Composer sues Crouching Tiger

Crouching Tiger won the Oscar for best score

A Chinese composer is taking legal action after his work was allegedly used in the Oscar-winning film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon without permission.

Ning Yong said he was not asked for authorisation for his piece to be included but sent $400 (£278) instead, which he claims is a breach of copyright.

The assistant professor at Southern China Normal University's music conservatory is now preparing a case against Tan Dun, who won the best original score Oscar.

The case relates to Ning's score Camel Bell in Silk Route, which he wrote as a university project in 1982.

Crouching Tiger is the most successful foreign language film ever

The composer alleges he was sent two cheques for $200 (£139) each through Hong Kong's Hang Seng bank as payment.

Ning told China's Sun newspaper: "I'm happy that a Chinese film could win a world award, but if they use my work, they should at least inform me first, instead of suddenly sending me a cheque without explaining.

'No respect'

"It is obviously showing no respect to music scholars in the mainland, and my students also wanted me to speak out to seek clarification."

Tan has declined to comment on the case.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was directed by Taiwan-born Ang Lee and is a Mandarin-language martial arts fantasy.

The film won four Academy awards earlier this year - for best foreign language film, best art direction, best cinematography and best original score.

It was nominated in a record-breaking 10 categories and took more than $100m (£69.9m) at the American box office - the biggest ever success for a foreign language film.