Copyright Rip-Offs Are Uncool
It has come to my attention that a for-profit magazine has printed and published an essay of mine:
* without my knowledge
* without my permission
* without remuneration
* without any editorial control on my part
* without any link to this site
The Oregon Fish & Wildlife Journal ripped off my work without so much as a phone call to me to let me know. Now my essay appears in their journal with their copyright stamped on it.
That is so uncool.
Really sloppy, unprofessional, and probably actionable, should I choose to take legal tort action against that magazine and their publisher.
Really, really uncool.
For whatever they might be worth, my words, essays, photographs, etc. are my property. They are not free for the taking, especially not for somebody else’s financial gain.
If you want to repost in full something you see here, please ask permission. Chances are I will grant it, with the condition that proper attributions and links are included. If it’s just a few lines, you don’t even need to ask — but you should still include a link to this site.
If you want to print something of mine in your for-profit magazine, please do me the courtesy of contacting me before you do and requesting my permission. Understand that in such a case I may expect to be PAID for my art.
If you are the publisher, a subscriber, or an advertiser in Oregon Fish & Wildlife Journal, you owe me.
One appropriate course of action you could take is to make a donation to W.I.S.E. [here]. If you do, I will consider your debt to me to be paid in full.
Thank you for your support!
Mike Dubrasich, Exec Dir W.I.S.E.
by brodie
by Forrest Grump
Oh, ya mean you’re not grovelingly grateful for the exposure, publicity and other whatnot?
Let us know when they pay up.
My cup of gratitude does not runneth over. I don’t need to tell you, Mr. Grump!!!!
by YPmule
Geeze - when I rip off stories from here I at least give a link! (And I don’t charge for subscriptions.)
YP,
You have been given express permission from me to send out W.I.S.E. posts on numerous occasions. The YP Times is a non-profit email newsletter, not a for-profit print magazine. You ALWAYS give the links and source. You have made (much appreciated) financial contributions to W.I.S.E. and are a member in good standing.
We have no conflict and I hope we never do.
Mike
by YPmule
I know Mike, and we really appreciate your hard work and your excellent collection of science papers here at WISE. (I was just being sarcastic.)
I actually saw a photo of mine show up at one of our Forest Service training sessions. The photo of a logging helicopter was poached off of a British site to whom I gave permission to use it. I yelled out, “HEY! That’s MY picture!” Feds ignoring the law!?! Who’d a thunk it?!?
Sue them. They should know the rules. They would sue you for the same thing. It is really not hard to ask permission.