Magazine Publisher Accuses Influencer Writer of Plagiarism
On.cc · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Liu Wei, publisher of Jingpin Yuedu magazine, published a signed article on Wednesday (5th) naming Zhang Meng, a writer with millions of followers, accusing her of plagiarizing his bestselling book "Energy Management" in her work "Energy Management Manual" . The case is now in judicial proceedings, with Liu seeking over 14 million yuan (approximately 16.27 million Hong Kong dollars) in joint compensation from Zhang and the publisher, plus a cessation of sales .
Key Points
- Liu Wei alleges 292 passages across 322 pages of Zhang's book show substantial similarity to his work without proper attribution .
- The copyright holder of the Chinese edition of "Energy Management" filed suit in 2024, and forensic appraisal confirmed substantial identity between the two books .
- Zhang's side responded that they trust the law will deliver a fair conclusion, and noted Liu previously lost a separate lawsuit against Zhang's courses .
- Liu clarified the two cases are chronologically distinct and unrelated, stating Zhang herself acknowledged this in court .
- Liu criticized the plagiarism as "low-level" and accused Zhang of misleading readers by maintaining a "writer" persona while live-streaming sales .
Why It Matters
The case highlights growing scrutiny of intellectual property violations in China's booming influencer economy, where online personalities increasingly monetize personal branding through book sales and live commerce . The substantial damages sought and judicial confirmation of substantial similarity could set a significant precedent for content creators operating across publishing and digital platforms .
The case highlights growing scrutiny of intellectual property violations in China's booming influencer economy, where online personalities increasingly monetize personal branding through book sales and live commerce . The substantial damages sought and judicial confirmation of substantial similarity could set a significant precedent for content creators operating across publishing and digital platforms .