Approximately 100,000 high-resolution images of paintings and calligraphy from the National Palace Museum in Taipei have reportedly been leaked and are being sold for less than a dollar on the Chinese shopping platform Taobao, according to a report by CNN. While high-resolution scans can be used to create digital copies of original artworks, digital reproductions are commonly sold at a lower price than the original by museums, galleries, and artists. The museum reportedly contacted Taobao on Tuesday in an effort to prevent the spread of the images. Huang Yung-tai, the deputy museum director, stated that the institution had “hired lawyers to raise to Taobao about the intellectual properties and damages involved.” The museum’s website indicates that depending on the resolution, each scan could be sold for between $98 and $850.
The museum first identified the leak in June 2020, launching an investigation two months later, according to a statement. The investigation found that a staff member, who was downsizing files of the scans, transferred some of the works to a private server, which was then hacked. The employee in question has since been warned. This marks the latest scandal for the museum, which saw $77m worth of Chinese artifacts broken in three separate incidents last year.
Despite being based in Taiwan, the National Palace Museum is known to hold the world’s largest collection of Chinese artifacts, a fact that has long been a point of contention between the two countries. When nationalists fled to Taiwan during the Chinese civil war, many of these objects were transported by the former President of China, Chiang Kai-shek, from mainland China.
Overall, the leak of these images is concerning, as it may lead to unauthorized use and reproduction of these culturally significant works. The National Palace Museum has taken measures to prevent the further spread of the images and is seeking legal action to protect its intellectual property.