This is happening to me a lot lately. A couple weeks ago, I got an LL Bean catalog. I start looking through it and - look at that! - they plagiarized a whole bunch of copy to use for similar products in their catalog.

And today, I got an email from Oscar de la Renta, touting their new pants in various fits. The copy is identical to what I wrote for our catalog.

The least Oscar could do is send me a pair of shoes or something.

Stymie said:

Did you call them on it?

Maybe I could get Prince's black lady lawyers to send them a C&D.

You need to consult a lawyer.

Have you copyrighted any of your work??

yes... i've had music i've written stolen over the years

luv4u said:

You need to consult a lawyer.

Have you copyrighted any of your work??

It would have to be the company I work for suing them (the work belongs to them, since they pay me) - and they wouldn't bother with anything like that.

Yes. I hate that shit with a PASSION. Someone also attempted to steal my final paper in college and turn it in as their own!

Genesia said:

luv4u said:

You need to consult a lawyer.

Have you copyrighted any of your work??

It would have to be the company I work for suing them (the work belongs to them, since they pay me) - and they wouldn't bother with anything like that.

Show your company and see what they have to say.

luv4u said:

Genesia said:

It would have to be the company I work for suing them (the work belongs to them, since they pay me) - and they wouldn't bother with anything like that.

Show your company and see what they have to say.

They won't do anything about it. This has been going on for years. People steal copy from us all the time.

It's flattering, in a way. We mostly just have a laugh at the other company, figuring they're so lame, they can't come up with their own words to sell their product.

Yes,

even more than once.

A professor is still glowing and growing because of the great research that I came up with. Well, can't prove that I served the idea to him.

In your case you can prove it.

So, get them to send you the whole summer, fall and winter shoe collection!

Genesia said:

luv4u said:

Show your company and see what they have to say.

They won't do anything about it. This has been going on for years. People steal copy from us all the time.

It's flattering, in a way. We mostly just have a laugh at the other company, figuring they're so lame, they can't come up with their own words to sell their product.

That's coz they have people that don't know how to use their brains and are too lazy

I had a copywriter working for me once who was really good, really talented. One day I was reading his copy about a particular book, and it just didn't read like his normal style. So I googled a portion of it and up popped an Amazon link with book description copy matching his. I was pissed as all hell and read him the riot act.

I can't really say I've had my work stolen (that I know of), but I have had it reused or reprinted without my permission, which is annoying too.

luv4u said:

Genesia said:

They won't do anything about it. This has been going on for years. People steal copy from us all the time.

It's flattering, in a way. We mostly just have a laugh at the other company, figuring they're so lame, they can't come up with their own words to sell their product.

That's coz they have people that don't know how to use their brains and are too lazy

No, it isn't. It's because it would cost more to sue than they could get in damages.

Genesia said:

Stymie said:

Did you call them on it?

Maybe I could get Prince's black lady lawyers to send them a C&D.

I had someone run out of a gallery in Santa Monica with one of my paintings.

I guess I'm flattered.

Genesia said:

Stymie said:

Did you call them on it?

Maybe I could get Prince's black lady lawyers to send them a C&D.

Genesia said:

luv4u said:

That's coz they have people that don't know how to use their brains and are too lazy

No, it isn't. It's because it would cost more to sue than they could get in damages.

I'm pretty sure she was talking about the offending party; not your company.

No, never.

Everything is great here.

Hope that helps.

imago said:

No, never.

Everything is great here.

Hope that helps.

I love you.

So, how's your book proceeding?

dJJ said:

imago said:

No, never.

Everything is great here.

Hope that helps.

I love you.

So, how's your book proceeding?

well

imago said:

dJJ said:

I love you.

So, how's your book proceeding?

well

I REALLY hate that word...puss...

I wouldn't say I've had my work completely stolen but I have worked with people, either as a pair, or as a group, only to have one person act as if they did it completely alone and not acknowledge anyone else's contributions. I feel like Andre Cymone. Too bad I don't look like him.

Yeah, once. Back when I was 16.
I had just started at McDonald's. On the first day of my second week, I showed up to work, & the whole restaurant was gone. They took everything. The building, the customers, all my fellow employess, the deep fryer where they make the fries, everything.
Fuckers.
I was hoping to save up for my first pair of Addidas, too.
Now I was stuck walking around in my work shoes, a cheap pair of pleather loafers that I got from Payless.

Genesia said:

luv4u said:

Show your company and see what they have to say.

They won't do anything about it. This has been going on for years. People steal copy from us all the time.

It's flattering, in a way. We mostly just have a laugh at the other company, figuring they're so lame, they can't come up with their own words to sell their product.

Does your company tell you that your copy is work for hire, or is it just assumed? And is it assumed industry wide, or is it just that your company doesn't care?

Yes, I have had work stolen. Worse for me though is credit for work being taken without earning it. Only once have I not made clear at an appropriate time that the person taking the credit did not actually do the work, and that was only because I already knew that guy was going to be let go.

tinaz said:

imago said:

well

I REALLY hate that word...puss...

Honey, your husband has the finest ass in the human race, ever.

I don't think very much could possibly bother you in light of that.

Visionnaire said:

Yeah, once. Back when I was 16.
I had just started at McDonald's. On the first day of my second week, I showed up to work, & the whole restaurant was gone. They took everything. The building, the customers, all my fellow employess, the deep fryer where they make the fries, everything.
Fuckers.
I was hoping to save up for my first pair of Addidas, too.
Now I was stuck walking around in my work shoes, a cheap pair of pleather loafers that I got from Payless.

Lammastide said:

Genesia said:

No, it isn't. It's because it would cost more to sue than they could get in damages.

I'm pretty sure she was talking about the offending party; not your company.

Correct.

johnart said:

I had someone run out of a gallery in Santa Monica with one of my paintings.

I guess I'm flattered.

Was I suppose to pay?

Genesia said:

luv4u said:

Show your company and see what they have to say.

They won't do anything about it. This has been going on for years. People steal copy from us all the time.

It's flattering, in a way. We mostly just have a laugh at the other company, figuring they're so lame, they can't come up with their own words to sell their product.

Sorry to hear that. My brother has the same problem with his company (But he runs it, so he does stop people from time to time.)

Although, you situation brought to my mind Elaine Benes and J.Peterman:

My mom had a term paper stolen from her by her professor. My mom was taking courses toward her masters degree in education. She wrote a paper for one of her classes, and the professor gave her an "A+." Howeve, professor refused to return the paper to mom claiming she lost it. Mom later found out that "professor" actually used her paper for one of her own assignments while pursing her PhD.