名人书信被拍卖的权益冲突及其法律对策

Conflicts between Rights and Interests in the Auctions of Celebrities' Letters and Relevant Legal Countermeasures

名人书信被拍卖风波此起彼伏。拍卖名人书信行为是否合法,在拍卖过程中是否存在侵权等问题,引起法学行业的广泛讨论。私人书信在满足著作权法对作品的特定要求时,也可以成为著作权法的保护对象。本文结合钱钟书书信手稿拍卖事件,通过对私人书信受让人的所有权及发表权的双重限制进行法律分析,论证了书信所有人及拍卖公司应当履行相应法律义务。在保护私人书信方面,我国应尽快完善相关法律规定,建立著作追续权制度,以及名人书信拍卖征询制度,以保护书信著作权人的合法权益。

Letter is a tool for the emotional exchange between the writer and assignee. But the controversies on celebrities＇ letters auctions rise one after another. It has been comprehensively discussed within the legal profes- sion whether it is legal or not to auction celebrities＇ letters, and whether there are any infringement acts during auctions. Private letters could become the object of protection by copyright law while they meet the specific re- quirements of works legitimated in copyright law. According to the event of Qian Zhongshu＇ s letter auctions, double limitations of proprietary right and publication right of private letters＇ assignee are legally analyzed, and relevant legal obligations of letters possessors and auction companies are demonstrated. In order to protect copy- right and owners＇ legitimate rights and interests, China should improve relevant legislations and regulations as soon as possible, establishing continuance copyright system and consulting system of celebrities＇ letter auction.