9 hrs ago
Lin King Sues Over Unauthorized Relay Translation of Taiwan Travelogue
Lin King translated a novel called Taiwan Travelogue from Mandarin into English.
She says a European publisher used her English version to make another translation, instead of translating from the original Mandarin.
King says she never gave permission for that use and owns the copyright to her English translation.
She asked for the publication to be stopped until a licensing agreement was made.
The publisher reportedly said its use was legal and went ahead with the release.
King says the book came out on July 10.
She has started legal proceedings in Europe and Taiwan.
She says translators make creative choices, so their work should be respected.
She hopes the case will help make publishers ask permission first.
Lin King says a European publisher translated Taiwan Travelogue using her English text rather than the original Mandarin.
King says she owns the copyright to her English translation, registered with the U.S. Copyright Office in 2024, and never licensed relay-translation rights.
The publisher reportedly proceeded with publication despite her warnings and maintained that using the English text was legal.
King says the translation was released on July 10 and that she has taken legal action in the European country and Taiwan.
King says the case is about translators’ rights and establishing a legal precedent, not seeking money.
- Who
- Translator Lin King and an unnamed European publisher.
- What
- King is pursuing legal action over a third-language translation of Taiwan Travelogue that she says was made from her English text without permission.
- Where
- The publisher is in an unnamed European country; King says proceedings are also underway in Taiwan.
- When
- King says the translation was released on July 10; Mirror Fiction reported filings at the end of September and on October 2. The article gives no year for these dates.
- Why
- King says she owns the copyright to her English translation and did not authorize its use as the basis for another translation.
King’s position
Publisher’s reported position
Whether use of the English text was authorized
King’s position
King says she never agreed to license relay-translation rights and considers use of her English text without permission a copyright violation.
Publisher’s reported position
The publisher reportedly maintained that its use of the English text was legal and proceeded with publication.
How to address the dispute
King’s position
King argues legal action and enforcement are needed to establish a precedent and change publishing practices.
Publisher’s reported position
The article gives no detailed explanation of the publisher’s legal reasoning or response to King’s lawsuit.
Key facts
- Book
- Taiwan Travelogue, by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ
- English translator
- Lin King
- Translation method at issue
- Relay translation: translating from an existing translation rather than the original
- Copyright registration
- King says her English translation was registered with the United States Copyright Office in 2024.
- Publication date
- King says the unauthorized translation was released on July 10; no year is specified in the article.
- Reported legal filings
- Mirror Fiction reported a filing in the European country at the end of September and one in Taiwan on October 2; years are not specified.
- Publisher's position
- The publisher reportedly insisted that using the English text was legal and proceeded with publication.
Quotes
Lin King
Translator of the English edition of Taiwan Travelogue
“I never signed a contract with any party to sell the relay translation rights to Taiwan Travelogue: not with any English-language publisher, nor the Taiwan publisher, nor the Taiwanese copyright agency representing Táiwān Màn Yóu Lù.”
indianexpress.com
“To all publishers of translated fiction, I beseech you: Ask for permission, not forgiveness. If you love these books, respect the rights of the translators who rewrite these stories so that you, too, can read them.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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