Re: Tools: Tracking down copyright violations (Take II)

["heidi arnold" <heidi -dot- w -dot- arnold -at- gmail -dot- com>]

re Geoff's post below --

i don't think there is anything innocent in taking something that does
not belong to you.  a written document is a thing, it is possible to
steal language, crafted words, the knowledge hidden in words.  i am
not acquanted with the Berne convention on copyright, possibly
copyright law will differ according to where a document was written or
where it was eventually published.

since my only income source is the sale of my writings when published,
it is my responsibility not just to me but to the community of writers
to pursue theft of my work. i keep track, i keep originals, i don't
have a choice.  it is not okay to steal a means of making a living.
it is not innocent.  it pisses people off, and destroys the
atmosphere, what have you.  most people can write more interesting
books than they can find to read anyway, when they in real terms write
their own stuff.

my 2 cents on a quick coffee break.  i definitely consider attorney's
fees worth the price if my work gets stolen.  i have plenty of time to
go after a thief in such a case.

back to regular work.

regards,

heidi

www.vigilpeace.blogspot.com

  Most violations are innocent -- that is, there's a broad and
>  incorrect perception that anything found on the Web is not
>  copyrighted. (Don't forget that most people, unlike us, are not
>  professional creators of intellectual property.) Some people do it
>  because they figure no harm is done, and will stop as soon as you
>  complain. Others do it with malice aforethought (i.e., desiring to
>  profit somehow from your work), but I suspect that when strongly
>  confronted, most such people in countries that are signatory to the
>  Berne convention on copyright will back down in a hurry. That's
>  particularly true if you parrot back the appropriate intimidating
>  legal jargon, making you seem far smarter than they are (and more
>  likely to be a lawyer <g>).

On 5/17/08, Geoff Hart <ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca> wrote:
> Kelly Smith wondered: <<Several years ago I wrote an essay and
>  published it to the web. Some time later someone let me know that it
>  had been translated into German and reposted without my knowledge or
>  consent.>>
>
>  Sympathies. It's always flattering when someone asks for permission
>  to translate our work (after all, the goal is to be read, no?), but
>  the key word there is "asks". Also, it's important to distinguish
>  between plagiarism (pretending it's their work) and publishing your
>  work with full acknowledgment; the latter is still annoying and
>  probably illegal (depending on copyright), but far less offensive.
>
>  <<I suppose this tool will only find copies that are in the original
>  language? (Since I don't have a German version to test it with.)>>
>
>  My assumption is that it effectively Googles text from your article,
>  so I can't imagine how you could detect translations.
>
>  <<Also, once you discover the stolen property, how does one go about
>  having it removed or receiving compensation for it? Especially if the
>  thief is in another country?>>
>
>  A few thoughts: http://www.copyscape.com/respond.php?
>  PHPSESSID=a8aa59b165d64ff05529907f0111d00f (or go to the root URL and
>  click the link for "plagiarism".
>
>  Most violations are innocent -- that is, there's a broad and
>  incorrect perception that anything found on the Web is not
>  copyrighted. (Don't forget that most people, unlike us, are not
>  professional creators of intellectual property.) Some people do it
>  because they figure no harm is done, and will stop as soon as you
>  complain. Others do it with malice aforethought (i.e., desiring to
>  profit somehow from your work), but I suspect that when strongly
>  confronted, most such people in countries that are signatory to the
>  Berne convention on copyright will back down in a hurry. That's
>  particularly true if you parrot back the appropriate intimidating
>  legal jargon, making you seem far smarter than they are (and more
>  likely to be a lawyer <g>).
>
>  I'm not sure whether the U.S. ever formally signed the treaty, but in
>  practice, my understanding is that U.S. courts will enforce
>  comparable protections on your rights.
>
>
>  ----------------------------------------------------
>  -- Geoff Hart
>  ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca / geoffhart -at- mac -dot- com
>  www.geoff-hart.com
>  --------------------------------------------------
>  ***Now available***  _Effective onscreen editing_
>  (http://www.geoff-hart.com/home/onscreen-book.htm)
>
>  Print version: http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fStoreID=1505747
>
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-- 
www.heidiarnold.org
www.vesperwilderness.blogspot.com
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
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True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
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