Do you believe it's par course to have your work stolen when people perceive you

1. 75

   CraftytotheCoreposted 10 years ago

   Do you believe it's par course to have your work stolen when people perceive you as a good writer?
   
   I believe in this lifetime, there are people who desire to become successful and get on the fast tract of life by stealing from others.  Taking achievements others have earned through hard work and labeling it their own.  I've seen many good book writers go against copyright thieves.  Would it make you angry or would it make you feel like you have become successful, that someone took notice of your work and thought it could gain them achievement?

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2. 86

   billybucposted 10 years ago

   I think this happens way too often online with articles. There is no way to keep track of it once your article goes online.  As for books....it would make me quite angry and I'd fight it like crazy.  I don't see the flattery angle...that's like saying you are flattered because a thief broke into your home and stole your nice furniture because you have good taste.

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   1. 75

      CraftytotheCoreposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I'm trying to make sense of it.  I found out that someone stole my Hub of the Day.  I guess I'm trying not to be angry.  This happened before when someone stole a greeting card design and published it for $$ in a magazine!

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3. 68

   Rod Marsdenposted 10 years ago

   If someone decides to use a small portion of my work and gives me due credit for what they use then that is okay. Some reviews do contain a portion of the author's work and that is fine. The hubs I have written if quoted in other work and due credit to me given...well that's fine too. Yes it would make me angry if there was out and out theft of my work. The last hub I wrote I took about 12 hours of research to complete and I did reveal sources of information. I also mentioned my own personal connections with the subject matter.

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   1. 75

      CraftytotheCoreposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Someone stole my top hub which was hub of the day.  They posted it word for word on blogger and used my photos, never citing any credit to me.

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      Rod Marsdenposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      That is just plain wrong.

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      Writer Chuckposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Read the question. A thief is a thief period. If he or she seeks your permission and you give it that's different.

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   4. 68

      Rod Marsdenposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Someone who steals from you is a thief. Someone who promotes you and your work is something else.

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      CraftytotheCoreposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Writer Chuck!  Someone took my hub of the day from hubpages and posted it on blogger.  Someone else kindly found it and filed a complaint after noticing one of theirs was stolen as well.

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4. 71

   Radical Rogposted 10 years ago

   There are two types of people who steal articles etc. Those that can't write as well and those that do it for greed. Yes you have automatic copyright, the key is being able to prove it.
   The old way was to print your manuscript or whatever, have it sealed signed and dated at a post office, then post to self. Put this sealed DATED copy away only to be opened under legal observation if required.
   The modern way is to send yourself an e-mail of whatever it is. This e-mail is dated. Save on a disc or memory stick for if required.
   Of course going to law is a pain and expensive, but if you contact a business that has stolen, for example, a postcard design and tell them you can prove it's your work, they sometimes pay up just to avoid the hassle. If someone steals a hub or article and posts it somewhere else, call them a thief in the comments box. You need not fear them suing you if you can prove the date you wrote it is before the date they claimed to write it. Or contact the administration.
   Copyright is automatic. As soon as you write something you are covered, but the key to winning any such dispute is having the ability to prove that you own that copyright.

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      CraftytotheCoreposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you!  This is someone on blogger and apparently stole a bunch of our articles.  Someone filed a complaint against them in google.  It really upsets me that they picked off my number 1 hub.

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      RGNestleposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      This is a quote directly from the official US Government Copyright Office page on the subject: "The practice of sending a copy of your own work to yourself... is not a substitute for registration." You can still use blog post dates to your benefit.

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      CraftytotheCoreposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you RG! Good to know!

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      RGNestleposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-general.html#what
      has your answers.

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   5. 71

      Radical Rogposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      RGNestle, Agree this is not a substitute for official registration, though for smaller articles and blogs this can sometimes seem a time consuming hassle. The ability to prove copyright is key. It depends on how you value your work.

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   6. 79

      RGNestleposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, small posts can be more troublesome. For any item stolen posts, file a copyright immediately, spend the registration $$, and then report the thief to the FBI. Info link here: http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-infringement.html

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5. 59

   Writer Chuckposted 10 years ago

   Stealing is stealing. If someone would take your work claiming it to be theirs where would they draw the line of honesty? How could you ever trust them again?
   If they were close to me and still disrespected me by their plagiarism I wouldn't be able to trust them.

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   1. 75

      CraftytotheCoreposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I believe this person "followed" me for 2 hours.  I have the email sent by HP.  He was banned.  Then my hub of the day was placed on a new account on Blogger.  You are right.  Stealing is stealing!

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6. 79

   RGNestleposted 10 years ago

   Theft of literary works is definitely NOT to be expected not matter how good the work is.
   
   It should make everyone angry when their work is stolen!
   
   Just because you have become a good writer doesn't mean that people would, or should, start stealing your work and claiming it as their own. That would be like saying it's normal for people to start breaking into your fancy new home to live there just because you got the new fancy new home and they thought it was better than their own.
   
   A wise writer would get a lawyer immediately if someone steals their work since those people are common criminals. It is important to make sure people know your work is your work.
   
   Some blog and hub-type theft can be cleared up without lawyers, but all theft should be dealt with immediately! If you don't go after every thief, then the law may deny your right to go after any of them. You can't pick and choose who you challenge (sue) for copyright infringement. It's all or none. That's why Bill Watterson, of Calvin and Hobbes fame, doesn't stop anyone from using his characters for whatever they wish. He didn't want to have to deal with all the lawyers and lawsuits.
   
   Me? I'd sue every Tom, Dick, and Harry into the ground for stealing my property if I had the resources!

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   1. 75

      CraftytotheCoreposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I hear every word you are saying here!  I can file my own lawsuit if need be.  What I hear is that someone did file a complaint to Google on my behalf and others who were also stolen from.  It was a blog that was just created to steal hubs.

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7. 93

   SylviaSkyposted 7 years ago

   Yes. And you shake it off and go on to write even better stuff, because you're infinitely creative, while other folks have to stoop to stealing.

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