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Ripping off a client who won't pay me by publishing his stuff myself?

  1. #1
    It is tempting but I'm not sure it's ethical.

    I'm also not sure I care.
  2. #2
    Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country Dark Matter [my scoffingly uncritical tinning]
    Details? If he is actually using your material can't you assert copyright? Even DMCA?
  3. #3
    HEY IF YOU DONT PAY ME IM GONNA CALL MY COUSINS AND THEY ARENT AS NICE AS ME
  4. #4
    mmQ Lisa Turtle
    Throw a piece of poop at his house.
  5. #5
    Originally posted by Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country Details? If he is actually using your material can't you assert copyright? Even DMCA?

    I am editing and formatting his book for publication. He is supposed to pay me in three separate parts at different milestones but he's pushing me to finish while I'm sitting here waiting for the second payment. I haven't worked on it in a long time, so here he is saying I'm late.

    He does have ~2/3rds of it that I've worked on (without the final formatting.) HOWEVER he posted the rough draft in a public place so i can't see any way this would get back to me if I publish anonymously and honestly even for free I don't give a fuck. I know he is wanting to publish this as an ebook and I know the specifications he gave me are for Amazon, so I could publish it there, try and get payment/finish the book, then when he goes to publish they won't let him and will tell him its plagarism. They have a good algorithm for that kind of stuff.

    As long as I don't use MY work for it I think I'll be okay. He's like 60 so he'll probably never figure it out.
  6. #6
    Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country Dark Matter [my scoffingly uncritical tinning]
    Originally posted by MexicanMasterRace I am editing and formatting his book for publication. He is supposed to pay me in three separate parts at different milestones but he's pushing me to finish while I'm sitting here waiting for the second payment. I haven't worked on it in a long time, so here he is saying I'm late.

    He does have ~2/3rds of it that I've worked on (without the final formatting.) HOWEVER he posted the rough draft in a public place so i can't see any way this would get back to me if I publish anonymously and honestly even for free I don't give a fuck. I know he is wanting to publish this as an ebook and I know the specifications he gave me are for Amazon, so I could publish it there, try and get payment/finish the book, then when he goes to publish they won't let him and will tell him its plagarism. They have a good algorithm for that kind of stuff.

    As long as I don't use MY work for it I think I'll be okay. He's like 60 so he'll probably never figure it out.

    If you publish his work without his permission then that is copyright theft.

    You are joint creators on a work, and that doesn't entitle either of you to just go and publish it without fulfilling the obligations you have made to each other.

    https://www.amazon.com/report/infringement

    I would try to remind this person that editing is real work, and that he needs to be cognisant that you have an agreement that constitutes a very real and legally binding contract, even if it isn't all written up with fancy legalistic language. I would allow him an option to get out, like a part payment, but also remind him that having someone do work and then refusing to pay them is wrong, just the same way having someone dig a ditch and refusing to pay them is wrong.
  7. #7
    Originally posted by Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country If you publish his work without his permission then that is copyright theft.

    You are joint creators on a work, and that doesn't entitle either of you to just go and publish it without fulfilling the obligations you have made to each other.

    https://www.amazon.com/report/infringement

    I would try to remind this person that editing is real work, and that he needs to be cognisant that you have an agreement that constitutes a very real and legally binding contract, even if it isn't all written up with fancy legalistic language. I would allow him an option to get out, like a part payment, but also remind him that having someone do work and then refusing to pay them is wrong, just the same way having someone dig a ditch and refusing to pay them is wrong.

    I know I'm just fantasizing. I'm a writer so I'd feel like shit doing that to someone else, even if it wasn't illegal.

    The money is in escrow so I'm sure I'll get it... But it may be another month or two till the job "ends".
  8. #8
    If you know where he lives I can pay him a visit for you
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