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Stolen!!!

RedCzar 🚫

Okay so I'm SURE this is not a new problem but, I actually just found some of my stories up for sale on Amazon by someone who is not me.

Wondering what anyones experience is with this? Anything I can do? Should I try?

It's the first time I've tried to even look. lol

Ernest Bywater 🚫

@RedCzar

There's been a few past threads on this, can you p[lease give us the name of the account on Amazon so we can see if they've hit others of us as well.

RedCzar 🚫

@RedCzar

apologize for the redundant thread, but I'm still not sure how to search the forum without reading through everything

Replies:   Ross at Play
Ross at Play 🚫

@RedCzar

apologize for the redundant thread, but I'm still not sure how to search the forum without reading through everything

The Forum Search facility is at the bottom of the 'Forum' page. It works well. You only need to enter the key words you want.

Ernest Bywater 🚫

Each time a new thief pops up we start a new thread for them, and this is anew one, so it's no trouble.

RedCzar 🚫

so what do we do?
(yes, I'm a newbie at this)

Ernest Bywater 🚫

If you have an Amazon account you can log in and lodge a plagiarism complaint with Amazon.

Did the person use your book titles or did they change the names?

RedCzar 🚫

They are all the same titles. I did not read anything but all the titles are the same. I can't imagine anyting else was changed.

Ernest Bywater 🚫

If you click on the title it'll open the page for that story, and you should be able to click on the cover art to see some of the text due to the Look Inside access of a test text section.

near the bottom of that page is a Feedback strip with an option to report it as a copyright violation with a link to click on. However, when I did this in the past they wouldn't let me lodge a complaint unless I had an Amazon account and was logged in to ti.

Replies:   Vincent Berg
Vincent Berg 🚫

@Ernest Bywater

near the bottom of that page is a Feedback strip with an option to report it as a copyright violation with a link to click on. However, when I did this in the past they wouldn't let me lodge a complaint unless I had an Amazon account and was logged in to ti.

Don't worry if you don't have an account. Several of us do, and can lodge a complaint on your account, list you as the source. But, as always, it's more effective if the injured parties speaks up for themselves.

In the past, the copyright thieves tended to take only the harder porn stories, but if we can get an idea of the kinds of stories being lifted, it'll help identify who's been impacted.

RedCzar 🚫

Yes it looks to be pretty much cut and paste.
Not sure I want to lodge the complaint on THAT account though. Perhaps I can make one under the REd Czar name and do it from that.

Ernest Bywater 🚫

I've never had an Amazon account but was able to lodge an objection via my son's a/c by having him lodge the complain as my approved agent.

Lostlady 🚫

@RedCzar

I'm glad you posted this because I checked and saw he copied one of mine also. However I don't have an account with Amazon either.

Ernest Bywater 🚫
Updated:

Amazon must give you different result depending upon your access. I did a search under the author name without logging in via Canadian gateway and got a slightly different set of results to the same search via an Australian gateway of the VPN I use. 44 titles one way and 45 titles the other way.

edit to add I searched on - "insane T" Amazon in google, got a hit, went to the amazon page clicked on the author name and got the results above.

awnlee jawking 🚫

I've just e-mailed auguy86 to tip him off about his Sorcerer in Downtown Atlanta.

AJ

Replies:   RedCzar
RedCzar 🚫

@awnlee jawking

Thanks. I tried my best to tip off anyone I could.

StarFleet Carl 🚫

I have a question for you about your story, Carly and I skip class. I'm not a member of the other site you mention on here. Was it published somewhere else first?

Here's the reason I ask: On SOL, that story shows Posted: 2018-04-21 Concluded: 2018-04-25

On Amazon, it shows: Publication Date: March 15, 2018

This is just me wondering where you posted it first, and when? Because if you DIDN'T publish somewhere else first, then you have a more serious situation than stories being copied from here.

waynegibbous 🚫

Here are some things you can do. Remember Amazon doesn't want stolen goods for sale on their website because after you've informed them, they become abettors if they do nothing. BTW, Goodreads also lists these books. I find it interesting that this person has no author profile on Amazon or Goodreads.

Here is access to their Legal Department:

copyright@amazon.com

You should give them the following:

-- The name and email address of the person submitting the notice, plus any additional contact details.
-- The rights owner name, if the notice is submitted by an agent of the rights owner.

-- Identification of the intellectual property right asserted, by registration number, if applicable.

-- Identification of the specific content on Amazon believed to be infringing, by ASIN or URL. If your report is about specific seller listings, please provide a list of sellers. If your report is about text or images on a page describing a product, please identify those images or that text. If your report is that the entire page or product sold via that page infringes, please let us know.

-- A statement by you that you have a good-faith belief that the use of the infringing content is not authorized by the rights owner, its agent, or the law.

-- A statement by you, made under penalty of perjury, that the [above] information in your notice is accurate and that you are the rights owner or authorized to act on the rights owner's behalf.

All notices of intellectual property infringement must include:
-- The name and email address of the person submitting the notice, plus any additional contact details.
-- The rights owner name, if the notice is submitted by an agent of the rights owner.
-- Identification of the intellectual property right asserted, by registration number, if applicable.
-- Identification of the specific content on Amazon believed to be infringing, by ASIN or URL.
-- Statement that the information in the notice is accurate.
-- Statement that the submitter is authorized to act on behalf of the rights owner and has a good-faith belief that the use of the content is not authorized by the rights owner, its agent, or the law.

Gook luck, Wayne Gibbous

Replies:   RedCzar  REP
RedCzar 🚫

@waynegibbous

thanks Wayne,

I never heard of Goodreads before, looks like half my stuff is there as well. Clearly SOMEone thinks my stuff is worth reading. (trying to keep some humor in this situation)

Replies:   Vincent Berg  REP
Vincent Berg 🚫

@RedCzar

I never heard of Goodreads before, looks like half my stuff is there as well. Clearly SOMEone thinks my stuff is worth reading. (trying to keep some humor in this situation)

Time to take advantage of the site. Create an 'author' account (though you may need to have something published to do so), and then post how the only 'published' works were stolen from you.

Goodreads is an excellent way to make readers aware of you, though like most social media sites, you need to play the game (i.e. constantly rant about the latest books you've read, so readers keep checking in to see what you're latest post says). The payoff, though, comes with the active reviews.

With books published on Amazon, 20 to 25 reviews automatically generates "also bought" and "you might like" lists. 50 to 70 reviews produce book spotlight positions and includes the book in its newsletter. That said, it's difficult motivating readers to keep leaving enthusiastic responses.

REP 🚫

@RedCzar

I never heard of Goodreads before

Goodreads is related to Amazon, but it is not a book seller. Mostly it supports reviews of books by members and provides advertisements and links to Amazon related sites where the books can be purchased.

REP 🚫

@waynegibbous

Remember Amazon doesn't want stolen goods for sale on their website because after you've informed them, they become abettors

That is not precisely accurate, Wayne.

If the original author files a complaint using their approved process, then yes Amazon will remove the book.

However, the original author can't just file a complaint using their process. The original author must have an Amazon account or they have to create an account or work through someone who has an account. That is the problem Ernest Bywater had. He didn't have or want to create an Amazon account.

If you or I had reported RedCzar's story was being sold on Amazon, they would have politely informed us that they will only accept reports of Plagiarism/Copyright Violation from the original author. Amazon would continue selling the stolen goods. That is what happened when I sent a list of 40 stories that had been stolen by Hooriya Ahmed from the original authors and posted on Amazon for sale. FYI, the information I sent Amazon to backup my accusation included the original author's name, the website on which the story was posted, and the date the story was originally posted.

Amazon removed Ernest story, but continued to sell the other stories on their site. When enough of the original authors filed Take Down Complaints, Amazon finally acknowledged that Hooriya was a Plagiarist and took down all her stories.

Amazon's policy of not acting on an accusation of Plagiarism received from someone other than the original author is unethical, but it does allow them to knowingly continue making money off of stolen goods.

Capt. Zapp 🚫

@REP

Amazon would continue selling the stolen goods.

Isn't there a law against distribution of stolen goods? That would be like someone stealing a load of homemade goods and selling them through Amazon. Once they have been informed that the goods are stolen, they can no longer claim ignorance and should be charged as accomplices in the distribution of the stolen goods.

I know if I were to keep selling something that I know is stolen, I would get arrested. Of course, all those TOS agreements that are so complicated it takes a lawyer to understand and so long that nobody takes the effort to read basically gives them the right to not take responsibility for anything they do.

Replies:   Dominions Son
Dominions Son 🚫

@Capt. Zapp

Isn't there a law against distribution of stolen goods?

Physical goods, sure. Copyright law works differently. US copyright law generally, not just in the case of on-line sellers, explicitly only recognizes complaints from the copyright owner as legitimate notice for such secondary violations.

Replies:   Vincent Berg
Vincent Berg 🚫

@Dominions Son

Physical goods, sure. Copyright law works differently. US copyright law generally, not just in the case of on-line sellers, explicitly only recognizes complaints from the copyright owner as legitimate notice for such secondary violations.

What's more, there were major exemptions carved out when the internet became a major commercial endeavor several years back. In general, websites aren't held responsible for what others do on their sites. They'll remove them if and when someone registers an 'official complaint', but they'll take their time, and pocked ALL proceeds rather than transfer them to the true copyright holder.

Replies:   Dominions Son
Dominions Son 🚫

@Vincent Berg

What's more, there were major exemptions carved out when the internet became a major commercial endeavor several years back.

There are requirements to be met to qualify for those exceptions.

They'll remove them if and when someone registers an 'official complaint', but they'll take their time, and pocked ALL proceeds rather than transfer them to the true copyright holder.

Prompt action on complaints from the true copyright owner is one of the requirements to qualify for the safe harbor provisions of the DMCA. Deliberately delaying after such a complaint could open them up to very expensive lawsuits.

Replies:   Vincent Berg
Vincent Berg 🚫

@Dominions Son

Prompt action on complaints from the true copyright owner is one of the requirements to qualify for the safe harbor provisions of the DMCA. Deliberately delaying after such a complaint could open them up to very expensive lawsuits.

Of course, you're correct. What seems like an unnecessary two week delay is actually their sending a message, stating the contention, and allowing the copyright thieves to state their case, and then pretending to consider each positionβ€”even though it's difficult to fake dates of publications. Still, they have a valid claim for purposefully delaying implementing the response by a couple week, each time it occurs! ::( (Rolling-eyes emjoi, for those of you who don't recognize the text variant.)

Replies:   RedCzar
RedCzar 🚫

@Vincent Berg

Wow, actual success! I just got an email from Amazon saying they are in the process of taking all of my stories off all Amazon sites.

Imagine that.

Replies:   Vincent Berg
Vincent Berg 🚫

@RedCzar

Wow, actual success! I just got an email from Amazon saying they are in the process of taking all of my stories off all Amazon sites.

Imagine that.

As I said, they do act, but you can't expect any immediate actions, as they have to notify the affected parties, allow them to defend themselves, validate the separate party's claims (however specious), all of which takes time.

Replies:   RedCzar
RedCzar 🚫

@Vincent Berg

He must not have had much of a defense because they are all off of there already. There is only one left but I think I left that one out of my original complaint.
And unfortunately everyone else's stuff is still up there. But I'll be watching in case any more of mine pop up.

Replies:   Vincent Berg
Vincent Berg 🚫

@RedCzar

He must not have had much of a defense because they are all off of there already. There is only one left but I think I left that one out of my original complaint.
And unfortunately everyone else's stuff is still up there. But I'll be watching in case any more of mine pop up.

That's actually typical. They (whoever is responsible for such claims) will typically respond to the specific claim first and foremost, since it's the most easily verifiable, and then the subsequent claims will take a little more time. Part of that is ensuring that it's not just a spat between two individuals (i.e. once the determine the plagarist has NEVER written anything of their own, they'll delete everything out of hand, as well as yank his account-holder status (which in the case of Amazon, is tied to your tax ID, thus difficult to hide).

Replies:   Lostlady
Lostlady 🚫

@Vincent Berg

Insane T's stolen material all seems to have been finally removed from Amazon. A shout out to RedCzar for bringing it to everyone's attention and a high five for anyone else who helped get this plagiarist deleted.

Dominions Son 🚫

@REP

Amazon's policy of not acting on an accusation of Plagiarism received from someone other than the original author is unethical, but it does allow them to knowingly continue making money off of stolen goods.

It may be(probably is) unethical, but it's well within the letter of US copyright law.

Vincent Berg 🚫

Thanks, Wayne. That was much more precise than the rest of our 'shoot from the hip' advice.

Ernest Bywater 🚫

07/06/2018, 16:57:22
Updated: 07/06/2018, 17:02:38
Wow! This guy is going the extra mile on this. I get 15 pages of books, which at 12 is around 150 books he's blatantly ripped off.

When I checked just after this thread started he had only 3 pages of titles.

Replies:   Vincent Berg
Vincent Berg 🚫

@Ernest Bywater

When I checked just after this thread started he had only 3 pages of titles.

I corrected my first post, as I forgot to put his pseudonym in quotes, and thus got 11-pages of 'false positives'. But I haven't noticed ANY books which have been removed by him yet.

REP 🚫

150 books

If you are referring to Amazon I found 21 books. The books on the other pages were by other authors, but had insane in the title or elsewhere.

Vincent Berg 🚫

I actually created an amazon account on my Red Czar name and filed filed a complaint already. We'll see what happens.

Amazon reacts pretty fast (?) but it takes a while before anything comes down. Now, register a complaint, valid or not, as a user, and a story will be deleted instantly, with no recourse for an incorrect decision.

Replies:   RedCzar
RedCzar 🚫

@Vincent Berg

I think I tried that, but I didn't have enough "balance" on the account that I had just created to register the complaint.

I guess you have to spend a certain amount before they care about your opinion.

Replies:   Vincent Berg
Vincent Berg 🚫

@RedCzar

I think I tried that, but I didn't have enough "balance" on the account that I had just created to register the complaint.

I guess you have to spend a certain amount before they care about your opinion.

In a similar situation, I had someone not only 'publish' a book using a different name (but using my cover, complete with my name on it), but actually stole my ISBN I'd paid for (and had stupidly listed on my website before actually publishing the book). What I did was to 1) post reviews, stating that you're the true author, that the books published are a clear copyright infringement, and that readers shouldn't support the fake author, and 2) I changed the ISBN entry, declaring it an invalid copyright infringement, so that anytime an organization ran a check on the number, they'd see the message and (hopefully) think twice before considering accepting it.

Not sure it helped, but it's at lest a way of getting the word out.

BTW, if you want me to register the protest in your name (since I have a history with Amazon), I can do it, but as Ernest suggested earlier, I need to be acting as your 'representative' (i.e. you have to ask for me to present your case for you).

However, Amazon is notorious for not giving a shit about what author's think, and they'll only remove completely fraudulent books, after weeks of knuckle dragging, if they think it's likely to hurt their reputation by refusing to acknowledge the copyright abuse. They don't do it for the authors unless they create a stink about it!

That precisely why so many authors, and major publishers, refuse to have anything at all to do with Amazon.

Replies:   Dominions Son
Dominions Son 🚫

@Vincent Berg

However, Amazon is notorious for not giving a shit about what author's think, and they'll only remove completely fraudulent books, after weeks of knuckle dragging, if they think it's likely to hurt their reputation by refusing to acknowledge the copyright abuse.

They would actually risk loosing their safe harbor status under the DMCA in the US if they fail to promptly respond to a valid notification of a copyright violation.

However, the DMCA also has some fairly strict requirements around the form of the notice.

If you can afford it, your best bet for prompt action is to hire a copyright lawyer and have them send Amazon a DMCA take down request.

Ross at Play 🚫

I guess this means I've hit the big time now huh

[RedCzar, if you'll forgive a moment of levity ...]

In fact - or should that be according to some definitions on another thread here? - you may now consider yourself a "published author" because someone has attempted to profit by distributing your writing to others. :-)

Replies:   robberhands
robberhands 🚫
Updated:

@Ross at Play

After all things said about 'published authors', I actually think 'robbed author' is a label of a higher value.

Replies:   Ross at Play
Ross at Play 🚫

@robberhands

I actually think 'robbed author' is a label of a higher value.

Well, you would think that, wouldn't you, robberhands?

Replies:   RedCzar  robberhands
RedCzar 🚫

@Ross at Play

I'm thinking "Victim" might work

robberhands 🚫

@Ross at Play

I wasn't certain why it was so clear to me and actually overlooked this similarity. Thankfully there is you, always eager to point out the obvious.

Vincent Berg 🚫

Okay.... I have no idea about ISBN (???) or what or how to do any of that.
I did file their copyright infringement form, for whatever good that is.
Where did you post reviews? on the amazon site? How do you change the ISBN on their entry? etc.?

Forget the ISBN story altogether, it's of no importance to you at all. To post a story on the copyright thieves story, simply visit 'their' Amazon page, click on each story, head to the bottom and leave a review, detailing where the story came from, who the original author and how the author is unauthorized to post copies. Do NOT call him names, as Amazon is likely to punish YOU if they think you've gone too far. Once you file the copyright infringement form, they'll process it, but it typically takes several days before they do anything about it.

RedCzar 🚫

I kind of thought the same thing, how much can he actually be making for these? But it's claiming them as his own that kind of gets to me. Especially when I have the next chapter sitting here ready to post.

RedCzar 🚫

well... didn't really expect them to do anything about it did we? Not like they can prevent people from stealing the stories.

But might be nice if they could send out some kind of notice.

I put up a thread on one of the forums, just like here. It has received a resoundingly ho-hum response.

Replies:   Ross at Play  AmigaClone
Ross at Play 🚫
Updated:

@RedCzar

didn't really expect them to do anything about it did we?

No, I did not.

But might be nice if they could send out some kind of notice.

I made that point in the email I sent to them after receiving the response above.

I thought it a box that needed ticking - even if I always expected it would be futile. :(

Replies:   RedCzar
RedCzar 🚫

@Ross at Play

hey, we made the effort, more than that we can't do.

AmigaClone 🚫
Updated:

@RedCzar

I put up a thread on one of the forums, just like here. It has received a resoundingly ho-hum response.

I wonder if the greater response here has been in part because of some of the other authors here have experienced seeing someone trying to make a profit from their stories.

Replies:   Capt. Zapp
Capt. Zapp 🚫

@AmigaClone

Maybe it is because the writers here seem to care more about their stories.

StarFleet Carl 🚫

That was before I knew about this site and started posting here.

Makes sense. I'm one of those weirdos that this is the only site I frequent.

Lostlady 🚫

In the case of my story, he didn't even correct the typos. I was in the process of filing my third complaint when I noticed he was no longer listed.

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