Copyright Licensing and Infringement Risks in Adaptations of Online Literature into Micro-Short Dramas—Focusing on the Transmission of Risks Arising from Defects in the Rights to the Underlying Work

Abstract

The convergence of online literature and micro-short dramas has brought the exploitation of works into a stage characterized by a faster pace, a larger number of participating entities, and a longer dissemination chain. In practice, copyright risks do not arise only from pirated dissemination after a micro-short drama is released; hidden risks may already exist before a project is initiated. The underlying work may be subject to disputes over originality, the licensing party may not have acquired complete rights, the contract may fail to distinguish among different media, territories, and terms, and the adapted screenplay may introduce new infringing content during secondary creation. Because micro-short dramas have short production cycles and spread rapidly, once defects in upstream rights enter the production and distribution process, they often develop into compound risks, including removal from platforms, cessation of dissemination, compensation for losses, and contractual recourse. Starting from the chain of rights among the underlying online literary work, the adapted screenplay, the micro-short drama, and the dissemination platform, this article analyzes defects in the rights to the underlying work, unclear scopes of authorization, new infringements introduced during adaptation, pirated dissemination, and the boundaries of platform liability. It further proposes establishing copyright due diligence before project initiation, refining authorization schedules, improving warranty clauses concerning defects in rights, strengthening evidence preservation, and promoting coordinated platform governance. The transmission effect is intensified by batch-oriented production, platform-driven distribution, and paid traffic acquisition: an upstream defect can move from the literary-IP layer to completed episodes, monetized dissemination, and platform complaints within a matter of days.