Sounds Fishy or is it just me?

[RedHairedandFriendly]

I don't plan on allowing this person to use my work for free, but I do have a question. I would like to respond and tell him no you can't use my work, but I worry that he could alter my email to where it says he can. . . Is this possible? To alter an email so it looks legit? I would of course save my own email as well as the one he sent me. But should I just ignore the email all together, incase the email can be changed? Or am I just a parnoid person and am looking too much into this?

~ Thanks, Red.

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This message contains feedback for: RedHairedandFriendly
This feedback was sent by: XXXXXXXX

Comments:

Hello Redhairedandfriendly,

I hope you don’t mind me dropping you a line about your stories.

My reason is that I intend to conduct some research into the viability
of compiling selections of women author’s erotic short stories and
produce them in the form of an eBook. The idea is to put together say, 20
or 30 erotic short stories in PDF format and test the market,
particularly on eBay.

Your stories are excellent material and I wondered if you would be kind
enough to allow me to use one for this test project. If there proves to
be a market, then in future I would need to commission original stories
from you but for now I only seek permission to include one of your
stories which is already published on Literotica. If you agree then it
would also be nice to include a short bio.

While at this early stage I am not in a position to financially
compensate you, in recompense and should you wish, I could send you a copy of
an eBook we publish titled, The Secrets of Writing Successful Short
Stories.

The book has nothing to do with writing erotica but seeks to guide a
writer through the process of producing short stories suitable for
publication in popular magazines. I hasten to add that much of what is in the
book you are obviously familiar with but you may glean some tips and
tricks which you find useful.

You can read the full details about the book at:
www.theshortstorywriter.com and as I’ve said, I would be happy to send you a copy in return
for one of your stories.

You can reach me at: XXXXXXX
I hope to hear from you.

With best wishes,

John

 

[rgraham666]

So far as I know, Red, without a signed contract he'd be stealing from you.

 

[arienette]

So far as I know, Red, without a signed contract he'd be stealing from you.

Agreed.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

That's is what I thought. Without a contract then he could steal from me and just to protect himself wouldn't he want to create a legitimate agreement? So I didn't come back and retract an offer?

I want to know if I just ignore this email and let it go? or if I respond and tell him no?

Can the information that goes with my email. . .my email address be enough for him to "fix" the refusal so it looks like "Yes" ?

 

[Liar]

In order for him to use your work legally, he needs a release form, signed by you and him. Basically a contract. This is required even if there is no compensation. it regulates what they can and can't do with your story.

I've done that for poetry compilations a few times, where I haven't gotten paid, but wanted the readers. If you want in, ask for a signed non exclusive release contract. If you don't want in, just mail him a "no thanks".

 

[rgraham666]

That's is what I thought. Without a contract then he could steal from me and just to protect himself wouldn't he want to create a legitimate agreement? So I didn't come back and retract an offer?

I want to know if I just ignore this email and let it go? or if I respond and tell him no?

Can the information that goes with my email. . .my email address be enough for him to "fix" the refusal so it looks like "Yes" ?

I don't think so, Red.

As you mentioned, it's easy to change stuff on e-mails. So I doubt it would hold in a court of law.

I believe that if you don't reply that would be construed as a 'No'. And wouldn't gvie him the information you don't want to give him.

As I said, the only document that would hold up in court would be a signed contract. Preferably witnessed by a lawyer or a notary public.

 

[arienette]

In order for him to use your work legally, he needs a release form, signed by you and him. Basically a contract. This is required even if there is no compensation. it regulates what they can and can't do with your story.

I've done that for poetry compilations a few times, where I haven't gotten paid, but wanted the readers. If you want in, ask for a signed non exclusive release contract. If you don't want in, just mail him a "no thanks".

I did the same release form shindig with The Women's Center around here with poetry used for their art show.

The best of luck to you, Red, with whatever you decide to do.

 

[R. Richard]

Red:
Send him an e-mail, with a copy to yourself. Then, if he alters the e-mail, you have the original.

If he attempts to use your story/stories without your permission, notify Laurel. Laurel does not allow other sites to use Literotica material without permission.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

I'm going to turn the offer down.

I have a signed contract for my poems to Whispers, and recieved compensation for them.

Thanks guys.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Red:
Send him an e-mail, with a copy to yourself. Then, if he alters the e-mail, you have the original.

If he attempts to use your story/stories without your permission, notify Laurel. Laurel does not allow other sites to use Literotica material without permission.

I will do that. I know Laurel has worked hard to keep others from taking our work and I know she'd do that in this case too if it were a site. An actual "book" deal being done behind my back is what concerned me.

I am not comfortable with the whole thing, so that should be my first sign of not wanting to go through with this.

Thanks.

 

[Weird Harold]

Is this possible? To alter an email so it looks legit? I would of course save my own email as well as the one he sent me. But should I just ignore the email all together, incase the email can be changed? Or am I just a parnoid person and am looking too much into this?

Yes, e-mails CAN be modified after being recieved, but it's not worth the trouble -- especially if there is at least one "Carbon Copy" indicated in the e-mail header. It's only possible to modify the copy in your possession.

However, I think you are being a bit paranoid. The fact this person asked in the first place is a good indication that they're inclined to "play by the rules" and will accept a "no-thanks" at face value and look elsewhere for stories to include.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Yes, e-mails CAN be modified after being recieved, but it's not worth the trouble -- especially if there is at least one "Carbon Copy" indicated in the e-mail header. It's only possible to modify the copy in your possession.

However, I think you are being a bit paranoid. The fact this person asked in the first place is a good indication that they're inclined to "play by the rules" and will accept a "no-thanks" at face value and look elsewhere for stories to include.

Thanks Harold.

I made sure to send a couple CC's out. I tend to become paranoid when I see other sites just happily taking stories. He did ask, so I wanted to respond and I did, explaining that neither of us would be protected with out the contract Liar mentioned.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

I don't get it - how is it that he would be "stealing" a story? We post them for free here anyway, so as long as he gives you the proper attribution in whatever he publishes, how have you lost? Heck, those Chinese sites steal our stories all the time anyway, and without attribution.

Bottom line: What's the most you can lose? (A good question to ask of any business or investment venture.)

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

I don't get it - how is it that he would be "stealing" a story? We post them for free here anyway, so as long as he gives you the proper attribution in whatever he publishes, how have you lost? Heck, those Chinese sites steal our stories all the time anyway, and without attribution.

Bottom line: What's the most you can lose? (A good question to ask of any business or investment venture.)

Stealing it would be if he took it without my okay.

But really the bottom line in my opinion after thinking about it is. . .I'm not comfortable with it, so I don't want to participate. No harm done.

 

[Weird Harold]

I don't get it - how is it that he would be "stealing" a story? We post them for free here anyway, so as long as he gives you the proper attribution in whatever he publishes, how have you lost? Heck, those Chinese sites steal our stories all the time anyway, and without attribution.

The "Stealing" comes from making money off an author's work without compensating the author.

Without a legally binding copyright release that abrogates royalty rights -- which Lit's copyright does NOT do -- a copyright holder is intitled to a percentage of any money made by any publication or distribution of their work.

At least the Chinese sites are smart enough to remove the attribution so they can claim "we didn't know it wasn't public domain" -- if you could ever bring them to court.