Well, compilations of wiki material into books is not an uncommon phenomena. Dino-related stuff is one subject that springs to mind. Here’s a guy bitching about how some of the content he did for wiki appeared in this kind of instabook:
Me neither. So they sell the book to you, which is just a print out of a few pages from the Internet? You and I should start such a business. We can call it Computer and Xerox Machine, Inc.
Here, incidentally, is the wiki page on the publisher. They solicit free content from “non-notable” authors on whatever topic they’re covering. Bet you there’s a lawsuit or two sitting inside that book.
In their defence, they published my M.A. thesis into a book. They send out emails to probably every graduate student once the theses get deposited at Library & Archives Canada and their researchers come across them. They were very nice and easy to deal with. But I guess that’s coming from the perspective of an otherwise “non-notable” author. LOL
I dunno, maaaan, I’ve been reading Kicking Ass… for many, many moons now. Just about all of the Liberals on campus back in Kelowna were reading it when I was there.
If nothing else they have stolen your biographical notes – without your permission. Sounds like a cease and desist letter might be in order. You must have a template for that.
What is especially odd, is that when the reader opens the book, the inside pages are simply a hackneyed summary of “Confessions of a Shopaholic”. I got totally ripped off! I hold you responsible, Warren.
You need one. It will be used for opposition research when you run, so you need to know what’s in it. Sorry, but you’re a (potential) candidate now. You can’t ignore the subject, even if it is boring…
I did! I ordered it after you suggested it, and then I checked to see if they still were selling my books (they were). And then I saw they were selling a book about me.
@Richard. VDM offered to publish my MA thesis too, and the seem to have resurfaced with a different name. I checked with a professor friend and he advised against for a number of reasons. But I know people who have used them and had an experience similar to you. For some, it a good way to get an ISBN number and see their hard work come to life.
I still get emails from them to this day. I’m not sure how they make their money. They wouldn’t sell more than one or two copies of my work…
Well, compilations of wiki material into books is not an uncommon phenomena. Dino-related stuff is one subject that springs to mind. Here’s a guy bitching about how some of the content he did for wiki appeared in this kind of instabook:
http://dml.cmnh.org/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=wikipedia+copyright
Can’t see there being a book’s worth of material ABOUT you on wiki, though. And I don’t think you CONTRIBUTE material.
Me neither. So they sell the book to you, which is just a print out of a few pages from the Internet? You and I should start such a business. We can call it Computer and Xerox Machine, Inc.
Xerox would nail you for TM infringement.
Here, incidentally, is the wiki page on the publisher. They solicit free content from “non-notable” authors on whatever topic they’re covering. Bet you there’s a lawsuit or two sitting inside that book.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VDM_Publishing
They sound like dirtbags
In their defence, they published my M.A. thesis into a book. They send out emails to probably every graduate student once the theses get deposited at Library & Archives Canada and their researchers come across them. They were very nice and easy to deal with. But I guess that’s coming from the perspective of an otherwise “non-notable” author. LOL
I’m less notable than you!
I dunno, maaaan, I’ve been reading Kicking Ass… for many, many moons now. Just about all of the Liberals on campus back in Kelowna were reading it when I was there.
That does not bode well for Kelowna’s future, my friend.
What the hell is that?!?
also weird is the provincial NDP announcing a *weekly* price cap on gas.
If nothing else they have stolen your biographical notes – without your permission. Sounds like a cease and desist letter might be in order. You must have a template for that.
What is especially odd, is that when the reader opens the book, the inside pages are simply a hackneyed summary of “Confessions of a Shopaholic”. I got totally ripped off! I hold you responsible, Warren.
I’ll wait for the movie.
So did you buy one?
Not a chance. The subject matter bores me.
You need one. It will be used for opposition research when you run, so you need to know what’s in it. Sorry, but you’re a (potential) candidate now. You can’t ignore the subject, even if it is boring…
Did you find that when checking out “A Visit From The Goon Squad”?:-)
I did! I ordered it after you suggested it, and then I checked to see if they still were selling my books (they were). And then I saw they were selling a book about me.
Wat to mess up my afternoon, Jen.
Sorry, dude. But I think you’ll like the book.
50 bucks!
I wouldn’t pay a cent more than $29.99 to read your drivel.
You either pissed someone off or it’s just great publicity, Warren.
@Richard. VDM offered to publish my MA thesis too, and the seem to have resurfaced with a different name. I checked with a professor friend and he advised against for a number of reasons. But I know people who have used them and had an experience similar to you. For some, it a good way to get an ISBN number and see their hard work come to life.
I still get emails from them to this day. I’m not sure how they make their money. They wouldn’t sell more than one or two copies of my work…