Suite 101: Alert! PLEASE READ!

1. 65

   MPChrisposted 13 years ago

   Okay, I don't put these warnings out lightly. I honestly believe in the advertising sharing revenue model, so this has nothing to do with that.
   
   Rather, to promote one of my Hubs, I went to Suite 101, and wrote a nice, detailed article on the M1 Garand, complete with a nice picture. Their editorial process is far more in-depth, and my article got tied up because my sources were mostly wikipedia.
   
   The editor wanted desperately for me to change a few things here and there, and add in a 'source' paragraph. It seemed excessive for article writing policy, but sure enough, it was in their handbook.
   
   I relented, and decided to pull the article. Keep in mind, at this point, only three people have seen my article. Myself. My Father (who saw a print copy). The Editor.
   
   I went to Go Articles to publish it, figuring I could still get some use from it. They said I couldn't, and that it was too close to something on their list.
   
   I thought it had to do with the categories.
   
   Then I searched, and found this:
   
   http://goarticles.com/article/M1-with-t … s/4404887/
   
   My freakin' article. My First Serial Rights stolen from me from an editor-thief. No amount of education can undo the fact that she is a thief.
   
   So I've had enough. I will not post with Suite101 until this has been righted. Obviously they aren't taking their editor positions seriously enough!
   
   I call for a boycott and denouncement of Suite101, until this has been made right. No one should work for the relatively small amounts we do, and risk getting ripped off.
   
   I say we form an Online Content Writer's Guild, or something there-in equivalent. If you think I'm whining too much, just think if it was you, this cool new article that had your research, your opinion, and your deductions. You try to publish it but cant. Only to find that the right the 'first release' of your content has been taken away!

   replyreport
   1. 60

      HattieMattieMaeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Oh wow that is amazing and disasterous. That is just B.S. Yeah that is why it's hard to decide whether to post stuff, because we never know if someone will plagerize or steal our stuff.  Thanks for the warning!

      replyreport
   2. 65

      MPChrisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      And for those of you in the know, the right to First Serial Release, is a big thing. My FSL has been taken away permanently by this thief. Sure, it may have been a tiny article for marketing purposes, but it could also have been a preface to my book.
      
      It could have been my cherished short story.
      
      It could have been my poetry or my art.
      
      If anyone out there, has some legal training. Please give me some idea as to recourse, as well as forming this 'OCWG'.  There needs to be a lobby for all writers who work online. We expose ourselves to unneccessary risk by not uniting, and we are already in a very risky environment.

      replyreport
   3. 79

      Uninvited Writerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I don't believe Suite101 stole it, someone else probably did and copied it while it was up.

      replyreport
      1. 0

         EmpressFelicityposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         But how could they have done that, if only three people (the OP, the OP's dad and the Suite 101 editor) had seen the article?

         replyreport
         1. 79

            Uninvited Writerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Articles get published right away, before the editor even looks at them. If it's not the first article. The OP said he pulled the article to fix it.

            replyreport
            1. 0

               EmpressFelicityposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Oh right, got you.

               replyreport
2. 72

   thranaxposted 13 years ago

   Why not write a PR about your experiences with the company, proving what happened. Promote that through your facebook, twitter, digg it, add it to stumbleupon the works. Also maybe the BBB report. The more truth it holds, and because its something that offends most "artists and writers" im sure something will happen. You will get an apology from the site, that editor might be removed, etc etc.
   
   You got the writing skills, she dont
   
   Because their is a very slim chance of proving you wrote it first (only your father as a witness) and because it has no real value (it wasnt commissioned, for sale, paid for etc) suing the editor wont amount to nothing.
   
   ~thranax~

   replyreport
   1. 65

      MPChrisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      The article had value. Thats like saying that a 9000 word short story, which I wrote an intended for sale, which I paid postage to send to a short story magazine, but doesn't get accepted. Then...ends up published in another under someone else's name...
      
      It does count for something. There should be a minimum amount of fiduciary responsibility for any act of plagiarism, to deter even these low level happenings.

      replyreport
3. 60

   HattieMattieMaeposted 13 years ago

   Well think he was just trying to prevent others from getting there work stolen. But very good suggestions Thranax very much so!

   replyreport
   1. 65

      MPChrisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I might start a media campaign against suite 101. It still has me bristled.

      replyreport
4. 60

   ggendaposted 13 years ago

   Wow, I am so sorry to hear that happened to you! Thank you for posting the warning. I just joined HubPages less than a month ago, but Suite 101 was one of the other sites I was considering writing for.
   
   I hope that gets resolved!

   replyreport
   1. 65

      MPChrisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Their department for flags and issues returned an automated reply stating they no longer accept email at that address. The only other editor I have told me 'check my submission guidelines', and that would resolve the entire issue for me.
      
      No amount of non-compliance with their submission guidelines should dictate that my work be stolen. This article is still up, earning some other person valuable page rank or clicks, yet the core of my article is gone.
      
      I will be starting a campaign against Suite 101.

      replyreport
5. 60

   HattieMattieMaeposted 13 years ago

   Understandable!

   replyreport
6. 71

   sunforgedposted 13 years ago

   I would call them
   
   People and site admins often think they can hide from real word repercussions. Content thieves get 3am phone calls - when I track them down.
   
   ads@suite101.com  is the advertising email, its the one that is most likely to get a quick response.. send a nice email about how you want to make a large media buy but need to speak with a human.
   
   or:
   
   Start at the top:
   
   Berger, Peter
         dns@suite101.com
         350-1122 Mainland St.
         Vancouver, BC V6B 5L1
         CA
         Phone: 604-682-1402
         Fax: 604-682-3277

   replyreport
   1. 71

      sunforgedposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      thats peters cell phone number.. I just checked

      replyreport
      1. 62

         lakeerieartistsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I completely agree with Sunforged.  Love to hear the result.

         replyreport
7. 87

   IzzyMposted 13 years ago

   This is shocking! I have no idea what I would do in your position.
   Contacting the management might resolve the issue as they will have staff emails etc to say who sent what when, I imagine, unless editors use private emails?
   The site must have a record of your original submission. If they want to keep their integrity they are going to have to get shot of thieving editors. How many others has she done this to?

   replyreport
8. 0

   ryankettposted 13 years ago

   When you call him, show him this thread.
   
   I for one could get this info out to a few thousand active online writers within an hour.
   
   Maybe he will decide that a change of editors is preferred to substantial bad publicity.
   
   Especially if you were to start writing articles with 'Suite 101 scam' etc.
   
   Although the threat of legal action will probably be sufficient.

   replyreport
9. 62

   Daniel Carterposted 13 years ago

   Any proof you have that will document your work prior to her theft is important. Any draft files on your hard drive with an earlier date stamp will help.
   
   I agree, calling is the way to go.
   
   And I think social media has immense potential power in righting wrongs. Look at Egypt. Any place you can write a review about your experience with the site, the editor, etc., will also be an alarm the people will want to hear. No one wants to be scammed.

   replyreport
10. 0

    EmpressFelicityposted 13 years ago

    Definitely phone them, at an unsociable time.
    
    Now's the time also to set up your own site - I think the domain www. suite101isascam.com is available

    replyreport
    1. 71

       sunforgedposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       no.
       
       That would be an appropriate action if the thiefs number was available, but the buyterracottawarriors website that the stolen article is pointed to (registrant phinenumber = +86.862584798136) is not even necessarily the editors site as the editor may simply have some sort of backlink service on the side.
       
       I this situation, the OP has yet to make contact with suite101 to register his grievance in a legitimate matter. I was just giving the quickest means to get that started.
       
       3am phone calls are for the scum with websites featuring hundreds of scraped articles who would simply ignore an email and dont have any advertising that would react to a DMCA.

       replyreport
       1. 0

          EmpressFelicityposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          OK, fair comment!

          replyreport
11. 71

    sunforgedposted 13 years ago

    I doubt this is necessary, but should you call the owner, of course he will have no knowledge of the action and will not immediately assume you are telling the truth. Stay calm so you dont come off as a crackpot.
    
    The only resolution you can really expect is a promise that the editor will be removed. Which is hardly something you can confirm.
    
    Spending time on a smear campaign is not profitable for yourself, using up to much productive time on revenge type activities, is akin to losing twice in my book. The actions of one editor hardly exemplifies an entire organization.

    replyreport