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| Volume 51, Number 2, Spring 2002 |
LETTERSAs I read Larry O'Hanlon's fine article on tracking down Internet thieves who steal our stuff, I cheered. For several years, I've tried to do the same. I do have one suggestion to add to the list-and perhaps in so doing add to the coffers of other freelancers. Instead of asking the thief to remove the stolen article, I suggest you consider talking about what you are going to charge him or her. Because, after all, they have already stolen it. By posting it, they have already reduced your ability to resell it. So, when I catch an Internet thief (usually by simply doing a Google
search on my byline, but sometimes by someone tipping me off), I try
to find an 800 number and call the office directly. First I make sure
the publication that originally published the story hasn't made arrangements
(sometimes by mistake) with the Web folks. Then I talk about a fee.
I never ask them to take an article down, I I've collected many times this way-the largest reprint fee to date from a single site has been $1520. The $20 was to cover phone expenses because I had to threaten small claims court after their first check bounced. This fee is unusually high for a reprint, but they were very arrogant and ticked me off. Sometimes, of course, people refuse and just take down the article. But more often than not, I get some money-usually $300 or $500. Here's hoping others will find the method works for them, too. Kathleen Doheny, Freelance # ScienceWriters welcomes
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