Core Viewpoint - The rampant piracy of books, particularly in the children's and exam preparation sectors, is severely impacting publishers, leading to significant financial losses and operational downsizing [1][2][12]. Group 1: Impact of Piracy on Publishers - A study revealed that the online purchase of children's books has a piracy rate of 35.8% [1]. - Beijing Century Higher Education Publishing Co., facing a decline due to piracy, has reduced its editorial team from over 70 to just 6, and has accumulated over 5 million yuan in debt [1][2]. - The sales of the exam preparation book "Yellow Book" have plummeted by 40-60% annually over the past five years, with a 45% decline in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous year [8][11]. Group 2: Legal and Operational Challenges - In 2022, the company processed 3,604 infringement cases, with total sales from infringing stores amounting to 7.46 million yuan, but the court awarded only 3.57 million yuan in damages, reflecting a low success rate in legal actions [4][6]. - The cost of legal action is high, and the time taken for resolution often results in diminished market value for the infringed works [13][14]. - The current legal framework makes it difficult for publishers to effectively combat piracy, as the burden of proof lies heavily on them [14][15]. Group 3: Strategies and Adaptations - The company has attempted to innovate by merging versions of their books to streamline offerings, but this has not significantly improved sales [9][11]. - To counteract piracy, the publisher has considered raising prices to deter illegal sales, as higher prices could increase the threshold for criminal liability for infringers [11][12]. - Despite efforts to adapt, including exploring electronic formats, the publisher acknowledges the challenges posed by technological advancements that facilitate piracy [15][16].
正版书商与盗版书贩正展开一场悬殊对抗
3 6 Ke·2025-06-16 12:23