Major network "Professional" stole my work. Expose them to the public?

Radio/newspaper personality copied work. Expose them publicly after DMCA

[motorhaven]

While searching through Yahoo for phrases from a vehicle "ride and drive" article I wrote in 2003 I stumbled across a rather disturbing act of plaguerism.

A personality who is often on a radio program, distributes articles (as well as publishing some on their own site) and holds a prominent position in a trade association copied significant portions of my article, presenting it as their own. I'm not talking about fair use, but entire paragrahs and several individual sentences word-for-word without attributing them to me or my company. They were intermixed in the article as if it were that person's own experience reviewing this vehicle.

I filed a DMCA notice with this person directly, their host, Yahoo and their employer. The article quickly came down and I received a response stating they thought they copied it from a manufacturer press release.

The style of my writing was clearly not like a manufacturer press release and I stated in the article that the manufacturer invited me there as part of the press pool to review this vehicle. This person either deliberately copied my work or is too stupid to know the difference. Based on their position in the industry I can't chaulk this up as stupidity but rather as someone taking a shortcut and using the "little guy's" work because they did not think they were likely to get caught. I estimate the article has been on their site for 2-3 years.

I operate an extremely popular site that targets owners of a specific vehicle manufacturer, covering several models. I have a great relationship with this manufacturer including a licensing agreement and several ad campaigns run for them over the years.

My question is: even though they have taken down the article should I (and dare I) expose them publicly? Perhaps with an article stating the facts, maybe a call to the radio program, and notifying the trade association?

[shortbus1662]

if the guy was big time enough, maybe your new article could get some press of it's own. If you got some good publicity from it, it certainly wouldn't hurt.

[Syzygy]

My question is: even though they have taken down the article should I (and dare I) expose them publicly? Perhaps with an article stating the facts, maybe a call to the radio program, and notifying the trade association?

No; they have complied. End of story.

Syzygy

[motorhaven]

>No; they have complied. End of story.

What is your basis for this choice? I'm in need of some detailed advice, if possible. Thanks.

[Woz]

1) If you were going to make it public, the time would have been when it was still on their site.

2) As they have now complied with your request to remove the offending content, that is the end of the matter.

Onya
Woz

[motorhaven]

I've got screen shots and a saved copy of the original article. Plus its in archive.org.

I guess its a waste of time... but at least her boss will forever doubt her, which isn't nearly as much as she deserves.

Time to register a copyright for my articles so I can get punative damages next time.

[Essex_boy]

Leave it be. They have done what you wanted and who knows this may have even had teh effect of stopping her from doing it again.

Problem with getting press attetion is that it takes on a life of its own and you never quite know where that will end up.

If you do feel the need to bring it in the open, then advertise it on your site.

[Quadrille]

They say they got it from a press release - that may be true.

It may be the 'middle man' that stole it, and you could face civil action for libel, if your are wrong.

If you follow it up, do so very carefully using a lawyer; unless you are an expert in copyright law, be happy that they complied quickly, and move on.

remeber that plagiarism is a minefield, compared to out-and-out copyright theft