Korean publisher investigated after Black Rubber Shoes creator’s suicide

Black Rubber Sneakers Animated Film Poster

Korea’s Ministry of Tradition, Sports activities and Tourism will launch a particular investigation into the writer hyungseol and the contract he holds with the creators of standard kids’s manhwa Black rubber footwear following the March 11 suicide of Lee Yoo-young, one of many creators. The investigation was initiated following a request from the Korea Cartoonists Affiliation. As well as, he indicated that he’ll arrange a authorized recommendation workplace for younger creators involved with copyright.

The particular investigation will decide whether or not the contract Lee and his brother Woo-jin signed with writer Hyungseol was unfair and in violation of the Artists’ Rights Safety Act, which got here into impact in September 2022.

In a scenario considerably harking back to Siegel and Shuster, the brother complained that regardless of the band’s reputation – which spanned 15 years and spawned a number of motion pictures and TV reveals – on account of their preliminary contract signing , they’d solely earned 12 million received (about $9,000) from Black Rubber Sneakers for 15 years.

Korea is a hotbed of comics and the birthplace of the favored vertical webtoon format. Current reviews have spoken of harsh working situations and the impression on psychological well being, however the function of writer contracts and property rights (a common drawback on this planet of comics) has been little mentioned.

On March 11, Lee Yoo-young, 51, was found dead at home in Incheon by members of the family. It was reported as a suicide and his household had stated he was “scuffling with copyright points” – each mentally and financially. The copyright lawsuit filed by Hyungseol towards the creators behind Black rubber footwear was launched in 2019.

In accordance The Korean Herald:

“In 2019, the 2 brothers have been sued by the pinnacle of Hyungseol, who had taken over the copyright and business rights of Black rubber footwear. The publishing home filed a lawsuit for 286 million received ($219,000) in damages towards the 2 for allegedly utilizing the characters with out the corporate’s consent. The brothers had signed a contract with the publishing home in 2007, and since then they have been prohibited from creating secondary works based mostly on the copyright of Black rubber footwear. The unique cartoonists have been paid about 12 million received ($9,200) over a interval of about 15 years.

Black rubber footwear is a well-liked household manhwa of the Nineteen Sixties/Nineteen Seventies in Korea earlier than the huge social, industrial, and technological adjustments that occurred in successive a long time. It was created and designed by brothers Lee Yoo-young and Woo-Jin; and written by Lee Younger-il. It aired from 1992 to 2006 within the bi-weekly journal Sonyeon Champ. The title of the comedian comes from a budget and sturdy footwear that Korean kids generally wore on the time. A TV adaptation debuted in 1999 and a number of other TV sequence and films have been produced based mostly on the property – the newest being a film in October 2022. Hyungseol claims the brothers signed IP possession in 2007 and that he has unique rights to the use and income from the exploitation of the work.

With media protection of the favored cartoon co-creator’s dying, in addition to petitions from their household and the Korean Cartoonists Affiliation this week, the stress appears to have mounted and compelled the Korean authorities to behave extra rapidly. .

In accordance Korea JoongAng Daily:

“Tradition Minister Park Bogyoon has ordered the investigation to look at whether or not Lee’s tragic determination is straight associated to the unfair contract and to take robust motion.

“The duty power group, which will probably be made up of consultants in fields comparable to copyright, the cartoon business and publishing in addition to attorneys, will examine whether or not there have been any a violation of the Artists’ Rights Safety Act by investigating the writer and different associated events.

“[Culture Ministry spokesperson Kang Jung-won] burdened that if the investigation reveals something that violates the Rights Safety Act, together with forcing the cartoonists to signal an unfair contract, the ministry will notify the Truthful Commerce Fee and related organizations to take follow-up motion.

Kang Jung-won added,

“The ministry can even set up a copyright authorized support middle that may provide authorized recommendation to younger artists and discover methods to guard their rights and pursuits for his or her work.”

This might doubtlessly be a game-changer for creators’ rights and protections within the nation.

[If you or someone you know is in danger of commiting self-harm, call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.]