Arrr, Another Pirate - Page 3

crich70 · 02-07-2014, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmw

Hmmm ... it's an interesting problem. If you look at the way we sign up to Smashwords and Amazon etc., there's not a lot of verification going on that I'm aware of. Although in those cases they are acting as distributors, the submitter still bears the full responsibility for what they submit.

In the offending website situation, I believe, the administrator should have attempted contact with the author using details available NOT obtained from the unsolicited contact. eg: Follow the links from the Smashwords page etc. to the website or Facebook page and send a message from there. This is pretty similar to the advice to type URLs for your bank and PayPal etc. rather than clicking on links in emails. Don't trust what you didn't solicit, verify it independently.

Good point. There is email and/or twitter, facebook, etc. out there so it's not as if people are cut off from contacting others. I'd think most authors would be glad someone is making the effort to verify that they were the one who had contacted the other person's site rather than just take it at face value.

Ken.Hagdal · 02-07-2014, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmw

Hmmm ... it's an interesting problem. If you look at the way we sign up to Smashwords and Amazon etc., there's not a lot of verification going on that I'm aware of. Although in those cases they are acting as distributors, the submitter still bears the full responsibility for what they submit.

Amazon is notorious for their laissez-faire policy but Smashwords runs submissions through human verification for sure.

Quote:

Who cannot publish on Smashwords?

Do not attempt to publish public domain works, books that advocate hate speech/racism/homophobia, books that advocate illegal activities, or books in which the content includes word-for-word scrapes from Wikipedia or other public domain or content farm sources. Do not upload content or books that appear elsewhere on the Internet authored by people other than yourself or by other pen names. If we do a query on Google of a random text strings in your book (and yes, we do this to test the originality of your work), and we discover the same content under other author names, or associated with private label article (also called "Private Label Rights or PLR") or ebook licensing systems, your account will be deleted without warning and all earnings will be forfeited, per the Terms of Service. We have a zero tolerance policy for plagiarism, copyright infringement, PLR.

VydorScope · 02-07-2014, 06:39 PM

Why not ask them what they want for proof? You are you, you can prove you are, and you may even want to consider letting the audio stand. The comments were favorable towards you writing. Could be good marketing. Just at thought...

cromag · 02-07-2014, 08:10 PM

It looks like they'll accept the Smashwords screenprint as evidence that I'm me. At this point I've told them I'd be interested in negotiating for the return of the audio -- I actually think they did a good job on it.

arjaybe · 02-07-2014, 08:53 PM

And you should be able to sell the audio, too, right?-)

GA Russell · 02-08-2014, 01:46 AM

Cromag, I didn't know that you're a published author! Congratulations!

Something isn't clear to me. Did the pirates make clear what your name and the name of the work are?

crich70 · 02-08-2014, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GA Russell

Cromag, I didn't know that you're a published author! Congratulations!

Something isn't clear to me. Did the pirates make clear what your name and the name of the work are?

His name (as I recall) was on the story and the story title was unchanged as well, but the issue was more (I think) that it was done without getting permission from the actual author (cromag). Apparently someone misrepresented themselves as him and the story was posted as an audio file without him being aware of it.

cromag · 02-08-2014, 03:10 AM

Yep, crich70 summed it up. The audio was actually very professionally produced and I was properly credited, except for the payment.

Steven Lake · 02-20-2014, 12:24 AM

I actually feel honored to be pirated. As one wise man once told me, "If you're not worth pirating, you're also not worth reading." So I look at it this way. The more someone pirates my works, the more complimented I feel. Especially if someone did to me what they did to the OP. I mean, that takes effort and dedication to do things like that. So if they were willing to spend their precious time to create that audiobook, I'd personally be flattered. So you lose a little money because of the pirate. So what? A true author isn't in this to make money. They're in it for the fun, and to entertain people along the way. Because if you're in it for the fame and money, you're in it for all the wrong reasons.

cromag · 02-20-2014, 12:51 AM

Yeah, I'm talking with them now about putting it up properly. I may go the "free" route since several friends and relatives were impressed by it (not to mention the numbers of "thumbs up" it got at YouTube). I'll be sacrificing some potential sales, but it may pay off if it drives potential readers to check out other titles -- as a piddly little Indie I haven't found too many effective (and inoffensive) ways to spread the word about my work.

cromag · 02-22-2014, 12:39 AM

Okay, all is resolved. The audio is back up -- this time, authorized by the actual author.

gmw · 02-22-2014, 01:11 AM

Good news, cromag. I hope you see some benefit from it, even if it is indirectly.

VydorScope · 02-22-2014, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cromag

Okay, all is resolved. The audio is back up -- this time, authorized by the actual author.

Glad to hear, I might have to give it a listen later this week.

arjaybe · 02-22-2014, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cromag

Okay, all is resolved. The audio is back up -- this time, authorized by the actual author.

Congratulations. Keep us updated. I know I want to see what happens.

rjb

Ken.Hagdal · 02-22-2014, 04:49 PM

It's great to know everything fell back into place.

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02-07-2014, 06:39 PM	#33
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	Why not ask them what they want for proof? You are you, you can prove you are, and you may even want to consider letting the audio stand. The comments were favorable towards you writing. Could be good marketing. Just at thought...

02-07-2014, 08:10 PM	#34
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 26,767 Karma: 459765791 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	It looks like they'll accept the Smashwords screenprint as evidence that I'm me. At this point I've told them I'd be interested in negotiating for the return of the audio -- I actually think they did a good job on it.

02-07-2014, 08:53 PM	#35
arjaybe Wizard Posts: 1,075 Karma: 12500000 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Okanagan Device: Sony PRS-650, Kobo Clara	And you should be able to sell the audio, too, right?-)

02-08-2014, 01:46 AM	#36
GA Russell Ticats/Als, Riders/Lions Posts: 7,717 Karma: 31487351 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Device: Paperwhite, Kindles 10 & 4 and jetBook Lite	Cromag, I didn't know that you're a published author! Congratulations! Something isn't clear to me. Did the pirates make clear what your name and the name of the work are?

02-08-2014, 03:10 AM	#38
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 26,767 Karma: 459765791 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	Yep, crich70 summed it up. The audio was actually very professionally produced and I was properly credited, except for the payment.

02-20-2014, 12:24 AM	#39
Steven Lake Sci-Fi Author Posts: 1,158 Karma: 14743509 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Michigan Device: PC (Calibre)	I actually feel honored to be pirated. As one wise man once told me, "If you're not worth pirating, you're also not worth reading." So I look at it this way. The more someone pirates my works, the more complimented I feel. Especially if someone did to me what they did to the OP. I mean, that takes effort and dedication to do things like that. So if they were willing to spend their precious time to create that audiobook, I'd personally be flattered. So you lose a little money because of the pirate. So what? A true author isn't in this to make money. They're in it for the fun, and to entertain people along the way. Because if you're in it for the fame and money, you're in it for all the wrong reasons.

02-20-2014, 12:51 AM	#40
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 26,767 Karma: 459765791 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	Yeah, I'm talking with them now about putting it up properly. I may go the "free" route since several friends and relatives were impressed by it (not to mention the numbers of "thumbs up" it got at YouTube). I'll be sacrificing some potential sales, but it may pay off if it drives potential readers to check out other titles -- as a piddly little Indie I haven't found too many effective (and inoffensive) ways to spread the word about my work.

02-22-2014, 12:39 AM	#41
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 26,767 Karma: 459765791 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	Okay, all is resolved. The audio is back up -- this time, authorized by the actual author.

02-22-2014, 01:11 AM	#42
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,818 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	Good news, cromag. I hope you see some benefit from it, even if it is indirectly.

02-22-2014, 04:49 PM	#45
Ken.Hagdal Connoisseur Posts: 57 Karma: 260130 Join Date: Aug 2013 Device: Kindle	It's great to know everything fell back into place.