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copyrights stolen! help

by Joshua P
8 replies
so i hired this writer and gave him my ideas as outlines..ideas that i've been working on since months and months and writing down notes whenever I find a new idea.
He wrote it as described I was pleased with the content - he got paid.

Now this content was for my ebook and it was MASSIVE.Fast writers could take around 6-10 hours to complete it and the pay was pretty good too.

Now I was not all ready to publish the ebook and hence delayed it a bit.
After a few days I google some sentences from it and voila I find hes published the entire ebook in words on his own website - I can confirm its his website.

and like every website it has a footer copyright 2013 xyz

I'm puzzled :confused:

Now i'm thinking about quickly making the ebook and submitting a DCMA complaint!

but how does this work?!
His content was written on the INTERNET before mine was even ready and even if i copy paste the same thing even google will recognize his as ORIGINAL work.


what should I do?
Do not ask me for disputing payments I don't do that and only solution i need is how to get the SAME content under my copyrights.

Additionally, he HAS written it hasn't he?
Does't that make his case stronger?

-------------

Now for future encounters -

Lets say I ask a writer to write article ABC
I publish it right after its done.

But its an 'EBOOK'
So even if SOMEONE was to copy all the content and paste it on his blog with sign below ' copyright 2013 his blog name' how am i supposed to defend this??

If i submit DCMA complaint and if he knows what hes doing he can say the content was published first by him and that his blog already has copyrtight logo.

---------------------------------

Now if the solution is to Get it copyrighted by paying a fee - its out of option as of now I do not want to use money on it I am really tight on budget I need a way to prevent and solve this issue :/

PS: please don't steal :'(
#copyrights #stolen
  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    What is in the official contract between the two of you?

    Lessons:
    - when it is about such an important text (outsourced job) like YOUR book, you must have a contract!
    - the contract must say clearly who will own the copyright after it is done
    - it should also say the "ghost writer" can not publish it as his/her own
    - every decent (read: expensive) ghost writer accepts these terms... so, no, they "don't have a case"
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    • Profile picture of the author SamuelCarter
      Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

      What is in the official contract between the two of you?

      Lessons:
      - when it is about such an important text (outsourced job) like YOUR book, you must have a contract!
      - the contract must say clearly who will own the copyright after it is done
      - it should also say the "ghost writer" can not publish it as his/her own
      - every decent (read: expensive) ghost writer accepts these terms... so, no, they "don't have a case"
      That's alot of crucial information right there. I guess generally you should be careful but ive used writers before and never experienced these issues. However from now on make a contract and even Non disclosure contracts etc.

      I would say, if you have all the necessary proposal for the ebook when making, did you make this privately or go through a outsourcing platform?

      Have you actually contacted the alleged party in this and asked him to explain his actions?

      I would say just make your complaint and submit and proof you have. However its lesson learnt. Just carry on and do what you are doing

      Keep us updated

      Samuel
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  • Profile picture of the author Adie
    This is tough unless there is a clear contract between the two of you..
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  • Profile picture of the author unclederek
    truth is... even if you had a contract, then what? You want to spend the money on legal fees and be wrapped up in litigation for god knows how long, and what cost as well? Not to mention if this person is out of your state or country... Bottom line... Its the wild wild west out there in the IM world. Best thing you can do is know the exact address of the people your hiring so you can go there with a baseball bat and some thugs to collect whats yours. Or do what I do... Dont outsource anything unless its things like graphics. And even that you should learn a little as well. Good luck though

    DD
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    • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
      Originally Posted by experthero101 View Post

      truth is... even if you had a contract, then what? You want to spend the money on legal fees and be wrapped up in litigation for god knows how long, and what cost as well? Not to mention if this person is out of your state or country... Bottom line... Its the wild wild west out there in the IM world. Best thing you can do is know the exact address of the people your hiring so you can go there with a baseball bat and some thugs to collect whats yours. Or do what I do... Dont outsource anything unless its things like graphics. And even that you should learn a little as well. Good luck though

      DD
      Is your mission today to side with the thieves in every thread of the forum?

      It might be a "wild wild west" because of people with the attitude like yours.
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      • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
        Banned
        Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

        Is your mission today to side with the thieves in every thread of the forum?

        It might be a "wild wild west" because of people with the attitude like yours.
        I was wondering the same thing. Same shoddy "legal" advice I just read from this person in another thread. :rolleyes:
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  • Profile picture of the author Karry
    I think you just learned a very hard and expensive lesson in how to run a business, which creating and selling an ebook is.

    It's great to outsource work, but you need to protect your intellectual property. Contracts are a must, but you need to understand the limitations of a contract too. Often times that's going to limit the pool of people you can hire from. Thoroughly vetting a contractor before hiring is also essential as well.

    Hope it turns out better for you next time.
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  • Profile picture of the author kindsvater
    Where is the writer located?

    .
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