above, the NPM issued a public statement on 20 October 2006 denying of having worked with the China Cultural Relics Society or the Beijing Palace Museum to produce copies of any NPM collection or otherwise.  The PRC working team frankly admitted they did not obtain the NPM’s prior consent for them to make copies of the NPM’s collection but emphasized that the ownership of the collection in issue is yet to be determined.

　According to the person in charge of the distribution of the imitations, the PRC working team indeed did not make any official contact with the NPM.  He said they produced the copies of the artworks, 14 pieces of which are collection of the NPM, according to the pictures, documents and information provided by the China Cultural Relics Society and the Beijing Palace Museum.

　The NPM issued a second statement on 22 October 2006 sternly denouncing the PRC working team’s lack of due respect to the intellectual property rights of other people:  “According to the relevant news articles, 14 of the porcelain artworks imitated are among NPM’s collection.  The pictures taken of these artworks are protected under the relevant WTO agreements on protection of intellectual property rights.  By using the pictures without prior consent of the NPM and producing copies of the artworks based on the pictures, the Chinese organization concerned has acted in violation of the relevant international agreement and the copyright of NPM.”  (2006.10)

/EMA