Yesterday I sent an e-mail to Yahoo!’s copyright/IP agent,
identifying myself as one of the authors whose work was being used on the
CleverHomemaker’s list without proper attribution or permission.
The e-mail I received in response to my initial complaint
told me I had to provide my full name, signature, address, phone number, and
e-mail address – yet that e-mail came from a generic address and was not signed
by an individual. The e-mail also stressed that I had to make my statements “under
penalty of perjury.” It also directed me to a page on Yahoo!’s website that
said my complaint (including my address) might be forwarded in its entirety to
the person who stole my work – and yet I don’t know that individual’s full name
or address. Does anyone else see anything wrong with this picture?
I file the official Notice of Infringement with Yahoo! (no
response yet) and have been advised by the corporate counsel at Entrepreneur
Media that he will be filing a complaint today as well. I don’t know what action
the other writers involved may take.
I’ll let you know when something happens.
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I’ve been in contact with two of the other writers and one has also contacted Yahoo and filed the requisite complaint. However, the other writer was very nonchalant and said it happens all the time. It’s that type of apathy that allows this sort of activity to continue. I sincerely hope that Yahoo does the right thing and takes a stand against copyright infringement.