There’s an entire industry of people online now who making a living out of subcontracting writing work out to other writers – often for far less than they’re being paid by their client. I have nothing against hiring ghostwriters, nor against ghostwriting. However, I do have a problem with someone taking a “job” for $500, and paying another writer $5 to do it. (I also have a big problem with any writer who will write an article for $5!)
Many of these third-party article brokers are running ads for writers on the bidding websites. Sadly, some of them pretend to reject a writer’s article…but then sell it to their client anyway. The victim may (or may not) find their article published later. If they do, they then realize they’ve been scammed.
We’ve been hearing more and more horror stories about writers being stiffed, insulted, and even threatened by these article brokers. Here’s an example from last week, along with the advice I sent to the writer. You’re not going to believe how this one ended up. My advice obviously didn’t work this time!
THE EMAIL
Hi Angela,
(Last year), one of my clients received two of my articles, accepted the first and declined the second. (She sent back) an insulting email, saying it was sub-par work and that I was fired. I did not receive payment for the second article after several unanswered emails. I emailed her, letting her know that since she had not paid for them, she should not use either article, nor provide them to her client. I also informed her I would be publishing them elsewhere — which I did.
(This month), I discovered that the first article was on a website. Finding no connection to said client, I emailed the website owner, letting him know he had copyrighted material on his website. The website owner responded to my email, and also contacted my (ex) client. He let me know he paid my (ex) client for both articles, and received both articles, that the client claims she paid me for both articles, and that this is all a BIG misunderstanding. Client paid me for nothing and claims she paid me for all work. I have proof of no payment (so she has no proof of payment.) I also have email proof she declined the second article and refused to pay me for it. The first article she accepted, but never paid for.
I have emailed the website owner this story, and I am waiting for a response. Is there anything else you think I should do to cover my backside and either get paid or have my articles removed? Any advice or ideas you have are appreciated.
Thanks for your time!
MY RESPONSE
If I were you, my next step would be to send the website an invoice for $750 for each article ($1500 total), for illegal publication of your copyrighted material.
See:
An Author / Attorney Protects His Copyright By Harvey Randall
and
Writer Receives $500 for Unauthorized Use of Her Work
Where they obtained your articles is actually of no consequence to you because you didn’t give the original buyer the right to use your work. Ignorance is no excuse for violating the law. Here’s an analogy I use – If someone buys a stolen car, and then gets pulled over, they are prosecuted. (I actually know someone this happened to and he spent two months in jail years ago because he lost in court.)
If you buy a product, and discover later that it’s stolen, you must return it, at your loss. If the stolen product has been consumed (like your article was – first and electronic rights are no longer available), you must pay for the stolen item.
You might feel sorry for them because they seem to be caught in the middle but they’ll get a valuable lesson about how they should buy articles directly from the writers themselves; not from those third-party nitwits who are making a business out of becoming middlemen in the industry.
WHILE THE COPYRIGHT INFRINGER DID REMOVE THE MATERIALS, HE SENT THIS THREAT TO THE WRITER:
Should you contact me further, for any matter, I shall take the action which is easiest to me. I am a professional Search Engine Optimiser and I shall create a number of unflattering articles with your name as the primary keyword. Should people – future employers perhaps? – choose to Google your name for information about you, they will find my unflattering prose ranked very highly. This will be virtually impossible for you to remove and will likely be there for years. In fact, once there, it will be almost impossible for me to remove, you will have no chance.
The writer has already contacted an attorney.
Got questions about Print On Demand and Self-publishing? Ask Angela Hoy.
About The Author
Angela Hoy is the publisher of WritersWeekly.com, the author of 19 books, and the co-owner of BookLocker.com (one of the original POD publishers that still gets books to market in less than a month), PubPreppers.com (print and ebook design for authors who truly want to self-publish), and Abuzz Press (the publishing co-op that charges no setup fees).
Angela has lived and traveled across the U.S. with her kids in an RV, settled in a river-side home in Bradenton, FL, and lived on a 52 ft Irwin sailboat. Angela now resides on a mountaintop in Northwest Georgia, where she plans to spend the rest of her days bird watching, gardening, hiking, and taking in all of the amazing sunrises.
WritersWeekly.com - the free marketing ezine for writers, which features new paying markets and freelance job listings every Wednesday.
BookLocker.com - According to attorney Mark Levine, author of The Fine Print, BookLocker is: "As close to perfection as you're going to find in the world of ebook and POD publishing. The ebook royalties are the highest I've ever seen, and the print royalties are better than average. BookLocker understands what new authors experience, and have put together a package that is the best in the business. You can't go wrong here. Plus, they're selective and won't publish any manuscript just because it's accompanied by a check. Also, the web site is well trafficked. If you can find a POD or epublisher with as much integrity and dedication to selling authors' books, but with lower POD publishing fees, please let me know."
Abuzz Press offers FAST and FREE book publication, but only accepts a small percentage of submissions, and only works with U.S. authors.
PubPreppers.com - "We Prep, You Publish!" Print and ebook design for authors who truly want to self-publish. Offers formatting and design services only, and then provides simple instructions for authors on where to sign up to have the print and ebook editions printed/listed/sold. Cut out the middle man. Keep 100% of what bookstores pay for your book!
Angela's POD Secrets Revealed Series can be found HERE.
Have a POD Book with another publisher? See if BookLocker can give you a better deal. (BookLocker offers "disgruntled author discounts" to those who want to move from other POD services.)
See BookLocker's publishing packages HERE.
ANGELA ON TWITTER https://twitter.com/AngelaHoy
BOOKLOCKER ON FACEBOOK - Provides links to free excerpts!
https://www.facebook.com/booklockerbooks
ANGELA ON FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/angela.hoy.750
ANGELA ON LINKEDIN
https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelahoy/
Angela is the creator of the Original 24-Hour Short Story Contest!
https://24hourshortstorycontest.com/
Read More Of Angela's Articles HERE