‘Ask for permission, not forgiveness’: Booker-winner Lin King sues over ‘relay translation’ of Taiwan Travelogue

Lin King, the recipient of the 2026 International Booker Prize for her English translation of Yáng Shuāng-zǐ’s Taiwan Travelogue, is taking legal action against a European publisher for copyright infringement. The publisher plans to release a translation of King's book, which is based on her English text rather than the original Mandarin version.

King argues that this relay translation, which involves translating a translation, violates her copyright as she is the sole owner of the English Taiwan Travelogue, registered with the United States Copyright Office in 2024. She emphasizes that in literature, a translation is a separate work and not an "objectively accurate" rendition of the original.

King insists that publishers should seek permission before using a preexisting translation, as the Taiwanese copyright agency had arranged a licensing contract that specifically stated the third-language publisher would translate from the original book, not the English version. Despite warnings, the publisher released the unauthorised relay translation on July 10.

King has hired legal counsel to pursue action against the infringement in both Taiwan and the third-language country. She urges publishers to respect the rights of translators and seek permission before using their work, stating that "ask for permission, not forgiveness."