New Amazon Plagiarist

[Lara_Longstaff]

This "Author" https://www.amazon.com/Gary-Hanson/e/B0894ZCCYY/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1 on Amazon, calling himself Gary Hanson, has ripped off my stories, as well as dozens of other Authors and is publishing them as his own work on Amazon. I've reported him to Amazon, but it would help if we all lend our voices. If you've written Transgender, Gay, or Bi stories here on Literotica, check this guy out and make sure he hasn't taken any thing of yours!

PS: I tried emailing you all individually, but the site flagged me as spam. :-(

UPDATE: Amazon has removed the title that I reported, but to get the rest taken down I think Authors will need to submit their own copyright claims!

 

[Enchantment_of_Nyx]

This "Author" https://www.amazon.com/Gary-Hanson/e/B0894ZCCYY/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1 on Amazon, calling himself Gary Hanson, has ripped off my stories, as well as dozens of other Authors and is publishing them as his own work on Amazon. I've reported him to Amazon, but it would help if we all lend our voices. If you've written Transgender, Gay, or Bi stories here on Literotica, check this guy out and make sure he hasn't taken any thing of yours!

PS: I tried emailing you all individually, but the site flagged me as spam. :-(

I'll report any for which you provide the title on Amazon and the corresponding title on Lit so I can do so responsibly.

 

[Lara_Longstaff]

Under Gary Hanson's Compilation "A Big Surprise 3" https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B089FLJP1G

"He's So Gay", "Hunter's Surprise", and "We're Not Gay" by inwardbound

"Travel Buddies" by BACarter

"The Gaymaker" and "No Strings Attached" series by BothWorld

"King of the Strippers" and "All the Tricks were Treats" also by BothWorld

"Choices and Chances" and "Show me Yours" by Bucky Duckman

These are just a sample of some from volume 3 of Hanson's "A Big Surprise" compilation, the authors I have not contacted. Dozens more of us have been ripped off!

 

[yukonnights]

Did this person keep the original titles?

I'm generally not too concerned if something I posted for free ends up someplace else, but if there's going to be a mass complaint I'll sign on. I looked at the link and it does seem unlikely that one person could write the number of stories offered in the "collections of stories" offered.

 

[Lara_Longstaff]

yep

They DID use the original titles!

 

[KeithD]

Thanks for the heads up. I haven't seen evidence of any of mine yet. Maybe it's because I get mine into the marketplace before anyone else can get them. (Or maybe I'm just not identifying them from what I can see.) Wish I knew where the cover images were being found from, though.

 

[yukonnights]

Under Gary Hanson's Compilation "A Big Surprise 3" https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B089FLJP1G

"He's So Gay", "Hunter's Surprise", and "We're Not Gay" by inwardbound

"Travel Buddies" by BACarter

"The Gaymaker" and "No Strings Attached" series by BothWorld

"King of the Strippers" and "All the Tricks were Treats" also by BothWorld

"Choices and Chances" and "Show me Yours" by Bucky Duckman

These are just a sample of some from volume 3 of Hanson's "A Big Surprise" compilation, the authors I have not contacted. Dozens more of us have been ripped off!

I'm assuming that you had to check each story title with something here on Lit — all I saw were titles on the Amazon drop down under each "collection". Surely this person didn't also leave the original author's name on the story.

 

[KeithD]

Did this person keep the original titles?

I'm generally not too concerned if something I posted for free ends up someplace else, but if there's going to be a mass complaint I'll sign on. I looked at the link and it does seem unlikely that one person could write the number of stories offered in the "collections of stories" offered.

I have more collections out, with more stories. And I've written them all myself, so it can be done. Doesn't look like this person has written them all, though.

 

[Lara_Longstaff]

thievery

He's posted MY stories among collections of other people's work, so I know for a fact that he didn't write them all. He is NOT putting the actual author's name for each story, and is clearly taking credit for them all. At least he's too dumb to change the titles, or this act of intellectual banditry might never have been discovered.

 

[Enchantment_of_Nyx]

Under Gary Hanson's Compilation "A Big Surprise 3" https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B089FLJP1G

"He's So Gay", "Hunter's Surprise", and "We're Not Gay" by inwardbound

"Travel Buddies" by BACarter

"The Gaymaker" and "No Strings Attached" series by BothWorld

"King of the Strippers" and "All the Tricks were Treats" also by BothWorld

"Choices and Chances" and "Show me Yours" by Bucky Duckman

These are just a sample of some from volume 3 of Hanson's "A Big Surprise" compilation, the authors I have not contacted. Dozens more of us have been ripped off!

Wow... He didn't even bother changing the titles. So, for anyone interested in reporting, here's the list with the urls of the Lit pages:

"He's So Gay", "Hunter's Surprise", and "We're Not Gay" by inwardbound
https://www.literotica.com/s/hes-so-gay
https://www.literotica.com/s/hunters-surprise
https://www.literotica.com/s/were-not-gay

"Travel Buddies" by BACarter
https://www.literotica.com/s/travel-buddies

"The Gaymaker" and "No Strings Attached" series by BothWorld
https://www.literotica.com/s/the-gaymaker
https://www.literotica.com/s/the-gaymaker-ch-02
https://www.literotica.com/s/no-strings-attached-8
https://www.literotica.com/s/no-strings-attached-ch-02-1
https://www.literotica.com/s/no-strings-attached-ch-03-1
https://www.literotica.com/s/no-strings-attached-ch-4

"King of the Strippers" and "All the Tricks were Treats" also by BothWorld
https://www.literotica.com/s/king-of-the-strippers-ch-01
https://www.literotica.com/s/king-of-the-strippers-ch-02
https://www.literotica.com/s/all-the-tricks-were-treats

"Choices and Chances" and "Show me Yours" by Bucky Duckman
https://www.literotica.com/s/choices-and-chances
https://www.literotica.com/s/show-me-yours-3

 

[yukonnights]

If these are all stories published on Literotica, wouldn't this be something that Lit could take up with better results? If all of these stories can be documented as being published here, seems like that would be the best course. They could probably quickly correlate the titles, provide dates of first publication and submit a take-down request. That's more of a question because I know nothing about the required steps.

 

[KeithD]

Under Gary Hanson's Compilation "A Big Surprise 3" https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B089FLJP1G

"He's So Gay", "Hunter's Surprise", and "We're Not Gay" by inwardbound

"Travel Buddies" by BACarter

"The Gaymaker" and "No Strings Attached" series by BothWorld

"King of the Strippers" and "All the Tricks were Treats" also by BothWorld

"Choices and Chances" and "Show me Yours" by Bucky Duckman

These are just a sample of some from volume 3 of Hanson's "A Big Surprise" compilation, the authors I have not contacted. Dozens more of us have been ripped off!

You could hit the "report finding this at a lower price" button on Amazon. You also could report the stories as stolen in the Gary Hanson listings on Goodreads. (Incidentally, I've been told Amazon has bought Goodreads.)

 

[Enchantment_of_Nyx]

If these are all stories published on Literotica, wouldn't this be something that Lit could take up with better results? If all of these stories can be documented as being published here, seems like that would be the best course. They could probably quickly correlate the titles, provide dates of first publication and submit a take-down request. That's more of a question because I know nothing about the required steps.

Why do one or the other when you can do both? They aren't going to take away your birthday for doing it wrong.

 

[Enchantment_of_Nyx]

Okay, sooooo...

I discovered Amazon does not let anyone but the author/owner/agent submit a copyright infringement report. (One suspects they've done the bare legal minimum requirement.)

So, if you go down to the bottom left corner on the story page, you can report inappropriate content. Obviously, it's not designed for this, but that's not my problem. It's their problem for trying to avoid plagiarism reports. There are several reasons you can choose for the reason it's' inappropriate. I chose "Misleading." Beneath that, there is a box for text. It will not allow you to submit anything with web addresses. So, I did it as follows:

Text from Report:

This book is plagiarized from stories posted on L i t e r o t i c a . c o m.
(Extra spaces were required because of the reporting form's restrictions.)


"He's So Gay", "Hunter's Surprise", and "We're Not Gay" by i n w a r d b o u n d
w w w . l i t e r o t i c a . c o m /s/hes-so-gay
w w w . l i t e r o t i c a . c o m /s/hunters-surprise
w w w . l i t e r o t i c a . c o m /s/were-not-gay

"Travel Buddies" by B A C a r t e r
w w w . l i t e r o t i c a . c o m /s/travel-buddies

"The Gaymaker" and "No Strings Attached" series by BothWorld
w w w . l i t e r o t i c a . c o m /s/the-gaymaker
w w w . l i t e r o t i c a . c o m /s/the-gaymaker-ch-02
w w w . l i t e r o t i c a . c o m /s/no-strings-attached-8
w w w . l i t e r o t i c a . c o m /s/no-strings-attached-ch-02-1
w w w . l i t e r o t i c a . c o m /s/no-strings-attached-ch-03-1
w w w . l i t e r o t i c a . c o m /s/no-strings-attached-ch-4

"King of the Strippers" and "All the Tricks were Treats" also by BothWorld
w w w . l i t e r o t i c a . c o m /s/king-of-the-strippers-ch-01
w w w . l i t e r o t i c a . c o m /s/king-of-the-strippers-ch-02
w w w . l i t e r o t i c a . c o m /s/all-the-tricks-were-treats

"Choices and Chances" and "Show me Yours" by Bucky Duckman
w w w . l i t e r o t i c a . c o m /s/choices-and-chances
w w w . l i t e r o t i c a . c o m /s/show-me-yours-3

Now someone will at least have to go to the trouble of deleting my report. If you'd like to make them go to the trouble of deleting your report, too, please feel free to copy and paste.

If someone explains a better way to do it, I'll try that.

 

[KeithD]

Okay, sooooo...

I discovered Amazon does not let anyone but the author/owner/agent submit a copyright infringement report. (One suspects they've done the bare legal minimum requirement.)

Per your earlier suggestion, Literotica could function as an agent in this regard, pointing out that they are making the material available for free (a real sticking point for Amazon). Some years ago users were posting they assumed Literotica was pursuing thieves this way, but the question remains whether Lit. really gets involved at all.

The button on finding it elsewhere for free will work faster with Amazon that almost anything else I think. You have to have a check-in account with Amazon to pursue that route, though.

I did some "it's stolen material" posting on this on Goodreads. Others might, as well.

 

[yukonnights]

Why do one or the other when you can do both? They aren't going to take away your birthday for doing it wrong.

As I said in post #11, I think Literotica as a business will have more impact than me. I also said above that I mostly view this type of theft as part of doing business here. I doubt this is the only bad actor taking advantage where they can. I've already given my stories to the world the moment I hit the submit button. I've got my pleasure from writing it and seeing some feedback. — if a story of mine brings a moment of happiness to someone who needs it, I'm okay with that.

Per Lit's terms of service it appears to me to be precisely why Lit has this;

If I submit a story to Literotica, do I still own the copyright?

Absolutely. You are simply granting us a non-exclusive right to publish your story on Literotica.com and granting Literotica the right to enforce the copyright on your story should it be used without your permission by any other publication - online, print, or other media.

While Literotica is not in any way required to enforce your copyright for you, you are granting us the right to do so if we become aware of anyone using your story without your explicit consent. The right to enforce your copyright that you are granting us includes the right to file DMCA complaints, file lawsuits, and any and all other necessary actions, both foreign and domestic, to prevent unauthorized people and companies from using your submissions without your permission.

The reason we require you to grant us the shared right to enforce your copyright (of course you also retain the right to enforce your own copyrights) is so that we have the legal power needed to protect your works from unauthorized publication on websites and in other media. As long as you grant permission to a website or other media to publish your stories, we have no right to enforce copyright law on them. Only websites or other media that publish/copy your stories without your permission are included in this granting of rights.

Other than these two issues, all rights to the story still belong to you, the author.

 

[KeithD]

Again, I've seen no evidence Lit. has ever gotten involved.

 

[Enchantment_of_Nyx]

As I said in post #11, I think Literotica as a business will have more impact than me. I also said above that I mostly view this type of theft as part of doing business here. I doubt this is the only bad actor taking advantage where they can. I've already given my stories to the world the moment I hit the submit button. I've got my pleasure from writing it and seeing some feedback. — if a story of mine brings a moment of happiness to someone who needs it, I'm okay with that.

I'm familiar with the terms of service. You might be okay with someone ripping off your work, but most authors are not. The OP had contacted these particular authors.
The point isn't to protect Lit's business interests. It's a courtesy to fellow authors whose rights have been violated, and, in point of legal fact, who are being defrauded. It's reasonable to assist someone who has been injured by something, even if you don't mind the same injury happening to you.

EDIT: It's worth considering that these authors' ability to sell their work in the future is being impeded and compromised.

 

[yukonnights]

Again, I've seen no evidence Lit. has ever gotten involved.

I'm not sure we would see the evidence. For those who are victims or are concerned, perhaps a heads up to Laural/Manu would be a start?

 

[Enchantment_of_Nyx]

I'm not sure we would see the evidence. For those who are victims or are concerned, perhaps a heads up to Laural/Manu would be a start?

If you look up at the stickies, you'll see information about past interventions.

I'm not sure I understand why you're assuming these people haven't contacted Laurel. I definitely don't understand why you feel nobody else should try to assist.

 

[yukonnights]

I'm familiar with the terms of service. You might be okay with someone ripping off your work, but most authors are not. The OP had contacted these particular authors.
The point isn't to protect Lit's business interests. It's a courtesy to fellow authors whose rights have been violated, and, in point of legal fact, who are being defrauded. It's reasonable to assist someone who has been injured by something, even if you don't mind the same injury happening to you.

Have you notified Literotica's owners yet? This really is a whack a mole game that's been going on since I've been here. How many letters to Amazon will it take to get the thief expunged? If the authors have been notified and care enough to contact Amazon, seems that should be enough.

Why aren't Lit's business interests of any value or concern? Is not Lit being defrauded too? It's their dime that keeps the platform open for us all.

Have you ever had a new Follower and gone to check out their list? For many, if not most, they have no published works — but their list of favorite stories is bottomless. I get these all the time and just assume they are thieves. Why else collect hundreds of stories?

There used to be interest in typing in the first few sentences of one's story and doing a google search — yep, stories get stolen. I just don't care enough to chase them Does that make me a bad person?

 

[KeithD]

If you look up at the stickies, you'll see information about past interventions.

You've seen examples in the sticky thread on Lit. directly intervening? Manu's original post to this sticky six years ago very carefully did not say Lit. itself would be trying to intervene with Amazon--it was wholly guidance on what an author could do, mostly one who was holding formal copyright and was willing to give true name to Amazon on that specific work. Before that, the impression was given that it would directly go to bat for Lit. authors. You've seen testimonials on that sticky or Manu/Laurel noting a direct Lit. intervention attempt with Amazon?

I continue to suggest that you publish, preferably through a publisher, and have it up on Amazon before letting it be posted to Literotica or any other open-access story site. You then have a publisher to intervene with Amazon and you have proof you can show Amazon that you had it there first. Then you don't have to have obtained formal copyright first or share your true name for erotica works with Amazon. You have other worries then, but I'll keep quiet on those.

 

[yukonnights]

If you look up at the stickies, you'll see information about past interventions.

I'm not sure I understand why you're assuming these people haven't contacted Laurel. I definitely don't understand why you feel nobody else should try to assist.

Come on. I never said anything about anyone not doing whatever they want. I've not tried to shame or lay a heavy on anyone — just shared my take on the latest drama On the other hand...

 

[Enchantment_of_Nyx]

Have you notified Literotica's owners yet? This really is a whack a mole game that's been going on since I've been here. How many letters to Amazon will it take to get the thief expunged? If the authors have been notified and care enough to contact Amazon, seems that should be enough.

Why aren't Lit's business interests of any value or concern? Is not Lit being defrauded too? It's their dime that keeps the platform open for us all.

Have you ever had a new Follower and gone to check out their list? For many, if not most, they have no published works — but their list of favorite stories is bottomless. I get these all the time and just assume they are thieves. Why else collect hundreds of stories?

There used to be interest in typing in the first few sentences of one's story and doing a google search — yep, stories get stolen. I just don't care enough to chase them Does that make me a bad person?

I'm not sure how to respond to this. This isn't about you. Lit's business interests are of value to Lit. However, if you are concerned about Lit, any action you take to support the actual authors would have the side effect of helping Lit as well.

No, I have not contacted Laurel because I think it's safe to assume the OP did that, since she went to the trouble of coming her and even trying to email us individually. Moreover, I don't have control over what Laurel does. I control what I do, so I did what I can do. If you don't want to do anything, that's your choice, but I'm not sure why you're advocating against someone else doing something.

I assume the authors did contact Amazon. If you read the stickies, you now that getting Amazon to budge frequently takes more than the copyright owner's report. More importantly, if you reread the original post, it says:
"I've reported him to Amazon, but it would help if we all lend our voices."

If you don't want to help, that's your call. My point was that I don't know why anyone would advocate that other people shouldn't bother trying.

I just don't care enough to chase them Does that make me a bad person?

These aren't about your stories. Your stories and your level of concern over your stories have nothing to do with this. I didn't call you a bad person. I didn't characterize your behavior in moral terms at all. This isn't about you. Not even a little bit.

The supposition that all readers with a gazillion favorites are thieves isn't really relevant, but for what it's worth, I don't believe it to be true and I can't think of any way making something a favorite would assist in stealing it.

 

[KeithD]

The supposition that all readers with a gazillion favorites are thieves isn't really relevant, but for what it's worth, I don't believe it to be true and I can't think of any way making something a favorite would assist in stealing it.

I'll have to admit that I've only thought of them as readers.