Re: [epub] Copying ideas

[Karen Hertzberg <novelshop@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

From: Karen Hertzberg <novelshop@ameritech.net>

"M. Evans" wrote:

> This is about integrity.  Plain, simple integrity.
>
> Some people have so little understanding about what makes one a person who
> is respected, and well thought of that they actually believe that this kind
> of thievery will cause to be imbued upon them the same high regard as on
> the originator.
>
> Giving credit to an originator announces one's own integrity, and signals
> self-esteem, self-confidence, and a desire to help others on one's part.
>
> Everybody doesn't have those qualities, nor do they realize that whatever
> they hope to gain moves further away from them as they practice deceit.  In
> the end, the proof is in the pudding.

You are right on-target with this assessment, Mary. I couldn't have said it
better.

I run a growing community for writers, and I've worked hard to put together
critique forums for my members that provide a supportive, educational
environment, as well as the feedback writers so desperately seek. One day, I
received a note in my email box from a confused list subscriber. She wanted to
know if the email she had received about a writing contest originated from my
community.

It hadn't. In fact, the person who sent the unsolicited email had not only
"borrowed" the names and email addresses of my list members, she had blatantly
STOLEN my workshop guidelines to use as the "rules" for her contest. It turns
out this person had subscribed to my list in order to take my members' names
and promote her own writing contest--one with a $15 entry fee. Not only did she
use my list for personal gain, she stole my materials and didn't so much as
credit me as the originator. To make matters worse, I wrote her and she angrily
DENIED having used my materials and claimed her lousy little website used them
FIRST! (And I don't refer to borrowing "ideas" here, I refer to blatant
plagiarism.)

In the end, I managed to get her kicked off ONElist for spamming, but Tripod
refused to remove her site because by the time they checked out my copyright
infringement claim, she had changed the wording of her "rules" JUST enough to
squeak by.

Thanks for letting me vent! I guess I'm still fuming a bit...

Karen Hertzberg
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