275 Types of Humanities Books Illegally Scanned and Bound
Distributed via Online Orders
Estimated Damages of 1.18 Billion Won
The Copyright Crime Scientific Investigation Unit of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on September 10 that it had apprehended three members of an organization that illegally scanned and bound out-of-print humanities and general knowledge books for sale in the market, and referred them to the prosecution. This marks the first case in which the illegal distribution of bound humanities books has been uncovered.
The scene of the seizure of illegally bound out-of-print books. Provided by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
275 Types of Illegally Bound Out-of-Print Books, Approximately 26,700 Copies Sold, Estimated Illicit Gains of About 750 Million Won
According to the Ministry, the primary suspect began the operation in 2020, noting that out-of-print humanities books were being traded at high prices in the secondhand market. In the process, the suspect collaborated with scan and copy specialists near university districts and divided roles among accomplices to systematically infringe on copyrights by receiving orders and shipping books through online shopping malls and other channels.
The books they distributed included a total of 275 types of out-of-print humanities books, with approximately 26,700 copies. The damage, based on the original retail price, is estimated at about 1.18 billion won, while the illicit gains from illegal sales are estimated at about 750 million won. Notably, some out-of-print books originally priced at just 12,000 won were sold for as much as 340,000 won in the online secondhand market. By selling these books at a binding price of around 20,000 won, both copyright holders and consumers suffered losses.
This investigation began following a report submitted to the "Illegal Copy Reporting Center" operated by the Korea Copyright Protection Agency. Based on the report, the Ministry and the Agency swiftly identified the location of the operation through information gathering and analysis, and launched an investigation. They scientifically proved the methods, scale, and accomplice relationships of the crime using digital forensic technology.
Crackdown to Expand to Online Shopping Malls and Secondhand Distribution Channels
The Ministry has been conducting intensive crackdowns every year on the illegal binding and sale of textbooks near university campuses. With this case, the Ministry plans to expand the scope of enforcement to include online shopping malls and secondhand distribution channels. Illegal binding without proper procedures can result in copyright infringement, so caution is required. According to the Copyright Act, copyrights are protected for 70 years from the publication date, regardless of whether a book is out of print, and the rights of copyright holders remain valid. To legally access out-of-print books, one should use electronic book reading services or partial copy services (up to one-third of the book, with compensation paid) provided by public libraries.
Jung Hyangmi, Director of the Copyright Bureau at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "This investigation is particularly meaningful as it is a result of close cooperation between the Ministry, the Agency, and private organizations such as the Korean Publishers Association, leading to tangible outcomes. We will continue to actively respond to ongoing demands from the publishing industry and copyright holders for stronger enforcement, enhance our crackdown and investigation systems, and expand protection activities to cover copyright blind spots, making every effort to eradicate illegal distribution and protect copyrights."
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