TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Culture Minister Li Yuan issued an apology on Wednesday (May 22) for a plagiarism scandal involving the National Museum of Taiwan Literature's main visual character, allegedly copying the work of Chinese artist Nora Qu. The controversy arose during a Legislative Yuan's Education and Culture Committee session, spotlighting the museum's immersive puzzle game visual.
Li stated that the museum would sue the contractor responsible for the plagiarism and that the Ministry of Culture (MOC) has referred the contractor's projects over the past seven years to the ethics office. The museum's director has also requested to be disciplined. "I will not shift the blame to my colleagues on the front line," Li said, emphasizing the importance of addressing the issue without harshly dismissing anyone involved and pledging to protect the rights of original creators during his tenure.
In a related concern, Kuomintang (KMT) legislator Ko Ju-chun raised questions about the similarity between some patterns of the Taiwan Pavilion's main visual for the Paris 2024 Cultural Olympiad, designed by Yen Po-chun and Apple's emojis. Ko highlighted the MOC's need to obtain authorization from the copyright provider to Apple if they wish to use the design.
Li responded that the MOC is addressing the issue and will provide an update within a week. This inquiry comes amid allegations of plagiarism against Yen Po-chun for his work on the visual design of the 16th presidential and vice-presidential inauguration ceremony, which he has denied, asserting his commitment to original design.
These incidents have sparked a broader discussion on copyright issues and intellectual property protection in Taiwan's cultural sector, underscoring the need for vigilance and ethical practices in creative works.
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