Sunday, July 21, 2013

Plagiarism on Amazon

Honestly, I'm still a little stunned so this might not be the most eloquent post.

I've been plagiarized quite a few times. A lot. Enough to be jaded by the whole ordeal of checking out links, sending emails, contacting administration. Since the last time I posted about this, I've been informed of a few more attempts that I haven't even bothered to mention here on this blog. I was just sick and tired of the same old thing, rinse and repeat, losers who have no lives.


But this is the first time that I'm aware of someone having the actual audacity to publish and sell both False Facades and Through Me on Amazon, here: False Facades and here: Through Me. And while she's at it, this "Martha Greenwood" decided to steal reviews from readers too, slapping up comments I've cherished in the clumsy blurbs. And to complete things, plagiarize a bunch of other people's stories as well, listed in this post: Martha Greenwood on Amazon - fpwatchers.


I've always had this niggling worry that one day, this would happen. And it finally did.


There's this uncomfortable tightness in my chest. It's a mixture of frustration, heartbreak and this sick feeling of ... what else can I possibly do? I've tried taking FF down, plagiarism still cropped up, I put it back up and left my stories up for years, finishing TM, and it continues. All I can comfort myself with is the fact that at least, the stories are up to prove my copyright and that there are readers who still look out for me, exposing these plagiarists.


Thank you, fellintothemoon, for letting me know. Thank you so much.


And sadly, for now, I have an exam to get back to studying for. I have no time and zero tolerance for this crap. Martha Greenwood, you are one sad person.


17 comments:

  1. Wow and its not just you she did it too. She did it to other people's stories too and didn't bother to change the name of the characters or the title of the stories. how did amazon miss this? should they do a background check or something she obviously couldn't have been all of those people.

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    1. Yep, seriously, it was really upsetting. I'm just glad Amazon was able to respond in a somewhat timely manner.

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  2. Weren't you going to self publish books? I've been wanting to buy!

    Make a Kickstarter to make that happen.
    And get a lawyer.

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    1. I can technically slap up False Facades and Through Me in their current formats like what this plagiarist did, but I feel like there are quite a few things I need to edit and revise. It's the OCD complex in me. :(

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  3. Hi, i've read all your funny snippets on med student life, but I was wondering if you could go more in depth about it in one of your posts? Like why you decided to do it, if you get free time, do you enjoy it? Is it worth your time, are you wasting your youth? Can you bring up a family? I have the grades to go into medicine, but the lifestyle is freaking me out. I read this and now I'm shitting myself; http://www.doceatdoc.com/sacrifices-to-become-a-doctor/
    I don't want to waste my life doing something so hard- is it all true? Plus, how old are you??

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    1. Sure. But from the main gist of the questions you've asked, your concerns are legitimate ones every medical students ask themselves at some point in their lives. Have I ever regretted it? Honestly, yes, of course, but there are other times when I'm able to help patients or when I'm out with friends who are still trying to find a job they enjoy, that I'm glad I have a fulfilling goal I've always been working toward to. Is it long hours? Yes. Is it worth my time or is it a waste of my youth? Gosh, I hope not. It does feel better when I'm approaching the end of medical school and will be getting my degree. I'd probably sulk again when I'm an overworked intern next year lol.

      Ultimately, the decision is up to you. If you're going into this field for the money, then I'd have to say there are other easier paths. If you think you'd truly enjoy medicine, it might be something to consider. Are you in college? Have you tried exploring other fields? Will you be taking the MCAT soon?

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  4. Why would they do this? My reviews was one of the stolen ones (I just looked) and now I'm really offended. I really love your work, but why are people such losers? It makes me really mad. How did Amazon not see this?


    AlysonSerenaStone

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    1. Some people have no respect for others. I'm sorry they stole one of your reviews. Thanks for your support and I hope this doesn't happen again.

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  5. Hey Maeven! I've read your story and I have to say that I really really really love your story! And I declared myself as a fan of you, your story, and TRISTAN HARLAND. Oh, yeah I was Primrose Everdeen on fictionpress.

    I'm feeling bad for you. People sometimes need to learn how to be creative and original. I think you need to publish your story as a book so that people can't plagiarize you because you have the copyright.

    And I really think that you should publish your story as a book and then write another book because you're a talented writer. I seriously love your writing style! Well, I really hope you'll publish it as a book because I'll be the first one who buy it! Yay! Haha.

    Anyways, forgive the bad english and grammatical errors.

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    1. Hey, Primrose Everdeen! I definitely remember you and all your lovely reviews! :) Thank you so much for your support.

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  6. Hello!!! Wow, glad to have found you here and that you didn't completely disappear like some FP authors did!! I finished False Facades awhile (maybe more than a year) back, it was one of the first stories I stared reading when I first joined fictionpress.

    I was so hooked that I read it all in one-shot till 5am+. I still remember how I woke up late for my law exam the next day (by a stroke of luck, the teacher was late too, phew!) but I never once regretted it. I honestly enjoyed False Facades SO much and was amazed at how wonderfully written it was.

    Introduced it to all my friends who fell in love with it as much as I did, and some even finished the sequel and encouraged me to read it. I plan to! Just haven't had the time. So I really hope you won't remove it or any of your stories. I like going back to my favourites and re-reading them whenever I can't sleep.

    I'm sorry to hear about what hapened to you, it's such a despicable act. I can't even believe how low some people are willing to stoop and it makes me so angry. Just remember that your readers like me will always support you through everything. I believe we are a strong community enough to stop these plagiarisers and let them have their compeuppance. Don't ever let them win by removing your stories, keep them up to show who they rightfully belong to. You have all our support!!

    Thank you for the wonderful works, I am positive they have added laughter, joy and happiness into many readers' lives, just like what they did to mine :)

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    1. Wow, I'm so flattered you were hooked enough by False Facades to finish it in one sitting. I hope you did well on your law exam, haha.

      Thank you so much for your support. Currently, I have no plans to remove the stories from fictionpress, per se. Maybe upload the stories to a site that disables copy+paste, but I haven't found a site that's appealing to me yet. I also hope to revise the current editions and self-publish them one day for better copyright.

      Your encouraging comments made me smile and I'm so thankful for readers like you!

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  7. I was really impressed with your stories and even this blog that maybe if I were a man, I'll fall in love with you at first read. Okay, I was trying to prove my point. I just love you and your stories sooo much.(and I'm not a lesbian). And when I've read that you wrote the draft for false facades, I made myself your official disciple(?). And yeah, you should publish your books because they deserve to be published and you deserve to be credited for it. Stay up!(sorry for my words, I'm not good at conversing. And also, don't think of my username as mocker. I didn't think of using this account for purposes other than school but heck I have to have you know this)

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    1. Haha, I'm quite flattered. Thank you so much for your words of encouragement and I, too, hope that I'd be able to publish some of my revised stories one day as well. Until then, I'm grateful for readers like you who continue to support me.

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  8. Good grief! I hope you are able to get Amazon to make this Martha Slimewood character take down 'her' books and refund buyers! May the Force be with you.
    And get your stories published quickly to prevent more slimeballs from profiting off YOUR hard work. I have said before on FF that your stories read like manga. Don't let them languish.
    Good luck!
    Olivia

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    1. Martha Slimewood, indeed. Thanks for the encouragement, Olivia. I agree with you that my stories read like manga. I think my OCD complex stems in part from believing that I need to revise these stories so they read less like manga and more like current YA fiction before they could be published. But you're absolutely correct that I shouldn't let them languish. I need a good kick in the butt to polish these works up once and for all.

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  9. Someone called John Field is selling False Facades on Amazon under the title One of the Boys. I'm sure that Amazon will take it down for you if you contact them, since you have proof on fictionpress that you wrote it, and he just published it in February. You can also sue him if you want, since he is selling it for profit.

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