Yu Zheng

Yu Zheng (born 28 February 1978) is a Chinese screenwriter and producer who is noted for Palace, which earned him a Best Screenwriter award at the 16th Asian Television Awards.

Yu was born and raised in Haining, Zhejiang, after high school, he moved to Shanghai, he became an auditor at Shanghai Theatre Academy.

In August 1998, Yu signed with TVB.

One year later, he signed with Li Huimin Studio.

In July 2003, Yu transferred to Taiwan Star International Entertainment Company, he also founded his company, Yu Zheng Studio.

In December 2004, many news media reported that Yu Zheng—then a total unknown —was threatening to sue director Raymond Lee and the production company for the drama Assassinator Jing Ke, because his name did not appear in the credits under either "story by" or "writer(s)".

Lee did not respond, but writer Wang Qiuyu published a long blog entry demanding Yu's apology, adding "Finally some sincere advices to Yu Zheng, a creator is not a businessman. Spend more time creating, less energy on gaining exposures."

At the end Yu never followed up on his legal threats.

Yu's 2006 drama Concubines of the Qing Emperor had been suspected of plagiarizing the Hong Kong drama War and Beauty (2004).

Yu denied it, but stated that his drama "contained the successful parts of classic dramas like War and Beauty, Dae Jang Geum, and Winter Sonata".

In June 2009, Yu founded the Quansheng Time Film and Television Company.

In 2010, actress Ruby Lin who starred in the Yu Zheng production Beauty's Rival in Palace, refused to star in Yu Zheng's next project Beauty World, choosing to become a producer herself instead.

Subsequently, many fellow actors from Beauty's Rival in Palace chose to join Lin's debut project The Glamorous Imperial Concubine over Beauty World.

On December 12, Yu posted a message on his Sina Weibo account insinuating "someone" as "shanzhaiing" his production.

Lin responded by writing "so-called friend has lost even the most basic respect... really disappointed."

Yu then denied he was referring to Lin, saying that he wished to collaborate with Lin again, adding "Why would Ruby be agitated?"

Later, after Lin kept her silence, he continued his veiled attacks, writing on Sina Weibo: "What are the benefits for an actress to become a producer?... Correct answer is, for a chance to make out with all the young, hot guys!"

On October 30, 2012, Yu Zheng wrote on his Sina Weibo microblog alleging that a "certain director" fired an actress because she refused his sexual advances.

On November 6, television director and producer Xi Xin made a public statement accusing Yu Zheng of defamation.

Since Yu refused to apologize, Xi filed a lawsuit claim.

A year later in November 2013, Beijing First Intermediate People's Court ruled in Xi's favor.

On March 18, 2013, Yu Zheng was physically beaten by a man, later identified as actor Shen Tai, in a coffee shop.

Shen served 3 days in detention but refused to apologize.

Yu claimed he was beaten because he refused Shen's demands of a role in his drama.

Shen called it a lie, and wrote the following on his Sina Weibo microblog: "Everybody has a bottom line. I can just say that knowing such a person can only be described as disgusting. If he does stupid things again I will slap him just the same."

Discussing this incident in 2014, Lee said, "Yu Zheng is very smart, he knows how to make himself known."

On April 2, 2014, a newspaper quoted actress Shirley Dai as claiming that the Yu Zheng TV drama she participated in, Palace 3: The Lost Daughter, was actually based on Taiwanese writer Chiung Yao's 1992 novel Plum Blossom Scar.

Yu Zheng then unleashed a rant on his Sina Weibo microblog calling "a certain actress" an attention whore.

Shortly after the drama aired in China on April 7, Chiung Yao released an open letter to China's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television on April 15 accusing Yu Zheng of blatant plagiarism "unprecedented and beyond my endurance," seeking the immediate suspension of the broadcast of the TV series.

Yu denied the claim, saying he was a fan of Chiung Yao with no intention of angering her.

On April 28, a team led by Wang Jun from Beijing-based Yingke Law Firm filed a plagiarism lawsuit against Yu.

On April 17, novelist Meiyuzhe claimed that Palace 3: The Lost Daughter not only plagiarized Chiung Yao's work but also stole an important part from her novel The Imperial Enterprise.

She claimed that it was not the first time Yu Zheng plagiarized from her novels.

On July 14, Yu Zheng's objections to the jurisdiction of the Chiung Yao lawsuit were denied by Beijing Third Intermediate People's Court.

On December 25, 2014, the court ruled in Chiung Yao's favor, ordering 4 companies to stop distributing and broadcasting The Palace: The Lost Daughter, also demanding Yu Zheng to publicly apologize, and pay Chiung Yao ¥5 million (around $800,000).

China Radio International called it a "landmark ruling".

On December 5, Beijing Third Intermediate People's Court convened the case.

Wang Hailin, executive director of Chinese Television Series Screenwriter Association, testified as expert witness for Chiung Yao's camp.

On December 12, 109 Chinese screenwriters published a joint statement supporting Chiung Yao's lawsuit against Yu Zheng.

A day later, an additional 30 Chinese screenwriters made their support of Chiung Yao known.