{"id":842,"date":"2010-11-05T10:15:26","date_gmt":"2010-11-05T14:15:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/noelfigart.com\/blog\/?p=842"},"modified":"2010-11-05T10:15:26","modified_gmt":"2010-11-05T14:15:26","slug":"the-cooks-source-fiasco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/noelfigart.com\/wordpress\/2010\/11\/05\/the-cooks-source-fiasco\/","title":{"rendered":"The Cooks Source Fiasco"},"content":{"rendered":"

A woman wrote an article for a website<\/a>. Some\u00a0 years later, a friend of hers emailed her to congratulate her on \u201cbreaking into print\u201d and to ask for tips.\u00a0 Confused, the author asked when she\u2019d done so, only to find that an article she released on the internet was reprinted in an advertising-carrying (meaning it was to make money) small-circulation magazine with her byline, but without permission or payment.\u00a0\u00a0 The woman objected to her material being used, and asked for three things, an apology on the Cooks Source Facebook page, an apology printed in the magazine and a fair price for the article ($130) to be donated to a well-known school of journalism.<\/p>\n

She got this reply from Judith Griggs, editor of Cooks Source<\/em>:<\/p>\n

“Yes Monica, I have been doing this for 3 decades, having been an editor at The Voice, Housitonic Home and Connecticut Woman Magazine. I do know about copyright laws. It was “my bad” indeed, and, as the magazine is put together in long sessions, tired eyes and minds somethings forget to do these things.<\/p>\n

But honestly Monica, the web is considered “public domain” and you should be happy we just didn’t “lift” your whole article and put someone else’s name on it! It happens a lot, clearly more than you are aware of, especially on college campuses, and the workplace. If you took offence and are unhappy, I am sorry, but you as a professional should know that the article we used written by you was in very bad need of editing, and is much better now than was originally. Now it will work well for your portfolio. For that reason, I have a bit of a difficult time with your requests for monetary gain, albeit for such a fine (and very wealthy!) institution. We put some time into rewrites, you should compensate me! I never charge young writers for advice or rewriting poorly written pieces, and have many who write for me… ALWAYS for free!”[1]<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When the author reported this on her blog, the arrogance of the comment caught quite a few people\u2019s attention, including a writer named Neil Gaiman, who tweeted about it to his hoard of followers.\u00a0 To say reaction exploded would be something of an understatement.\u00a0 As of this writing, the LA Times<\/a> , NPR<\/a>,\u00a0 The Washington Post<\/a>, and several other news sources have carried the story in their online publications. As reputable news sources who do have an interest in online copyright issues, they may have snarked a bit at the editor\u2019s arrogance and her appalling lack of understanding of copyright, but other than that, carried it as more or less straight news.<\/p>\n

But it is the backlash on Facebook <\/a>has proved to be appalling.\u00a0 Don\u2019t get me wrong. I\u2019m a writer.\u00a0 Letting someone know that they\u2019re wrong about their understanding of intellectual property laws as they pertain to the Internet[2]<\/a> is fine.\u00a0 Calling someone on their arrogance is also fine. \u00a0\u00a0Checking to see if they\u2019ve pulled the stunt before[3]<\/a> is also fine.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s not fine is the name-calling and harassment.\u00a0 In my strong opinion, that crosses the line into bullying, and I\u2019m not cool with that.\u00a0 Personal attacks are foolish.\u00a0 They\u2019re not going to change behavior, but will only get that woman\u2019s back up.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think anyone sensible really wants anything but an honest resolution to the situation.<\/p>\n

When you want to join in cyber-activism, leave the potty mouth at home.\u00a0 Call the person on what they did<\/em>.\u00a0 Don\u2019t sweat what they are<\/em>.\u00a0 It\u2019s not relevant and spins things out of control.\u00a0 Stick to facts.<\/p>\n

There is some speculation that Judith Griggs might have honestly thought for real<\/em> that all material online is in the public domain.\u00a0 If so, she doesn\u2019t know enough about her profession to justify the sort of high horse response that she gave the author of the original piece.\u00a0 \u00a0I do doubt, at least in part, the veracity of her claims of experience.\u00a0 \u00a0I\u2019ve only been a paid writer for a handful of years and I know the law on copyright better than she does.\u00a0 There was no real excuse for that arrogant and wildly inaccurate lecture.<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> http:\/\/illadore.livejournal.com\/30674.html<\/a><\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> Basically, your work is copyrighted from the moment it hits the word processor.\u00a0 Defending it is often problematic and expensive, but the law<\/em> recognizes ownership of your own work, whether for print or for online publication.<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> She has.\u00a0 Paula Deen, NPR, Martha Stewart and Disney also have had work of theirs copied in her mag.\u00a0 Whether or not she bothered to get permission, I do not know, though I can guess\u2026\u00a0 I do know that Paula Deen has referred the matter to her legal department.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A woman wrote an article for a website. Some\u00a0 years later, a friend of hers emailed her to congratulate her on \u201cbreaking into print\u201d and to ask for tips.\u00a0 Confused, the author asked when she\u2019d done so, only to find that an article she released on the internet was reprinted in an advertising-carrying (meaning it … <\/p>\n

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