To everyone
A new author by the name of Prince Edwards has emerged on Amazon. This author has posted several stories including Wife Swapping, which have ripped off from Storiesonline Authors. This fore-mentioned story is a word for word rip-off from Amanda Pierce's "The Swap." You might want to check this author to see if he has ripped off your story.
SpartySAM
I've also discovered a new copyright site, www.freebooksget.com, that 'gives away' free copies to published books (pdf only). I found three of mind, unfortunately, the site has no contact form to file a take-down notice. (I'm guessing I'll need to search for the site's owners and instead file a legal petition, as there are likely no identified parties.
I'm not sure where they're getting their copies of the book from, but I'm guessing someone is purchasing discounted books from Smashwords (or Bookapy) and then offering any unprotected books he can.
I looked around and found a fairly well known published author whose entire collection - including some translated versions - appears to be there.
Then checking J K Rowling, plenty of books about her but none of her own works. A bridge too far.
The "Starfarer's Dream by Gina Marie Wylie" summary was
This collection explores monetary institutions linking Europe and the Americas in the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries.
which indicates someone got something wrong, the three other books of hers there have correct summaries.
I've also discovered a new copyright site, www.freebooksget.com, that 'gives away' free copies to published books (pdf only).
I found and email address which relates to their membership application page:
info@pepplays.com
I've sent them an email about four titles I want removed and approval for 5 freebie titles I don't care about in the hopes they'll contact me back.
Ernest
This should have been a separate thread, the original Amazon / Prince Edwards offender has pretty much been lost here.
As a somewhat related issue, how can you tell if someone has stolen one of your stories and posted it on Amazon?
It's not too hard if the thief keeps the title the same, especially if they steal the original cover, which includes the original author's nym. But if the thief creates their own cover and changes the title, I imagine it might be difficult.
AJ
Stories have a description of the story posted on the bookseller's site.
The typical Plagiarist isn't a writer so they use the original author's description.
There is software that will scan the internet looking for a match to a given text string. If an someone is looking for a plagiarist, they can pick a short text string from the description and then enter it in the software and let the program search the internet. If there is a match, check out the site to see if it is the same story.
a short text string from the description
Since I've been accused of banging on about it, you can probably guess which of my stories I'm most concerned about. The problem is that the description is short. I suppose I could increase the length, but that would almost certainly involve giving away clues to the twists. Or I could replace it with 'Science nerd schoolboy becomes addicted to gay orgies', which is what some people already read it as ;)
AJ
The description length is irrelevant. A word string that is somewhat unique is what matters. Then checking the reports of hits will confirm the hit as true or false.
I use a fairly simple technique actually.
I take a sentence from one of the opening paragraphs, and do a google search for it in quotes. Since most thieves include at least a sample to get the attention of those they want to sell to, this has caught them for me several times.
This is how a few years ago I found a guy selling my story "Okinawa" as "Hot Saki Sue".
I take a sentence from one of the opening paragraphs, and do a google search for it in quotes.
Good suggestion, thank you. There can't be many people using the adverb 'grandmotherly' ;)
AJ
Any time. That is why in the first few paragraphs I always make at least one sentence very unique. It makes it much easier to find and almost impossible for a thief to avoid using it in their free sample.