One-hundred-six-year-old Zhou Youguang, widely considered the "father of pinyin," has sued his 78-year-old son, Zhou Xiaoping, and another man for publishing an unauthorized biography.

The book, entitled Zhou Youguang's One-Hundred-Year Dictation, published in May 2008, was credited as being dictated by Zhou Xiaoping and transcribed by Li Huaiyu. In March of this year Zhou Youguang took both men to court, arguing they published the book without his permission.

Neither Zhou Youguang nor his son would reveal any further details of the case to the media. Li, however, argued that he had previously reached an agreement with Zhou Youguang and his family in February 2008 that stipulated that Li would own the book's copyright in exchange for presenting 100 copies of the finished product to the Zhou family "as a gift."

"Our legal agreement was authorized by both myself and Zhou Youguang, with Zhou Xiaoping having signed on his father's behalf," Li said.

Li added that he obtained the 100 copies in May 2008, after the book was published, and dispatched the book's editor to send the copies to Zhou Youguang's residence, and that both he and Zhou maintained a good relationship over the years.

Global Times