[epub] Re: WorldWide Lists

[Mickie Kennedy <mkennedy@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

>Anne Holland wrote:
>
>>  He's a frequent poster to this list, so I trust him.
>>  But there his name was large as life in a piece of
>  > spam from WorldWide Lists giving a testimonial to how
>>  great they are.
>
>I've recently had WorldWide Lists recommended as a great
>place to purchase subscribers... are they indeed spamming
>people to get those names? Anyone else have experience with
>this?
>

Erik Hopkins, who runs WorldWide Lists, actually stole much
of my content back in January of 2000 -- back when he had
his own Poem-a-Day feature. Poems translated by friends who
gave me copyright permission lifted completely (including
some of my own work) and used in Erik's newsletter.

When confronted, he wrote: "If an author objects to my
re-distribution of his/her content, then a quick email to my
attention might have rectified this situation at once. I
have not attempted to do a disservice to anyone,
particularly my peers in the ezine publication business, but
rather to re-distribute content I consider fit and
entertaining to those subscribers who request such
mailings."

That is not how copyright works.  These are big, well-known
poets. Some are dead but I still have to go through estate
for copyright permission to use poems.  Erik simply cut and
pasted (and used our translations as translator also
triggers a copyright on his or her work).

He wrote back:

"You must be kidding... whether you "chose the poems, typed
the poems in, compiled them..." has no bearing on whether
others can use the same material[s]. The fact is, these
poems and thousands just like them are available in
hardcover print, newspapers, e-publications, etc. and are
published and re-published time and time again with
reference to the author. You did not author these
publications, Mickie.

Steal? What of yours did I steal? Do you think I worry
whether or not another ezine publisher copies and pastes a
poem, or joke, or other material from our newsletters and
re-publishes them? Absolutely not. I didn't create the
material. You didn't create the material. Robert Frost and
other poets, etc. created the original works and we are
merely a means of distribution to folks who share an
interest in poetry."

Well, he stole my own copyrighted material: translations of
poetry (and yes, I got copyright permission to even publish
translations from original poet).  He stole translations
that friends had conducted. Theft is theft.

He finally backed down after I pursued this -- but his
attitude is exactly what is wrong with Internet publishing:
steal content and remove only when original author
complains.

Gee, and I've been doing it the hard way by asking for
permission from poet, publisher, and/or estate.  I think
Erik Hopkins represents everything that is wrong with the
ezine industry and have always advised friends and other
ezine publishers that no matter how bad you need
subscribers, doing business with someone like this is bad
business.  Period.

My two cents,

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Mickie Kennedy                       mailto:mkennedy@daytips.com
DayTips.com                             <http://www.daytips.com>
Tel: (410) 732-0871          "Give your e-mail a daily checkup!"
-----------------------------------------------------------------

PS: If anyone is looking to purchase double opt-in subscribers,
I am getting out of the ezine business (having sold my largest
newsletters).  


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