For Immediate Release

Contact: Deidre Huntington

Ph: 202-220-4550

Chinese Provincial Authorities Crack Down on Illegal Textbook Reproduction

October 24, 2007, Washington, D.C.: The Association of American Publishers (AAP) and the Publishers Association of the U.K. (PA) applauded recent steps by the Shan’xi Provincial Copyright Bureau to enforce against use of pirated books in the city of Xi’an.  Working with right holder representatives and national authorities in the People’s Republic of China, the Shan’xi Copyright Bureau raided warehouses belonging to a textbook center affiliated with Xi’an Jiao Tong University, seizing nearly 2000 suspected infringing titles.  University officials reportedly cooperated in the inspection and enforcement action.  

The books, many of which are published by AAP and PA member companies, were primarily professional, medical, scientific and technical titles belonging to publishers such as John Wiley & Sons, Pearson, Macmillan, Springer, Houghton Mifflin, Elsevier and Cambridge University Press.

PA and AAP international directors Simon Bell and Patricia Judd said both organizations were pleased with the action by the Bureau: “This was the first complaint by PA and AAP to the Shan’xi Bureau, and their ultimate willingness to work with our representatives to raid this establishment is a positive step in our fight against textbook piracy.  The authorities have a narrow window of opportunity to act against academic book piracy at the start of every term, and swift action is imperative to success,” stated Mr. Bell.

Ms. Judd echoed this sentiment:  “The support of the National Copyright Administration of China was important in moving this action forward, and we are pleased that, in this instance, the provincial and State authorities were able to work together on a matter of great importance.  We hope the authorities will bring this case to a conclusion that demonstrates the Chinese government’s seriousness about curbing textbook piracy in Chinese universities.” 

AAP is the national trade association of the U.S. book publishing industry.  The association’s more than 300 members include most of the major commercial publishers in the United States, as well as smaller and non-profit publishers, university presses and scholarly societies.  AAP members publish hardcover and paperback books in every field, educational materials for the elementary, secondary, postsecondary, and professional markets, scholarly journals, computer software, and electronic products and services. The protection of intellectual property rights in all media, the defense of the freedom to read and the freedom to publish at home and abroad, and the promotion of reading and literacy are among the association’s highest priorities.

The Publishers Association is the leading trade organization serving book, journal and electronic publishers in the UK. It brings publishers together to discuss the main issues facing the industry and to define the practical policies that will take the industry forward. The aim of The Publishers Association is to serve and promote by all lawful means the interest of book journal and electronic publishers and to protect those interests.

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