Published on October 19, 2011
Hustler Magazine - sued for $20M by Larry Flynt's estranged brother Station Casinos LLC of Las Vegas - involved in copyright dispute with photographer over "hot dog girl" photo Lawsuit Over 'Hurt Locker' Story Has Been Tossed - Plaintiff ordered to pay filmmakers' legal fees. Defendants' lawyer said, "No artist should ever be forced to create entire fictional worlds that have no basis in reality simply because they fear the threat of meritless lawsuits." …
Published on October 12, 2011
"Publisher Claims Ownership of Time-Zone Data" - is suing two researchers Former CEO of What's On, The Las Vegas Guide - sued by the pub's owner for alleged misappropriation of company funds B&N Allegedly Pulls Some DC Graphic Novels From Shelves After Publisher Signs Exclusive Amazon Tablet Deal …
Published on October 5, 2011
Apple, Amazon AND Barnes and Noble sued for alleged price fixing of ebooks. Problem has "mushroomed into a dozen lawsuits." Esquire magazine - sued for publishing an article, and (allegedly) later calling it satire. …
Published on September 28, 2011
Righthaven LLC - This firm's activities are summed up quite nicely HERE. Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, and author Joe McGinniss - Threatened with defamation lawsuit by Sarah Palin. According to THIS ARTICLE, the author allegedly "ran out of time" to sufficiently source the book. …
Published on September 21, 2011
At the end of 2009, the name BookSurge was retired, and that business was rolled under the CreateSpace name. Since there were so many complaints about BookSurge posted online (we were a previous victim as well), we investigated CreateSpace's forum in April, 2010 to see if things had gotten better. You can see our past findings (they're not pretty!) HERE. We have continued to receive complaints about CreateSpace since that time and, this week, we decided to revisit their forum to see if things have improved. We weren't terribly surprised by what we found... …
Published on September 21, 2011
L.A. Times - accused of "wrongful termination" in lawsuit for no longer delivering its Sunday magazine to "lower income and demographically minority neighborhoods." The Tribune Company - Sued for $13M by former L.A. Times Magazine Publisher for alleged "wrongful termination, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and violation of business and professions code." Google Illegal Book Scanning Debacle - "A federal judge set a proposed schedule...that could take the case to trial next year." Righthaven - The alleged copyright troll's assets have been "targeted for seizure." Owes former defendant $34K in legal fees. …
Published on September 14, 2011
South Carolina's female governor, Nikki Haley, calls reporter 'Little Girl' U.S. colleges allegedly hosting books illegally scanned by Google hit with copyright infringement lawsuit WND Books, publisher of Muslim Mafia: Inside the Secret Underworld That's Conspiring to Islamize America. After threat to seize book, publisher makes it available electronically, encourages copying and distribution before judge rules on the case. …
Published on September 7, 2011
Co-author of a Sarah Palin tell-all book - considering suing over unauthorized leak of the book's manuscript. Dragan Vasiljkovic, accused war criminal - loses libel lawsuit against The Australian, ordered to pay costs. …
Published on August 31, 2011
Google - Reaches settlement with second French publisher. The publisher, not Google, will be able to determine which titles are scanned by Google. The Brazilian government - is allegedly upset with a novelist for his satirical portrayal of Brazil. A newspaper in Brazil claims a government official "insisted all Brazilians must be 'treated well, even in fiction.'" …
Published on August 24, 2011
Hachette Group, Barnes & Noble and author Christie Craig - Sued by the Texas Department of Transportation. 'The Help' lawsuit tossed out - Woman claimed book character was based on her. …
Published on August 17, 2011
"Misconception76" - Allegedly admits plagiarizing Cynthia Eden's novel, Deadly Heat, and posting it to FanFiction.net. CaSTT / ucastt.com / Darren "Dag" Cox - Writer alleges she's owed $845. Neftyanik (a Russian firm) - Sued by Forbes for allegedly publishing "an unlicensed 'special edition of the magazine." Rihanna - Fires lawyer after losing first round of copyright infringement lawsuit filed by photographer. New Edition singer Johnny Gill - sued for Twitter post. …
Published on August 10, 2011
Conde Nast Sued for $10 Million Over Vanity Fair Piece USA Today - Did you unknowningly pay for that copy of USA Today left outside your hotel room door? "More than half of its daily circulation of 1.78 million consists of hotel copies." Some of those copies are itemized on customers' bills...without the customer requesting the paper! …
Published on August 3, 2011
Myths About Fair Use Don't miss THIS EXCELLENT ARTICLE! Blogger Adam Meister CLEARED after Baltimore Councilwoman, Belinda Conaway dismisses her $21M lawsuit against him. …
Published on July 27, 2011
Book Shelved Amid Scam Talk Three Cheers for Anti-Slapp Laws! Author wins in court against developer who sued for defamation. Former LVRJ Publisher Admits He Was Behind Righthaven Lawsuit. Jail House Rocs - a tabloid that publishes arrest photos. Sued for defamation. …
Published on July 20, 2011
Just 4 Her magazine / Holly Jones Cunningham, President and Editor - Sued by the Illinois attorney general for allegedly selling ads in a magazine that was never published. Google - "...stopped its so-called boycott of the Copiepresse newspapers (that had sued it) after they agreed not to enforce copyright infringement fines." Source: Liz Gannes / allthingsd.com Have a complaint or a comment? Post it here: https://forums.writersweekly.com/viewforum.php?f=14 …
Published on July 13, 2011
Whispers and Warnings will return next week. Have a complaint or a comment? Post it here: https://forums.writersweekly.com/viewforum.php?f=14 …
Published on June 29, 2011
Esquire Magazine - Sued for defamation by World News Daily. Hustler - Loses lawsuit filed by family of woman who was murdered. Hustler published nude pictures of her after the high-profile murder. Key Porter Books - Author uses Twitter to air her grievances about this publisher, saying they owe her $9K. Have a complaint or a comment? Post it here: https://forums.writersweekly.com/viewforum.php?f=14 …
Published on June 22, 2011
Apple - sued for trademark infringement by a publisher for using the term "ibooks" Copyright Troll? - Judge gives Righthaven two weeks to explain why he should not sanction it while also ruling that an individual's reposting of an entire article on a discussion forum was fair use. Have a complaint or a comment? Post it here: https://forums.writersweekly.com/viewforum.php?f=14 …
Published on June 15, 2011
Huffington Post / huffingtonpost.com - Four more bloggers join the lawsuit. Borders - Two principal advisors for the unsecured creditors committee in the Borders' bankruptcy case submitted their invoices totaling more than $2 million for work done just since February. (How much you wanna bet they get paid before the publishers?) Have a complaint or a comment? Post it here: https://forums.writersweekly.com/viewforum.php?f=14 …
Published on June 8, 2011
ANOTHER COMPLAINT about Cobblestone / Carus Publishing - Illustrator alleges they owe $1500. Have a complaint? Post it here: https://forums.writersweekly.com/viewforum.php?f=14 …
Published on June 1, 2011
RED ROSE PUBLISHING - Another author posts a public declaration severing all ties with them. Have a complaint? Post it here: https://forums.writersweekly.com/viewforum.php?f=14 …
Published on May 25, 2011
I'm getting upset with CreateSpace. The old saying, "One step forward, two steps back..." I saw where you have the disgruntled author's discount. I'm there. Thank you, SR PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Yes, we've received plenty of complaints about CreateSpace (previously known as BookSurge) and there are many more posted online. At BookLocker.com, we have a "$149 Disgruntled Author Set-up Fee Special" for authors who want to move from another POD publisher. For more information, see: https://publishing.booklocker.com …
Published on May 25, 2011
POSSIBLE BOOK BAN? - Mother of fourth grader complains about "sexual content" in Lovingly Alice. Entrepreneur Magazine - suing entreprenuers for using the word "entrepreneur" Have a complaint? Post it here: https://forums.writersweekly.com/viewforum.php?f=14 …
Published on May 18, 2011
Examiner.com - Sued for $21M for libel. While it appears this suit might not get too far, it also appears the blogger might need to pay his own legal fees, per the Indemnification clause in the Examiner.com Terms of Use - "You agree to indemnify and hold the Examiner.com Parties harmless from any claim or demand, including reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, made by any third party due to or arising out of your use of the Site..." Writers.net - Forum users are complaining about censorship / deleted threads. Have a complaint? Post it here: https://forums.writersweekly.com/viewforum.php?f=14 …
Published on May 11, 2011
3RD COMPLAINT! Perry DeGregorioExperiential Marketing Associates - experientialmarketing.biz / New York Exhibit Rentals / newyorkexhibitrentals.com / Tres 3d - Graphic designer alleges he's owed $4K. Ehow.com - A writer makes disturbing allegations. PublishAmerica - Author alleges PublishAmerica won't give his rights back unless he signs a contract with a "gag clause." He states he's reported them to the Kentucky Attorney General's office. Credit Union Business - Writer alleges she received payment after threatening legal action. Have a complaint? Post it here: https://forums.writersweekly.com/viewforum.php?f=14 …
Published on May 4, 2011
Credit Union Business - Writer alleges they've been waiting 18 months for payment. Suite 101 / Suite101.com - Writer posts detailed complaint. NW Magazine / ACP Magazines - Sued by celebrity over affair story. STAR magazine - Apologized to celebrity, settles suit over drug story. …
Published on April 27, 2011
Zite, a news aggregator for the iPad - served with a cease and desist letter signed by a long list of major publishers. …
Published on April 20, 2011
Righthaven v. Democratic Underground and many others. VegNews - Busted by a blogger, gets roasted after admitting using photos of meals containing meat, misrepresenting them as vegetarian dishes. On a personal note, when I see a recipe and accompanying photo in a magazine, I assume the magazine has tested and approved that recipe. Boy, am I gullible! - Angela Hoy …
Published on April 13, 2011
Red Rose Publishing - Author posts declaration severing her relationship with them. Huffington Post - This is what can happen when you write for FREE! (And, no, I don't think those writers will win their lawsuit. Nobody forced them to write for free.) …
Published on April 6, 2011
RED ROSE PUBLISHING - Someone made a pretty inflammatory post about this outfit here: https://forums.writersweekly.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=8891 So, we did some research and found these: According to Preditors & Editor - "strongly not recommended" Has an "F" rating with the Better Business Bureau More here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/internet-fraud/red-rose-publishing/red-rose-publishing-wendi-felt-c5f72.htm And here: https://theyankeebitchtimes.com/?p=551 And here: https://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2010/09/16/red-rose-publisher-v-jane-round-1/ …
Published on March 30, 2011
COMPLAINT about Johnny Chase, pastor at Spirit of Victory Ministries - Writer alleges she's owed $1500. …
Published on March 23, 2011
Intermediapr.com / Intermedia Distribution - SPAMMERS! …
Published on March 16, 2011
Whispers and Warnings will return next week. …
Published on March 9, 2011
FINED! - New Century Publishing, owned by David William Caswell, was fined $339,824.15 by the government! Read the story here. "DID THIS PUBLISHER STEAL MY IDEA?" - Writer is seeking opinions from other writers. …
Published on March 2, 2011
2 MORE COMPLAINTS about Carus Publishing Company, publisher of: APPLESEEDS, ASK, BABYBUG, CALLIOPE, CICADA, CLICK, COBBLESTONE, CRICKET, DIG, FACES, LADYBUG, MUSE, ODYSSEY, and SPIDER - Writer alleges she's owed more than $1,000 and illustrator alleges he's owed $1,000. COMPLAINT about imprbooks.com / Intermedia Distribution - Not only did these guys spam us, they insulted us, too! 56th COMPLAINT ABOUT Kim Kleeman / Shakespeare Squared! - Writer alleges she'd owed $460. …
Published on February 23, 2011
FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY: Shakespeare Squared / ShakespeareSquared.com - Some of their victims are crying foul, saying Shakespeare Squared continued to hire writers when they already owed so many writers money. You can bet they'll be contesting the bankruptcy filing. 53rd COMPLAINT about Kim Kleeman / Shakespeare Squared / ShakespeareSquared.com / S2EO / s2eo.com / UpGrade Education / upgradeeducation.com - Writer alleges she's owed $912. 54th COMPLAINT about Kim Kleeman / Shakespeare Squared / ShakespeareSquared.com / S2EO / s2eo.com / UpGrade Education / upgradeeducation.com UPDATE: YPNI News / ypninews.com / Ava Ross - Writer says she received $135 of what she's owed. …
Published on February 9, 2011
50th COMPLAINT about Kim Kleeman / Shakespeare Squared / ShakespeareSquared.com / S2EO / s2eo.com / UpGrade Education / upgradeeducation.com - Writer alleges they owe her $1528.75 and that they reneged on their agreed-upon payment plan. 51st COMPLAINT about Kim Kleeman / Shakespeare Squared / ShakespeareSquared.com / S2EO / s2eo.com / UpGrade Education / upgradeeducation.com - Writer alleges she's owed $1353 and that she's "in a lot of financial trouble because that hasn't been paid." COMPLAINT - Intermedia Distribution / MPRBooks.com / halfpricebooksandmore.com / Half Price Books and More in Peoria, AZ - SPAMMERS!!! …
Published on February 2, 2011
UPDATE - York Street Publishing, Inc. / yorkstreetpublishing.com / Amy McCraken - Writer MK was finally paid in full, 2 1/2 years after his complaint was submitted. Writers EK was also finally paid in full, 2 1/2 years after her complaint was submitted. 49th COMPLAINT about Kim Kleeman / Shakespeare Squared / ShakespeareSquared.com / S2EO / s2eo.com / UpGrade Education / upgradeeducation.com - Writer alleges she's owed $11,080. THUMBS DOWN! TheStop6Project …
Published on January 26, 2011
FOLLOW-UP - Victim #5 alleges Shakespeare Squared has ceased paying agreed-upon installments. 47th COMPLAINT about Kim Kleeman / Shakespeare Squared / ShakespeareSquared.com / S2EO / s2eo.com / UpGrade Education / upgradeeducation.com - Writer alleges she's owed $2265. 48th COMPLAINT about Kim Kleeman / Shakespeare Squared / ShakespeareSquared.com / S2EO / s2eo.com / UpGrade Education / upgradeeducation.com - Writer alleges he's owed $2392. COMPLAINT about Louis Sirico / The RFID Network / rfid.net - Writer alleges he's owed $750; publisher tells a different story. …
Published on January 19, 2011
46th COMPLAINT about Kim Kleeman / Shakespeare Squared / ShakespeareSquared.com / S2EO / s2eo.com / UpGrade Education / upgradeeducation.com - Writer alleges she's owed $1300. BAD NEWS - Kim Kleeman / Shakespeare Squared / ShakespeareSquared.com / S2EO / s2eo.com / UpGrade Education / upgradeeducation.com - Shakespeare Squared has STOPPED AGREED-UPON INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS to Victim #5 AND STOPPED COMMUNICATION! COMPLAINT - Writer Services, LLC - SPAMMERS! WARNING ABOUT FirstOnePublishing.com / First One Publishing Writing Contest - YOU pay THEM $149 and they then take ALL RIGHTS TO YOUR SUBMISSION! Horrible!! …
Published on January 12, 2011
44th COMPLAINT about Kim Kleeman / Shakespeare Squared / ShakespeareSquared.com / S2EO / s2eo.com / UpGrade Education / upgradeeducation.com - Writer alleges she's owed $960. 45th COMPLAINT about Kim Kleeman / Shakespeare Squared / ShakespeareSquared.com / S2EO / s2eo.com / UpGrade Education / upgradeeducation.com - Writer alleges he's owed $1625. …
Published on January 5, 2011
COMPLAINT about MindStir Media / MindstirMedia.com - SPAMMERS! UPDATE - SEARCH Magazine / Heldref Publications / James Denton - As ordered by the court, James Denton has finally paid the victim $701. …