Theft of Fan Fiction
 

I am not pleased about this, but I have come across a few forums and Short Story sites that have mentioned people's stories are being literally stolen and turned into books, published in sci-fi magazines under other peoples names, and other. Other complain that the stories that they have posted on story sites, games sites, and other have been plagiarized (sp) by other who claim to have written them. Thank God I have not seen any of the great stories posted here at Shrapnel plagiarized, but I have read a few that are very similar and were posted well after the ones here. They are just dissimilar enough to squeak by as original works, but close enough to make one wonder.

It would sicken me to no end to see someone’s work taken and used without permission, changed, altered, and or converted into a book, movie, or TV series. I know the likelihood of something such as this ever happening here is so remote that it will likely never happen. However, given the climate and on going nature of story thieves of Hollywood, what can any of us do to protect the stories we have posted here?

[ February 20, 2004, 09:46: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

Re: Theft of Fan Fiction
 

Mail it to yourself (by registered mail even) and keep the unopened envelope.

Re: Theft of Fan Fiction
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Do this several times.
Do not let anyone open the envelope, ever.
Until you take your case to court, that is.
Then only allow the judge to open the envelope in open session.
Don't even let your lawyer touch it (yes, you still need one).
Just hand it to the bailiff, who will hand it to the judge.

This is the Poor Man's Copyright.
Don't leave home without it.