Question:
Reporting an author for plagiarism?
Emma
2013-05-10 16:45:51 UTC
Recently it came to my notice that an author whose series I'd started reading is blatantly stealing huge chunks of the plot from a television show. I've confirmed this by matching the dialogue on certain pages to clips of scenes from the show on YouTube. I've also found at least five reviews on Amazon criticizing this author for the exact same things.The other day, she held a live chat on Goodreads with several other authors, and I publicly confronted her about it, listing and linking to all my evidence. The next day, my post had mysteriously vanished, though the author was still answering questions from other readers. This, in my opinion, cements her guilt. However, I am undecided about the next best course of action to take. Who should I contact? The administrators of Goodreads, her publisher, and the creators of the television show have all been suggested to me. I just know I cannot let her continue to get away with this.
Seven answers:
Steven J Pemberton
2013-05-10 16:59:44 UTC
Plagiarism, while it's scummy and fattening, is not illegal. The makers of the TV show can't stop her, unless she's dumb enough to copy chunks of their dialogue word-for-word, or nearly so. Goodreads don't care what authors publish, as long as they behave themselves on the site. (And even if they did care, all they could do is ban her from the site). That leaves the publisher. If you can prove your assertions, and they have any integrity, they'll cancel her contract, withdraw her books from sale, and make sure she never publishes with them again.



EDIT: Yow... every time I think I've learned the limits of human stupidity, someone proves me wrong. If she's copying chunks of dialogue from the show, that's not just plagiarism, but copyright infringement too, which *is* illegal. I'd tip off the TV channel that broadcasts the show and the production company that makes it. Either or both could have standing to sue. The production company might care more about protecting their assets, but the TV channel probably has more expensive lawyers. If you're feeling charitable, contact the author's publisher as well, to let them know about the incoming lawsuits. That will allow them to pre-emptively sue the author for breach of contract and recovery of the damages and lawyers' fees that the TV people will extract from them.



(When you sign a contract to publish a book, there's a clause where you promise that it's entirely your own work, or if any of it belongs to someone else, you've obtained the necessary licenses and paid any necessary fees. That's evidently not the case here, so the author has broken the terms of her contract. There's often also a clause where you promise to cover any costs the publisher incurs for something that was your fault - such as stealing someone else's work.)
2013-05-10 23:50:47 UTC
Well of course Goodreads has now been bought by Amazon so if there's something dodgy on one it'll be dodgy on the other too. Amazon is notorious for the ease with which their review system can be manipulated, and they have no incentive to care about plagiarism so long as the books are selling. Contact the person who has most reason to care, the writer of the television show. You'll need to do a bit of research to find out which production company makes it and what their address is, but if you have real evidence their script has been ripped off they will want to get their lawyers on to it pronto.
i see dead squirrels
2013-05-10 23:53:04 UTC
Contact the creators of the television show.



They have a lawyer on call already.



The administrators on Goodreads could only change her status on goodreads. I put that one step below reviewing her work on Amazon.



Her publisher won't care till the lawyers come knocking, although I imagine they might not want to publish her next book.
2013-05-11 00:01:32 UTC
It is a commonly known fact that Cassandra Clare did the exact same thing. She stole multiple lines from Blackadder, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Harry Potter and Angel, as well as lifting entire narrative passages from other books - ad she got a 9 book deal and 2 confirmed movies out of it, as well as millions of fans.

I don't know if you can do much. Sometimes life is not far, and people get away with things they shouldn't. If you tell us who this author is, we can try to spread awareness of this issue and double-check that plagiarism has occurred as well as getting onto the author's case and contacting lawyers, copyright companies, etc. Try conracting well known book bloggers, BNFs of whatever genres you are in, write letters to the publishing company and write reviews of your own about the fact. You need to raise as much awareness as possible. Good luck - hope I can help!
Traveler
2013-05-10 23:59:04 UTC
I would go directly to her publisher.

Or send her an email (so it is documented) and ask for her to come out with it or else you will tell the publisher,



I think the publisher would take care of it.



That disgusts me. I am writing a novel and I know how hard it is... To hear her basically cheating the system is horrible.



Thanks for taking action!
Maggie
2013-05-10 23:49:03 UTC
What an ***! How pathetic of her to profit off someone else's work! I say to show evidence as much as possible and to get more people aware! What is it called anyway?
old lady
2013-05-10 23:50:02 UTC
Contact all of the above. None of them wants to support plagiarism.


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