Material Theft?

[Dies_Irae]

Hi there. I'm writing a story at the moment, and I'm considering seeking an editor, as the first chapter is nearly done. However, I'm a little worried. I've heard from some people online that they've had their material stolen by editors. I'm not sure about this site, but I'd like to hear about people's experiences. Should I be wary of submitting to an editor?

Thanks in advance.

 

[PennLady]

Hi there. I'm writing a story at the moment, and I'm considering seeking an editor, as the first chapter is nearly done. However, I'm a little worried. I've heard from some people online that they've had their material stolen by editors. I'm not sure about this site, but I'd like to hear about people's experiences. Should I be wary of submitting to an editor?

Thanks in advance.

I suppose this is always a fear, but I have not encountered this, at all. I edit myself and would never consider doing this. Unless you actually get your work copyrighted before sending it out for editing, I believe this is just a chance you'll have to take.

 

[MicKay]

I suggest looking at the editor acknowledgements authors include in their stories. Also, some of the greats can be found posting on this forum. Reputation and experience can offer you some assurance.

Personally, I never had to worry about anyone stealing my stuff. If I was any good then I wouldn't be giving it away.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

I suggest looking at the editor acknowledgements authors include in their stories.

Some editors, myself included, prefer not to be acknowledged in the stories we have edited. Two reasons for this really; 1) if the writer doesn't accept the changes then it looks bad for the editor, and 2) because some editors are not seeking additional work.

I've been editing here for years, check my bio for the exact start time, and been visiting the editor's forum for just as long. The biggest complaint is other erotic websites "stealing" posted stories and publishing them without acknowledging the writer. Never heard of an editor stealing a story to be edited. I'd like to think we're a group with more integrity than this.

So I really do feel your "fears" are unfounded. But then there's always a first time for everything.

 

[sr71plt]

It's possible that stories will be stolen this way--and the dirty story business would be a natural place where it would go on--but, like the others, I don't remember ever having heard of it being done. Haven't even heard the rumor rumbles the OP claims to have heard. Quite probably an urban myth.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Quite probably an urban myth.

A writer sees his/her original erotic story posted under another name. Distraught, he/she goes to a bar, gets drunk, wakes up in a tub full of ice with a fresh scar along the left side with a thank-you note for his/her kidney. In the distance the howl of bigfoot can be heard.

 

[snoopercharmbrights]

A writer sees his/her original erotic story posted under another name. Distraught, he/she goes to a bar, gets drunk, wakes up in a tub full of ice with a fresh scar along the left side with a thank-you note for his/her kidney. In the distance the howl of bigfoot can be heard.

And then he has to drive home 1000 miles with his dead granny rolled up in a carpet on the roof rack; half way home someone steals his car at a rest stop.

 

[lovecraft68]

Hi there. I'm writing a story at the moment, and I'm considering seeking an editor, as the first chapter is nearly done. However, I'm a little worried. I've heard from some people online that they've had their material stolen by editors. I'm not sure about this site, but I'd like to hear about people's experiences. Should I be wary of submitting to an editor?

Thanks in advance.

If you're going to worry about theft, an editor will be the leat of your worries. By putting a story up here for free you are adding another item to other sex sites grocery carts.

Yes if a story gets lifted here and you find out about it and contact lit they will try to take it down but it is a process.

Last year I googled my story and found it-along with the rest of the day top ten incest stories-all on another site. Since then I practice ignorance is bliss and do not search my stories.

Of course I will only see the ones that they have kept the name the same, most do as it is 'bots' that steal them, but who knows?

This is the chance we take, it is a free site and we are putting it up there for free. If you are concerned with theft you may not want to bother.

 

[PennLady]

A writer sees his/her original erotic story posted under another name. Distraught, he/she goes to a bar, gets drunk, wakes up in a tub full of ice with a fresh scar along the left side with a thank-you note for his/her kidney. In the distance the howl of bigfoot can be heard.

And then he has to drive home 1000 miles with his dead granny rolled up in a carpet on the roof rack; half way home someone steals his car at a rest stop.

In the pine barrens on NJ, he sees the flash of a tail as something disappears into the woods.

 

[LucyH]

Yeah, I haven't had trouble with editors stealing my work - they've been nothing but helpful. However, the first story I posted on lit. was stolen immediately and posted elsewhere. And actually, I really don't mind.

 

[_Lynn_]

I suppose this is always a fear, but I have not encountered this, at all. I edit myself and would never consider doing this. Unless you actually get your work copyrighted before sending it out for editing, I believe this is just a chance you'll have to take.

I agree with PL.

Some editors, myself included, prefer not to be acknowledged in the stories we have edited. Two reasons for this really; 1) if the writer doesn't accept the changes then it looks bad for the editor, and 2) because some editors are not seeking additional work.

Editing is not something I do for glory and acknowledgements can be taken as such. In addition, AS made an excellent point. When an author posts a story without making corrections and/or changes, the editor looks bad.

 

[snoopercharmbrights]

Long ago, one of the truly great members of Lit said:

I would be SO pleased if someone liked my stuff enough to steal it.

 

[CarlusMagnus]

A writer sees his/her original erotic story posted under another name. Distraught, he/she goes to a bar, gets drunk, wakes up in a tub full of ice with a fresh scar along the left side with a thank-you note for his/her kidney. In the distance the howl of bigfoot can be heard.

Good thing this is an erotica site; that author surely got fucked!

 

[bronzeage]

Hi there. I'm writing a story at the moment, and I'm considering seeking an editor, as the first chapter is nearly done. However, I'm a little worried. I've heard from some people online that they've had their material stolen by editors. I'm not sure about this site, but I'd like to hear about people's experiences. Should I be wary of submitting to an editor?

Thanks in advance.

This question comes up about once a month. I suppose it must be a real concern for some people.

The chance an editor will see a story which seems worth plagiarizing is very very small.

 

[Dropped]

This question comes up about once a month. I suppose it must be a real concern for some people.

The chance an editor will see a story which seems worth plagiarizing is very very small.

So, I read that last line and wondered. Are you saying it is very rare to find a Literotica story worth plagiarizing, or that it's not worth enough money to try to plagiarize? I read it as the first, not the latter.

It comes up often because writers can put hours (and hours) into a single story that they find later has been posted to a different site under a different name. It's not really a big deal, considering that posting a story for free to a free site typically makes it public domain (at least in my mind). But, if it ever showed up on Amazon as an Erotic Novella? Holy crap I would be pissed… And, seeking legal advice with a copyright lawyer (note the lower case).

 

[sr71plt]

And, seeking legal advice with a copyright lawyer (note the lower case).

Who would give you the horse laugh if he/she were honest--or take you for big bucks if she/he wasn't.

 

[Dropped]

<laughing!> Only good copyright attorney is in the family. Still a cheat and would try to take your wallet while they consoled you with a pat on the shoulder.

 

[estragon]

An editor here might get away with theft once, but after that would find no authors.
Trust is the most fragile substance I know of; once broken, it cannot be mended.

I copy edit extensively for authors here, and would never dream of taking any author's work. Yes, given US copyright laws (and we've beaten that subject to death enough times), I would suggest it's a waste of money to pursue a theft from this site otherwise than for emotional satisfaction. By essentially giving away whatever you post here, even if you've spent the $35 or whatever it is to register the work, you've as much as expressly stated that you ascribe no pecuniary value to the story or poem. I hasten to add, however, that although I am a lawyer (and have been for 44 years), I do not practice in the field of intellectual property--I can't afford the malpractice insurance premiums; my colleagues in the field tell me they're brutal.

As for acknowledgment, my view is that if the author accepts a substantial part of my edits, say 60% or more, I want the acknowledgment. If the author rejects a substantial part (which the author has every right to do), then no acknowledgment. So far I've had no problems with any of the authors I've worked with.

 

[bronzeage]

So, I read that last line and wondered. Are you saying it is very rare to find a Literotica story worth plagiarizing, or that it's not worth enough money to try to plagiarize? I read it as the first, not the latter.

It comes up often because writers can put hours (and hours) into a single story that they find later has been posted to a different site under a different name. It's not really a big deal, considering that posting a story for free to a free site typically makes it public domain (at least in my mind). But, if it ever showed up on Amazon as an Erotic Novella? Holy crap I would be pissed… And, seeking legal advice with a copyright lawyer (note the lower case).

It's the first.

In my experience, the writers who seek volunteer editor assistance are inexperienced and often lack formal education in writing. This is not the place to find stories which one would want to claim as their own, or sell under a different name.

Lit stories show up as Amazon Erotic Novella all the time, but they are lifted straight off the site, not stolen by an editor.

 

[sr71plt]

Not that the volunteer editor program (which has been defunct for years) represents the total of what is on this site. Lots of authors here have their own, professional-quality editors who they have vetted and use outside the volunteer editor program.

I solve the "will it be stolen?" issue pretty much by publishing it to the marketplace through publishers with editors of their own several months before posting it here.

 

[palisa]

I solve the "will it be stolen?" issue pretty much by publishing it to the marketplace through publishers with editors of their own several months before posting it here.

Publishing it to the commercial marketplace? And then post it here?

 

[sr71plt]

Publishing it to the commercial marketplace? And then post it here?

Yes, that's what I do. Although not everything I have in the marketplace is repeated here. I don't take profit from my eXcessica books/anthologies. So after those have been in the market for a while I go ahead and post them here for free. The publishers I take profit from I don't repost here.

I haven't really noticed that having versions of the eXcessica works posted for free here has had any effect on sales continuing in the marketplace.

 

[ChrissieLecker]

The most effective way to address the problem of metal theft...

...is to melt all the metal into one big lump and put it in the back garden.

Sorry, could not resist