EDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICE
Statement Concerning Copyright Violations
by New Oriental School and Various Websites
Educational Testing Service (ETS) understands that recent media coverage
concerning its lawsuit against New Oriental School, for illegal use of ETS's
GRE and TOEFL examination materials, has created confusion as to the
facts of the situation. These reports have raised anxiety among Chinese
students seeking admission to US-based universities. As a result, ETS feels
that it is important to provide Chinese students and the general public the
facts of the case.
Letter to the US-based Universities
The GRE and TOEFL Boards are comprised of representatives from leading
US universities and colleges who serve to ensure the fairness and integrity
of the admissions process. The Boards are specifically intended to analyze
and take action to safeguard the admissions process, independent of ETS.
The GRE and TOEFL Boards became aware of the illegal distribution of
copyright materials and student access to undisclosed test questions. The
GRE Board also noted a sharp increase in the GRE examination scores of
Chinese students.
In an effort to safeguard the fairness and integrity of the admissions
process, the GRE and TOEFL Boards decided to share their findings with
US-based universities and officials responsible for research institute
entrance examinations through a letter. The boards took this action
because they felt the situation warranted attention in order to assure
equity for student applicants from all around the world. The letter
specifically called upon universities not to impeach the test scores of any
individual based on this information. It encourages universities to consider
all elements of an applicant's file, not just their GRE test score in the
admissions process.
Technical Problems Associated With the Computerized Testing
ETS does not believe that the sharp increase in the Chinese student test
scores is due to implementation of the computer testing system. The
computer testing system has been administered worldwide and a
significant increase in scores has only occurred among examinations from
China.
Illegal Dissemination of ETS Test Materials Through the Internet & Other
Channels
ETS had legally authorized New Oriental School to use its TOEFL exam
materials; however, ETS has learned that New Oriental School violated this
agreement. For this reason, ETS has deferred any decision regarding
authorization of New Oriental School to use its GRE exam materials.
Without our permission, New Oriental School has used, copied and sold
ETS's copyrighted GRE exam materials.
In addition, ETS has been made aware of a number of educational Web
sites that illegally publish undisclosed TOEFL, GRE and GMAT exam
questions and answers, providing some students with an unfair advantage.
This practice puts students who have prepared for their exams without
using these pirated materials, both in China and elsewhere, at an unfair
disadvantage in the admission process. ETS requests that these Web sites
remove the exam materials from their sites immediately.
Copyright Infringement Lawsuit
ETS initiated legal proceedings in an effort to protect its copyrights on its
exam materials, which is also essential to the integrity of the examination
system and the university admissions process. In no way is the lawsuit
intended to penalize Chinese students but instead is an effort to protect
them.
Nor is this an attack targeted against New Oriental School or the web
sites. It is only the engagement of rule of law to stop copyright infringement
and piracy. ETS has always attached great importance to the protection of
copyrights and the interests of copyright owners. As a result, ETS has
decided to address this copyright infringement problem through legal
channels.
We believe that by resolving this issue in a timely and judicious manner we
will be able to protect the reputation of ETS and the students who depend
on the test results for university admissions. ETS will try to bring this to a
conclusion as soon as possible.
As part of China's further economic development, the government has
promulgated new policies, regulations and laws to strengthen intellectual
property rights. ETS applauds these efforts and will continue to protect
itself and promote the rule of law, working cooperatively with the
government.
ETS's Commitment to the Chinese Educational System
ETS has always been committed to working with China's educational
system through open communications and cooperation. ETS also
continuously seeks to better meet the needs of all students, in China and
elsewhere, in order to provide a useful, professional and well structured
testing program in China. ETS has always been dedicated to providing
students with effective test preparation materials and will continuously
improve these services for student, in China and around the world. As part
of this commitment, ETS is interested in hearing from test preparation
schools in China to explore the authorized use of our test preparation
materials.
ETS has invested tremendous resources to offer free exam materials on the
Internet for students all over the world, and beginning this September, will
provide Powerprepa (a computer testing preparation software) to all
students free of charge.
ETS would also like to express its sincere thanks to those individuals and
organizations that have supported its operations in China for many years.
ETS looks forward to your continued support and understanding.
ETS has entrusted APCO China as its public relations agency in China. For
inquiries, please contact:
Robert Wang
Tel: (86) 10 6505-5127 Fax:(86) 10 6505-5257
E-Mail: rwang@apcochina.com
ETS就新东方学校和个别考试网站试题侵权事件的声明
美国教育考试中心(Educational Testing Service)注意到，近一段时间内，
围绕ETS就北京新东方学校未经授权非法使用美国教育考试中心GRE和
TOEFL考试试题资料一事，各种媒体给予了大量的报道，引起了中国社
会各阶层的广泛关注。特别是在中国国内许多准备考试赴美留学的广
大考生之中，引起了极大的波动和各种针对ETS的猜测。有鉴于此，ETS
感到十分有必要就此事件向一直关注事态发展的广大中国考生以及中
国各界人士作出如下澄清与声明：
一、有关"ETS致全美各大学的信函"
发给全美各大学及研究所入学负责人的信函实际上是由GRE与托福两
个董事会签署的。这两个部门代表着美国众多知名大学和学院。在此
以前，他们已经注意到来自中国考生异常升高的GRE考试成绩，其中，
我们亦遗憾的发现一些中国考生通过以不真实的考试成绩达到入学目
的。事实上，GRE董事会提醒ETS 对来自中国的考试成绩多加审慎，正
是在这个阶段，一些中国考生的GRE考试成绩极大的攀升。结合ETS对
新东方学校的诉讼以及我们掌握的该学校向社会公开出售未经授权的
全部考题的有关情况，导致上述两个董事会发函提醒他们所属院校注
意中国考生成绩。他们感到这种情况相当紧迫。如果院校不能够依赖
考试成绩的有效性的话，那么整个入学过程将受到极大的威胁，因
此，无论从任何角度看，该信函均不存在对中国考生的任何歧视。
二、有关"机考中存在的技术问题"
有关新东方学校所声称由于采用机考才导致中国考生考试分数大增
的说法，我们认为这与实行计算机考试没有任何关联。GRE机考已在世
界范围内广泛实行，除中国考区外，我们没有发现有任何国家或地区
的考试分数激增的现象。
三、 有关非法通过网上及其他渠道传播ETS试题
ETS 曾经授权新东方学校在课堂上使用公开的二十套托福考试试题，
但并不包括GRE资料和未公开的托福考试试题。遗憾的是，新东方学校
一直非法盗用、复制并销售ETS版权所属的试题资料，他们甚至滥用我
们授权该校使用的托福考题。同时，我们也注意到，有相当数量的教
育、考试辅导网站未经ETS 允许，非法在网上登载大量受版权保护的托
福、GRE、GMAT等全真考试试题及答案，因特网为这些绝密考题的流传
无疑提供了极大的便利。ETS认为这些行为极大地破坏了考试的严肃
性、科学性和权威性，因而，对广大积极正当备考的考生来讲，也是
极不公平的。ETS郑重要求这些单位立刻采取措施停止他们的侵权行
为。
四、有关试题侵权法律诉讼
作为一个以提供知识产品为其核心服务的机构，ETS历来极为重视知
识产权的保护。ETS之所以决定采取法律手段来解决此事就是充分地考
虑到以上因素。我们所采取的诉讼行动针对的不是新东方学校或这些
网站，而是其侵权事实的本身。只有及时、合理、妥善解决此侵权事
件，才能够有效地 捍卫教育考试的尊严和权威性，最终，使考试教育
服务于广大考生的切身利益和实际需要。
ETS将谋求在中国现行司法框架下，通过包括诉讼在内的法律手段，
制止新东方学校以及相关网站的侵权行为。
五、有关知识产权保护
随着中国加入世界贸易组织 (WTO)步伐的加快，我们欣喜地注意到中
国政府积极地采取了行政、司法手段，加强知识产权的保护力度，出
台了相关的政策和法规，切实地维护了包括众多中外企业的合法权
益。ETS对此十分赞赏，并将积极支持中国知识产权保护的各项举措。
我们历来重视与中国相关政府和司法机构就知识产权保护加强沟通与
合作。
六、有关ETS对中国教育界的承诺
ETS将致力于开展与中国教育界的合作，广泛进行形式多样的交流与
合作。同时ETS将更深入地了解广大中国考生需求的实际，以利我们更
好地为广大中国学子提供细致、周到、专业的教育考试服务。如果有
任何中国考试培训机构愿意就使用ETS 授权试题与我们联系的话，我们
将十分欢迎。ETS投入大量精力向全球范围的考生提供免费的网上GRE
完整试题和答案，同时，由ETS开发的GRE机考复习软件-Powerprep a，
将在今年九月免费提供给考生。ETS一直积极地为广大中国考生提供大
量的考试培训教材，今后，也将更加一如既往地为他们提供最佳的专
业服务，这也是ETS所奉行的专业标准。
在此，ETS谨向长期以来支持和关心我们教育考试事业的中国各界人
士，致以诚挚的谢意，ETS希望继续得到你们一如既往的支持与理解。
ETS已全权委托安可顾问有限公司为其公关代理，如有垂询，请联
络：
王辉先生，王莉女士
电话：(86) 10 6505-5127 传真：(86) 10 6505-5257
电子邮件：rwang@apcochina.com
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