Archaeology & anthropology

British Museum Apologizes After Plagiarism Row

JUN 23 2023·Updated AUG 27

Story

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

The Facts

On Thursday, the British Museum apologized to Chinese-Canadian writer Yilin Wang for using her translations without attribution in the museum's temporary exhibition China's Hidden Century.
Museums Association
In a statement, the museum said that permissions and acknowledgment for Wang's translations "had been inadvertently omitted" due to an "unintentional human error" and that it has offered financial payment.
The Artnewspaper
The controversy started last week after Wang took to Twitter and accused the museum of copyright infringement, posting, "I think you owe me some money for printing and exhibiting my translations."
CNN
Wang claimed the translations were also featured without attribution in the museum's online guide and printed catalog about the exhibition.
CNN
In response to the museum's apology, Wang said: "The public statement does not feel sincerely apologetic in my opinion. It never said 'we are sorry' anywhere."
The Artnewspaper
The museum has reportedly informed Wang that her work won't be acknowledged in the exhibition as it has been removed following the complaint but is now acknowledged in the catalog.
Artnet News

Sources Split

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The Spin

Narrative A

The exhibition involved over 100 scholars from 14 countries, so it's possible the museum's staff erred in giving Wang credit. The British Museum's apology highlights it didn't intend to plagiarize the translations, and it has already made amends by offering to compensate for Wang's work.

Guardian

Narrative B

The museum's response sounds passive, lacks accountability, and undermines the labor and artistic expertise Wang put into the translations. It highlights the larger and long-lasting issue of translators' work being obscured and uncredited — especially the work of women and people of color.