CORRUPTION IN THE REPUBLIC OF LETTERS: MANNERS UNWORTHY OF SOVIET CITIZENS ARE FLOURISHING(DOCUMENTS FROM THE RUSSIAN STATE ARCHIVE OF LITERATURE AND ART (RGALI) ON COPYRIGHT VIOLATIONS AND PLAGIARISM: SPRING 1942)

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УДК 94(47).093.3

T.Y KRASOVITSKAYA, Z.K VODOPIYANOVA, Moscow, Russian Federation

CORRUPTION IN THE REPUBLIC OF LETTERS: MANNERS UNWORTHY OF SOVIET CITIZENS ARE FLOURISHING(DOCUMENTS FROM THE RUSSIAN STATE ARCHIVE OF LITERATURE AND ART (RGALI) ON COPYRIGHT VIOLATIONS AND PLAGIARISM: SPRING 1942)

Abstract

The article studies modification, rewriting and actual copying and misappropriation of original literal work. It is for the first time that the following document noting the many shortcomings in protection and usage of literary property often resulting in plagiarism which sometimes extended to classical works of Shakespeare, Goethe, Hugo, Moliere and other masters, is published. The document is of particular importance in demonstrating that the least likely to miss an opportunity of using administrative resource were the “bosses”: theater managers, directors and conductors. More often than not money, big money was behind such infringements. Although such misconduct was combated, the accomplishments were minimal. The ‘necessity’ of there writings was justified by inaccuracy and incommodity of the translation, as often neither writers nor translators could give no objections anymore. Russian classic authors, Tolstoy, Gogol, Aksakov, Ostrovsky were handled similar lack of care. Works of young authors and playwrights from national republics were also quite ‘useful’: ‘drawbacks’ in their work were easy to find and assert. Some Georgian author wishing to be acted on Moscow stage kept mum and his ‘co-author’ spoke no Georgian. The Great Patriotic War brought these facts to notice as it became necessary to pay royalties to writers and managers of various creative institutions (theaters, etc.). Instances of copyright violations were collected by three famous authors: V.Shklovsky, O. Leonidov and Shershenevich.

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Keywords

Archive, plagiarism, coercion to co-authorship, administrative resources, squandering of public funds

References

1. Abasova Je. Uzeir Gadzhibekov [Uzeir Gadzhibekov]. Baku, Azerbajdzhanskoe gosudarstvennoe izdatel'stvo publ., 1975, 142 p.

2. Valentinov (Sobolevskij) V. Zhrica ognja: Original. operetta iz indusskoj zhizni v 3 dejstvijah [The fire priestess: An original operetta: Scenes from Indian life in 3 acts]. St. Petersburg, 1913.

3. Iz istorii muzykal'nyh svjazej narodov SSSR. Izbrannye stat'i i vystuplenija [From history of musical intercourse between the peoples of the USSR: Collected articles and speeches]. Lengrad, Sovetskij kompozitor publ., 1972.

4. Kandrat Krapіva [Kandrat Krapіva]. Belaruskіja pіs'mennіkі (1917—1990): Davednіk. Minsk, Mastackaja lіtaratura publ., 1994.

5. Sovetskaja opera [Soviet opera]. Moscow, Gos. Muz. publ., 1953, 478 p.

About Authors

Krasovitskaya Tamara Yusufovna, PhD in History, professor, chief research scientist at the Institute of Russian History, Moscow, Russian Federation, +7-910-401-70-92, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Vodopiyanova Zoe K., PhD in History, head researcher at the Russian State Archive of Literature and Art (RGALI), Moscow, Russian Federation, +7-916-740-55-18, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

You can read completely article in the russian historic-archival magazine “The Herald of an Archivist”. Read more about terms of subscription here.

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