A Photographer Claimed 1.89 Million Yuan for Safeguarding His Rights - the Fact of Infringing Old Photos was Established

In March 2018, Le Mountain photographer Deng Hongxiu sued E Mei Mountain CITIC Guoan Project Management Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "CITIC Guoan project company") for the case of copyright ownership and infringement dispute, which attracted wide attention both inside and outside the city. 

In February 2018, Le Mountain photographer Deng Hongxiu was reminded by his friends that in a photo exhibition called "Time Memory" held by the Xiangcheng Grand Theater, E Mei Mountain Elephant Commercial Street, Da Guang Ming Road, E Mei City, 55 old photos (5 of which were made up of 2, 3 and 4 photos respectively, and 63 old photos in total) were on display without acknowledgement. The original author and source are not indicated by the exhibition.

Deng Hongxiu believed that the involved party, CITIC Guoan project company, used the photo works with copyright protection without permission and publicized them as commercial advertisements in the business district. At the same time, the photographer of the works was not indicated, and the corresponding remuneration was not paid to the author, which seriously violated the legitimate rights and interests of the author, and caused significant mental injury and loss. For this reason, he sued CITIC Guoan project company in court with a written petition, asking the company to compensate for the loss of 1.89 million Yuan and the notary fee of 1000 Yuan in addition to a written apology, and bear the litigation costs.

In March 2019, Deng Hongxiu filed the above-mentioned case with Sichuan Higher People's court against the civil judgment (2018) issued by Le Mountain intermediate people's court. The Sichuan Higher People's Court finally confirmed that the old photos involved were infringed. Deng Hongxiu will not only receive a written apology, but also receive compensation of 108,000 Yuan in economic losses and 6,000 yuan of reasonable expenses.

November 7, 2019

Source: Sanjiang Metropolis Daily

Photo from: 699pic.com