Rank: Guest Groups: Member
Joined: 1/9/2015 Posts: 455 Location: johnny@zerys.com
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Content
theft has become a serious problem on the web and can happen to anyone.
There is no human or automated means we can use to prevent buyers from
stealing writers' work and publishing it without paying the writer for
it. Therefore, while this is rare, Zerys cannot guarantee that this will
not happen to you. That being said, if it does happen, we want to help
you know how to handle it, so we've some steps you can take below.
(Note:
The advice below should not be considered legal advice. If you believe a
theft has occurred, you should consider retaining the services of an
attorney that specializes in copyright law.)
- First,
check the content on Google, or use a plagiarism checker such as
CopyScape to make sure the client is actually using your work. Also,
double-check to make sure you were not paid within your Zerys account.
- Start
a conversation with the client through their Zerys profile first. If
they're unresponsive, you can attempt to contact them via the contact
information on the site where your content has been published. To start
with, we have found it's always best to assume there has been a
misunderstanding, and to remain polite and professional. Consider asking
asking them to explain to you why they have published your work without
paying for it, and give them options to rectify the situation. You can
choose which options you want to give them. These options can include
removing the content entirely from their site, compensating you for the
content, or crediting you as the author on their website.
- If
the client does not respond and agree to rectify the unauthorized use
of your work, you can send a Cease and Desist message to them, which is
basically a formal letter stating that they must rectify it or further
action will be taken. Templates of Cease and Desist letters can be found
online.
- If,
after a reasonable amount of time, actions have not been taken to make
proper amends, consider contacting the client's supervisor, web host,
and/or ISP. If the content is hosted by a 3rd party website, you can
contact that website and give them the URL of the content you are
claiming was stolen, and explain that you own this content and that it
was published without your permission, and request that they take it
down.
- Consider
contacting search engines to request that they take down your
copyrighted material. You can learn more about the Digital Millenium
Copyright Act and get instructions for filing requests at Google and Yahoo!
- If all else fails, consider hiring a copyright attorney
What NOT to do:
- Try
not to lose your cool. Remain polite and professional and assume this
is all the result of a mistake. If this doesn't work, you can rachet
things up later, or ultimately let your attorney do it for you.
- Don't
resort to posting negative things about the client on their website, on
social media pages, or anywhere else out on the web. Even if you're in
the right, this can be used against you by the client later and could end up
causing you headaches in the future.
- Don't
delete anything. Save records of your work, its misuse, and all
communication with the client, with screenshots and timestamps if
possible.
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