Chinese TV Drama Accused of Image Theft and Copyright Infringement

The Chinese TV drama "脱轨" ("Derailed") is currently under fire for alleged image theft and copyright infringement regarding a painting used in the series. Weibo user "长乐nina", who claims to be the original creator of the artwork, took to social media to voice her concerns and call for the producers to respect copyright laws.

On January 2nd, "长乐nina" posted a message on her Weibo account, stating that the painting used in "Derailed" was a high-resolution, uncredited reproduction of her work. She added that the dialogue spoken by characters in the series regarding her painting left her feeling "uncomfortable" and called for the producers to address the issue.

Shortly after "长乐nina"'s initial post, a member of the show's art department, "大表弛我呈", issued a public apology on behalf of the team. The apology included an admission of guilt and a promise to take corrective action. Furthermore, they mentioned that the production team was actively working on resolving the issue with the artist.

Despite "大表弛我呈"'s apology, controversy surrounding the incident continues to grow. Some Weibo users have criticized the production team for their apparent lack of respect for copyright laws, while others have defended the show and its actors.

A user named "临亭观海" posted a tweet stating, "剧是好剧！！！美术组发生这个事情确实蛮尴尬，但是昨天应该是第一时间发布了道歉声明，相信这会正在联系作者处理吧，大家理性吃瓜、请勿上升剧集本身以及演员好吧" ("The drama is great! The art department's issue is indeed quite awkward, but they released an apology statement immediately yesterday. I believe they are currently contacting the author. [Let's] watch this drama and eat strawberries (referring to watching TV and gossiping) while also being rational and not attacking the show or its actors.")

Other users were quick to point out that this incident does not reflect on the actors themselves, but rather on the production team. "剧组的锅跟演员有什 么关系" ("The production team's issue has nothing to do with the actors"), one such user wrote.

The painting in question is a 16-year-old work by "长乐nina" that was reproduced without permission and used in a scene where characters in "Derailed" criticize the artwork. Although the show's art department has issued an apology and vowed to rectify the situation, it remains to be seen how the artist herself will respond and what legal consequences the production team may face.

This case highlights the importance of respecting copyright laws and the need for artists to protect their work. As the Chinese entertainment industry continues to grow, it is crucial that producers and content creators ensure they follow copyright guidelines to avoid similar incidents in the future.