Protecting one of my author's copyrights...

[Lyn]

Okay, someone I don't know copied and pasted an entire story that appeared a few months ago at ResAliens into a message at a forum called Monolith. Here's the link: http://www.creepypasta.com/forums/vi...hp?f=3&t=12825 - Even though it credits the author and links to my zine, I feel this is a copyright infringement. Suggestions?

[Jaqhama]

Happens all the time Lyn.
Articles I wrote for Bikernet pop up on other bike sites all over the Net.
I figure that at least riders are getting some solid info, so it doesn't bother me.
I already got paid for the article anyway.

In your case: At least the author and source was credited.
You're going to allow people to read stuff for free on the Net, it's just something you have to put up with.
You can email Monolith and ask them to delete I guess.

Could be more exposure for you and the author however.
People might go to ResA to see more stuff.

[crystalwizard]

not sure how it's copyright infringement, since they cited the author and they link to you. however it's very poor form for them to do that without your permission.

BUT

have you considered the possibility that the author gave them permission to do so? Do you have exclusive rights to it?

Before you do anything else, contact the author and see if they are aware of the post.

[Lyn McConchie]

Hi Lyn,
this is simple. In the contract it should state your conditions of publication. As in Serial Rights, how long you want them exclusively etc. IF you said you wanted exclusive rights for **** time, and this site published them inside that period, then they have breached copyright. This is an offense. Tell the site that they are breaching copyright and ask to have the item taken down. In fact the author should be doing this. If I can read this person's work for nothing why should I buy a magazine in which it appears (and for which appearance s/he's been paid?) And why should you pay for work anyone can read free? About every 3rd year I google my name and check every site on which it appears and with which I'm not familiar. Time before last I found I'd been included in a major anthology - without knowing, and without being paid. Turned out to be an error and I was paid once I squawked, but it happens and it shouldn't. (SFWA is currently chasing a story of mine that was illegally translated and used in a Spanish anthology without my knowledge and without payment.) We need to stop this sort of thing and jumping on whoever does it is a start,
cat herder