The second edition of the book "Entertainment Law," authored by Attorney Camille Chiaying Lin and Xavier Chihpeng Chang, is set to be released in mid-May 2024.
Below is the preface for the second edition.
"That's on giant leap for me, one samll step for entertainment law in Taiwan."
When Neil Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface in 1969, he famously declared, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." My journey, however, seems to be the opposite. While I feel I've made significant strides in Taiwanese entertainment law research, I recognize it's just the tip of the iceberg.
In 2021, after publishing Taiwan's first book on "Entertainment Law," I had the honor in 2023 of collaborating on the translation and annotation of Professor Ando Kazuhiro's book, "Japanese Entertainment Industry and Law - with Analysis on Taiwanese Entertainment Law." I examined Taiwanese entertainment law from a domestic perspective and gained insights from external viewpoints.
In recent years, the global COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the entertainment industry worldwide, including Taiwan's. Post-pandemic recovery now dominates industry discussions. Simultaneously, the ongoing battle between high-tech and entertainment companies over streaming platforms and contents continues to escalate, affecting production and distribution in Taiwan. Trends like the metaverse and AI offer boundless opportunities for the film, television, and music industries but also raise concerns about job loss and ethical implications.
The world is evolving rapidly, with information exploding. It not only affects the entertainment industry but every individual. In early 2024, a viral video surfaced showing a social media influencer discriminating against people with disabilities, prompting us to question the future: "Will a world solely focused on internet traffic truly progress?" "Will humans manipulated by algorithms truly advance?" While technology allows us to access entertainment anytime, anywhere, our generation's task may be reclaiming our time and reason. Let's not forget, it's the audience that drives the entertainment industry's future.
This revised edition, reflecting industry shifts, includes chapters on "Artificial Intelligence," "Virtual Idols," and "Television Program Formats." It also features case studies of entertainment agency disputes, recent court judgments, entertainment news, and the much-debated "sodagreen" trademark ruling. All court cases are updated to 2024. With such extensive material, I welcome corrections from all sectors.
Finally, I extend my gratitude to my colleagues at Tomodachi Attorneys-at-Law for their support, Huber Hsiao for collecting judgments, Kuanyu Lai, Hannah Wang, and Gauss Tu for their proof-reading. I also thank Angel Publishing Co., Ltd. for their invaluable support for the past years.
Camille Chiaying Lin
March 20, 2024