Exclusive / Hoffman replies: Fan Keqin’s money-making methods are ugly and cheap

Reported by reporter You t
ru / Taipei

The Yellow Duck made its official debut in Keelung on the 21st, but it was reported that Dutch artist Hoffman was angered and refused to attend the opening ceremony. The Yellow Duck copyright dispute has intensified. In response to the various controversies, Hoffman’s design team sent a letter to ETtoday EBC News Cloud at 10:30 PM today (22nd) to issue a statement, announcing that they will pursue legal action against Fan Keqin’s false claims. “Fan Keqin’s underhanded, cheap, and ugly ways of making money are intolerable.”


▲ The Yellow Duck’s copyright has been infringed, and Hoffman is furious about not attending the opening. (Photo / Taken from EBC News)

ETtoday EBC News Cloud continues to follow up on the Yellow Duck incident. The reporter sent a letter to Hoffman on the 21st and received a response from the team on the 22nd. The letter begins by stating that they saw ETtoday EBC News Cloud’s report regarding Fan Keqin and the products, and thus they have specifically issued a response.

“Happy Keelung with the Yellow Duck,” former chief planner Fan Keqin once refuted that the contract did not state that other types of duck plush toys could not be sold at the Keelung Duck exhibition hall, and asked Hoffman why no action was taken when the duck was exhibited in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taoyuan, where non-Hoffman-designed products were also sold. Hoffman gave an evasive response. In response to this质疑, the Hoffman team pointed out: “Fan Keqin met Hoffman in Mainland China, where he proposed to mass-produce related merchandise, and was clearly and loudly rejected by Hoffman himself.”


▲ Fan Keqin confronts Hoffman. (Photo / Taken from EBC News)

The Hoffman team pointed out that Fan Keqin began participating in the Keelung Yellow Duck planning team six months ago. From the beginning, Fan inquired with Hoffman about mass-producing merchandise, but was rejected. Unexpectedly, Fan continued production through roundabout means. The Hoffman team stated, “The contract content stipulates that there should be no other commercial activities, which must be stopped immediately.”

“Fan Keqin produced merchandise in an unauthorized manner, using cheap and ugly methods.” The Hoffman team pointed out that Fan Keqin’s various egregious behaviors, along with his statements that continuously “stabbed others in the back,” are infuriating. In addition, regarding Fan Keqin’s various false accusations, the Hoffman team stated that they have now requested legal experts to investigate relevant evidence of breach of contract and will take subsequent actions.

The full text of Hoffman’s letter is as follows:
The signed pledge on top opt that , done because of the recent situation says exactly why Mr. Fan is not allowed to have any commercial activities.Please ask our commissioner for this written pledge and the the points they are violating right now.

Mr. Fan is partly responsible of creating this commercial circus around the rubber duck art work in Keelung!
Mr. Fan was from the beginning (around 6 months ago) involved already.Together with our commissioner they met Mr. Hofman in China to speak about the souvenirs.
Mr. Fan wanted to create a lot of merchandise and buy us out for authorization.

Mr. Hofman didn't approve and told them then loud and clear he was against all this merchandise they proposed!
In this sense it is a stab in the back, not cooperating with us and our other original souvenirs.
Choosing the way of going around Mr. Hofman and his strict rules making a lot of unauthorized by Mr. Hofman; cheap and ugly money win merchandise.

Our legal advisor and his team tell us our commissioner is violating this signed pledge and contract on several points.
As signed in the pledge they have to stop all commercial activities.
Our commissioner must perform what they exactly signed in the pledge and contract for.

Mr. Fan nor anyone connected to the commissioner have rights and privileges in the selling any merchandise and should stop directly.Our legal advisor and his team are still investigating on the exact size and impact of the commercial activities and violations.