TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Culture recently held “The Final Chapter,” a briefing marking the end of a decade-long fraud case involving “slave contracts” that has plagued Taiwan’s art world.
Liu Kuo-sung (劉國松), a master of modern ink painting and a primary victim, agreed to waive his NT$5.17 million (US$160,000) court-awarded claim to convince the late fraudster’s heirs to relinquish all illicit rights, restoring creative freedom to hundreds of artists, according to a ministry press release.
Starting in 2011, Lin Chu-nan (林株楠), the late head of Global Chinese Art Network (GCAN), used government-subsidized projects as a front to deceive more than 700 artists.
Victims were lured into signing consent forms that acted as slave contracts, granting GCAN permanent copyright transfers and exclusive sales agency rights. The terms even required artists to pay GCAN 40% of proceeds from any private sales.
Hu Chung-wei (胡中瑋), a lawyer at Pei Chen Intellectual Property Law, said Lin instructed staff to withhold copies of the contracts from artists, claiming they were trade secrets. As a result, many were unaware of the rights they had signed away.
The turning point came in 2014 when Liu filed a defamation lawsuit against GCAN. The proceedings revealed the company had illegally uploaded 517 of his works, eventually uncovering a web of 6,000 illicit contracts affecting more than 800 artists.
In December 2024, the Taipei District Court found the defendants guilty of fraud. However, the case against Lin was dismissed following his death. Because the court ruled the seized documents were Lin’s personal property, they could not be confiscated.
The Taipei District Prosecutors Office and affected artists have since appealed, and the case is currently before the High Court.
To break the legal deadlock, Liu followed the advice of his lawyer, Hsiao Hsiung-lin (蕭雄淋), and waived his NT$5.17 million in damages in exchange for the heirs surrendering all fraudulent contracts.
Liu’s daughter, Liu Ling-hui (劉令徽), recalled that many emerging artists felt so hopeless they considered leaving Taiwan, and some died in despair. When Liu learned his claim could save others, she said, he agreed immediately.
Culture Minister Li Yuan (李遠) awarded Liu the First-Class Cultural Medal for his sacrifice. The ministry said victims have until July 31, 2026, to reclaim their original contracts before they are destroyed to prevent further circulation.
