GBP Chapter 346 Royalty Reform
Chapter 346 Royalty Reform
"Boss, several more artists have signed contracts with the newly opened comics studio."
The secretary hurried into the office with a look of anxiety on her face.
"Have you understood the background of the newly opened comics studio?"
Jiang Weimin raised his head, frowned slightly, and his eyes revealed a solemn look.
Over the years, Jiang Weimin has witnessed Qingdao Publishing's development from its faltering start to its vigorous development. Jiang Weimin has devoted countless efforts to every step. Now, facing new challenges, Jiang Weimin must treat them with caution.
"We only found out that it was founded by foreign capital, but we didn't find out which foreign animation company it was created by!"
There was a hint of helplessness in the secretary's voice.
"Okay, I got it! You can go out first!" Jiang Weimin waved his hand gently.
Jiang Weimin then called his superior again.
With the rapid development of Qingdao's publishing industry, Qingdao's comic strips have a strong creative atmosphere and a complete industrial chain.
As well as the comic book talents that have sprung up like mushrooms after rain,
It is like a piece of cake exuding an enticing aroma, attracting the attention of foreign capital.
As many of Qingdao Publishing House's works became famous all over the world, foreign investors were eager to establish comic book companies in Qingdao.
Moreover, foreign capital pays comic book writers even better treatment than Qingdao Publishing House.
The most important thing is that the biggest killer of foreign capital is royalty sharing.
This extremely attractive condition has led many comic book writers to submit their works to both Qingdao Publishing House and comic companies opened by foreign capital.
Fortunately, Jiang Weimin had foresight and early on firmly grasped the copyright of the painters of the internal purchasers.
Otherwise, Qingdao Publishing would have found it difficult to withstand this fierce combination of attacks from foreign capital.
At present, the top writers of Qingdao Publishing House are still waiting and watching. After all, there has not been a successful case with foreign capital, and everyone is weighing the pros and cons.
In recent years, Qingdao Publishing House has been working hard and its welfare benefits have been significantly improved. They are divided into five levels from 10 yuan to 50 yuan, and most employees are in level 3.
Only a small number of cars with overseas sales of over a million can get tier 4, and as for tier 5, there are even fewer.
Under the price system of the 80s, the income of a third-level comic book writer was already quite considerable.
A serial story has about 100 pages, and the income from the royalties for a comic book is 3000 yuan. If you add in the foreign exchange subsidies and the income from audio-visual copyrights, you can probably still make 1 yuan.
Of course, only a few works can earn this extra income.
But even so, the income from an ordinary work is already equivalent to a year's income for a worker in Qingdao. You should know that the current salary of a worker in Qingdao is only 200 yuan.
The income of top writers is even more astonishing, with the revenue from one work reaching 15 to 20 RMB, which is comparable to that of real painting masters.
At the end of the year, the top writers can earn nearly 200 million yuan in royalties.
However, even so, the income of top painters is still several times lower than that of foreign capital that shares royalties.
Both sides are racking their brains to try to get a hold of the author's copyright.
Foreign capital has spared no effort in wooing the top authors of Qingdao Publishing House, offering attractive conditions such as unchanged manuscript fees and an additional 5% royalty share.
Assume that a work sells 100 million copies and is sold abroad for $5 per copy.
According to the RMB to USD exchange rate of nearly 4 yuan at that time, it was 2000 million RMB.
5% of the royalties is 100 million, and after deducting taxes, the total is 80, which is already four times the income of Qingdao Publishing House under the same circumstances. And this is the price of one copy of the work!
As the forefront of China's cultural exports and a pillar industry that earns a large amount of foreign exchange for China, comic strips must be supported by a set of effective management regulations.
Over the years, Jiang Weimin has been communicating tirelessly with higher-level departments to continuously improve relevant regulations.
This process took as long as 6 years, and only he himself knew the difficulties and hardships involved.
The new regulations were formulated with reference to international standards, and their actual implementation differs greatly from the old ones.
In the 1980s, when per capita income was low, the Ministry of Finance initially did not want ordinary people to have too much wealth. After all, this conflicted with traditional concepts and the economic planning at the time.
However, as foreign capital established companies in Qingdao, they openly attacked the comic book industry.
Qingdao Publishing House developed too fast and was reported as a typical example many times. The superiors gradually realized the copyright income and value of comic strips.
The incident of the animation company established by foreigners this time has made us realize that if we do not stop it, the entire group of comic book writers may be won over by foreign platforms.
By then, the copyright will belong to others, and derivative values such as toys, film and television works will also be taken away.
Finally, after Jiang Weimin's crisis communication again, the new regulations were issued with the efforts of the General Administration of Press and Publication and the Ministry of Finance.
Only Jiang Weimin could understand the hardships involved through his countless days and nights of running around, coordinating, and communicating.
Today, this regulation is like a solid line of defense built for Qingdao's comic book industry, resisting the impact of foreign capital.
In a teahouse of Qingdao Publishing House, several comic book authors sat together and enthusiastically discussed the newly released royalty system.
"Lao Li, how much money did you get back under the latest royalty system?"
Old Zhang, who was wearing black-framed glasses, sipped his tea while curiously asking Old Li sitting opposite him.
Old Li couldn't hide his smile. "I roughly calculated it and got 3 back. How about you?"
Lao Zhang sighed slightly and said with a hint of envy: "The sales of the comic strips I drew are not high, so I estimate that I can only get a little over 1 yuan back.
But this is also good, in the future I will have a share of royalties, and the money I get will be much better than before.”
"From now on, it seems that whoever has higher sales will earn more!" said Lao Li with emotion.
"Of course not. Do you know Zhang Song? He will probably get a share of 100 million this time.
The comic strips he drew sold extremely well last year, and I heard they were very popular both at home and abroad.”
"It's a pity for President Jiang that he gave up his share again. If he hadn't given up this time, I think I could have given him tens of millions!"
“It’s a pity indeed, but we have to thank President Jiang even more.
If it weren't for his changes to the comic industry, there wouldn't be such a good environment.
Many publishing houses across the country have gone bankrupt, but our Qingdao Publishing House is getting better and better.
So it is right for President Jiang to give up the royalties, royalties and copyrights.
Only President Jiang can lead Chinese comic strips to the world!"
"President Jiang has suffered too much loss." Old Li couldn't help but sigh.
"If President Jiang hadn't suffered so much, he wouldn't have been able to become the president!
If President Jiang had not become the president, he would probably not have received as much in royalties as I do now!"
Lao Zhang said half-jokingly.
"You're just bragging! President Jiang's work didn't sell millions of copies, but Dragon Ball alone sold tens of millions of copies at its peak! How can you compare?"
"Even with so many sales, I can only get the highest royalty fee of 20 yuan!"
"Now that you mention it, it's true. The latest standard of royalties was raised by President Jiang!" Old Li suddenly realized.
"Fortunately, President Jiang issued a comic book royalty system that is in line with international standards as required by the higher-ups several years ago.
Otherwise, all the plans that President Jiang has made in the past few years will be used to help foreigners!" Old Zhang said with lingering fear.
"how to say?"
"The comic book companies founded by foreigners offer more money. Which one would you choose?"
"Of course I would choose money!" Xiao Wang answered without hesitation.
"So President Jiang gave up his authority to finalize the royalty system.
If he didn't give up, President Jiang wouldn't have the confidence. After all, telling others about it would seem like he was seeking benefits for himself!" Lao Zhang explained patiently.
"President Jiang has done so much for Chinese comic strips!"