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Blanche Dubois, it is a low act indeed.
posted by
Azur
on November 30, 2005 at 7:50 AM
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MayB,
I just read this post. That is a horrible violation of ethics, for a teacher to steal her student's work, and then turn on the student for even daring to assert herself. I hope she can get some vindication here.
posted by
Blanche.
on November 29, 2005 at 10:00 PM
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Pat_B that is known as poor man's copyright
It is a bummer and a low act for a teacher to plunder the works of the students who pay for their bread and butter
posted by
Azur
on November 25, 2005 at 1:57 PM
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Joe Love, I know, the function will be VERY interesting
It also features a writing competition and if that rip-off merchant wins that there'll be hell to play ;-)
posted by
Azur
on November 25, 2005 at 1:55 PM
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Thanks Straightforward, the experiences are real though sometimes I wish they weren't
posted by
Azur
on November 25, 2005 at 1:53 PM
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Temple, thanks for that. My friend has an email from
the teacher/author to stay her story was "vaguely inspired" by my friend's story so she has the admission in writing.
I am sure she has notes and computer files that show how long since she started the story. It is based on her childhood.
In the email admitting where she got the inspiration, the teacher even had the audacity to ask my friend if the detail was accurate so it is clear it is not her experience.
I think the letter is the best too because once the teacher/author is in possession of the letter that she won't hawk this story about because she will know her deceit will get out.
Thanks.
posted by
Azur
on November 25, 2005 at 1:52 PM
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can't you copyright stuff by mailing it
to yourself so you've got a postmarked envelope that proves whose idea came first? I guess emailed or Blogit postings would work as well -- except that email dates can be manipulated ... What a crock, but you hear it all the time, someone stealing an artist's work and publishing it... I'm thinking of the movie Death Trap, Michael Caine and Chris Reeves -- but in real life it's not funny. :)pat
posted by
Pat_B
on November 25, 2005 at 7:35 AM
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MayB
It will be interesting to see what comes of your function (the one that involves the teacher who stole the work, the student, and yourself).
posted by
Joe_Love
on November 24, 2005 at 9:19 PM
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May, I read both posts and I'll comment here.
First, I agree that a letter from an attorney is best. If this is a personal and specific experience, then your friend should have proof that it happened to her, and she should be able to prove how long ago or when she started working on the piece. If she started any writing on it in a paper journal that is dated, on a computer (which can be shown to automatically date or if she dated it), and also there could be other material that is dated in correlation with her experience, then she should gather it all and show it to an attorney. However, she should keep specific dates private, so as not to tempt the teacher to fabricate dates. I don't know the name of the legal letter in the literary world, but it would be something like a demand letter stating that she show proof of where she got the story, what her inspiration was, and also proof of the dates she was working on it (just as mentioned above). Furthermore, you'll need to somehow demand a copy of the letter or statement, however it was made, that said that the story read by a student provided inspiration. Regardless of whether or not your friend was a student or a professional author, all writing is copy written by that author the minute it's written. That is the law. No special notation or process need be followed, no copy mark "c" needs to be shown. This is just an extra way to show your work is your work -- further protection from things like this. Bottom line, once you write it, it's yours legally and belongs to you, and cannot be reproduced without your permission.
I would tell your friend to do this quickly and have the attorney write the letter. If this doesn't stop the author/teacher from proceeding, it sounds to me like there could be a legitimate lawsuit. I don't know how much of the book/story was based on the student's, and that would be an important part of that decision. Good luck to your friend. :)
posted by
Temple
on November 24, 2005 at 6:03 PM
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Appreciate your sharing of experiences
posted by
Straightforward
on November 24, 2005 at 5:40 PM
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MerryAnne, it is awful I think. Thanks for the encouragement. On day I hope to make a decent living from this
posted by
Azur
on November 23, 2005 at 12:57 PM
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QuirkyAlone. It is not so easy.
This story is her life story. Imagine if someone borrowed so heavily -ie stole - your story, the story that you told here about your brother and just turned it into a short story to send into competitions. Of course thi s happens to writers all the time and often they may never know but can you imagine if that happened when you shared your story with people you trusted, people you have a right to trust and they used you and your work as fodder.
posted by
Azur
on November 23, 2005 at 12:55 PM
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I've already said that I thought the woman was sadly lacking in the ethics department, and her defense of her actions is even more egregious. But I think your friend should work on letting it go--I mean, life is always going to throw us things that seem unfair...is it really worth letting yourself feel devastated?? All the energy she is spending on it, could be better spent working on something else.
posted by
Julia.
on November 23, 2005 at 12:47 PM
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well you are busy - and that is good
I do feel for your friend though, that is awful.
posted by
MerryAnne
on November 23, 2005 at 12:36 PM
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Word.smith, the teacher has already won a prize for the story. You know, I'm not sure that compensation for this is adequate. My friend feels violated
posted by
Azur
on November 23, 2005 at 11:44 AM
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I hope your friend is compensated,
or better yet, that the teacher does not use that story idea. That's so low.
posted by
word.smith
on November 23, 2005 at 11:37 AM
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