I did the right thing, right? RIGHT?!

BenPanced · Dec 19, 2007

On another forum (not here), I saw a notice about somebody's book signing. I had to send them a link to the Internet Movie Database because the book is too similar to a movie that came out about six years ago. No judgment, no finger pointing. No squeals of "OOOO! YER GONNA GIT IT!" Just the link.

And now I feel like sh1t.

Mostly because I have no idea how they're going to take it, partially because I really don't want to pee in the punchbowl.

ofriv · Dec 19, 2007

And that wasn't good enough, so you thought you might just ralph out a confession on Office Party. Dude - you are soo compassionate!

WendyNYC · Dec 19, 2007

I think you did the right thing. That person might get pissy, but at least he will have time to figure out how his book is different from the movie before someone asks him about it.

jst5150 · Dec 19, 2007

Maybe your note should have gone to the editors and publishers. They are the gatekeepers. If the author's already at the booksigning, that horse is already out of the corral.

truelyana · Dec 19, 2007

You gave good advice, as you have a keen eye for detail. You did what's best for another, and as said above, it's a compassionate thing to do. No need to worry. You did your part. :Hug2:

melaniehoo · Dec 19, 2007

Yeah, even if it sucks, I'd want someone to tell me so I could be prepared.

truelyana · Dec 19, 2007

melaniehoo said:
Yeah, even if it sucks, I'd want someone to tell me so I could be prepared.

Ditto, every little helps.

Silver King · Dec 19, 2007

The wording and tone of your note is important when judging this ghastly deed. Did you sound accusatory? Condescending? Judgmental? Did you, or did you not, come across like a raving lunatic?!

Why don't you post a copy of your missive here and let us be the judge and executioner of this most woeful act you have committed? Come on, let's see it!

BenPanced · Dec 19, 2007

jst5150 said:
Maybe your note should have gone to the editors and publishers. They are the gatekeepers. If the author's already at the booksigning, that horse is already out of the corral.

Might not help. It's a self-pub through Lulu.

Silver King said:
The wording and tone of your note is important when judging this ghastly deed. Did you sound accusatory? Condescending? Judgmental? Did you, or did you not, come across like a raving lunatic?!

Why don't you post a copy of your missive here and let us be the judge and executioner of this most woeful act you have committed? Come on, let's see it!

Subject: Have you considered this?
Then I just copied and pasted a direct link to the movie info. Nothing else, not even a signature.

Kinda harsh?

Silver King · Dec 19, 2007

BenPanced said:
Subject: Have you considered this?
Then I just copied and pasted a direct link to the movie info. Nothing else, not even a signature.

Kinda harsh?

Oh, Ben. It's worse than I thought. Impersonal. Ambiguous. Not a shred of feeling imparted to the writer.

It's a good thing you have this place to confess your sins. I, for one, forgive you. Your penance should be to give ten rep points randomly to members who are undeserving. The rest is up to you. And good luck in your search for full redemption...

SpookyWriter · Dec 19, 2007

Silver King said:
Oh, Ben. It's worse than I thought. Impersonal. Ambiguous. Not a shred of feeling imparted to the writer.

Sounds like how my ex-wife made love.

Voyager · Dec 19, 2007

Ben, I understand what you did and why you did it and why you feel like a shit heel for having done it. In the long run, consider this; the person may or may not care, the person may or may not get crucified for it, but if he/she does, you won't be standing on the sidelines going, why didn't I just say something to the poor sod?

BenPanced · Dec 19, 2007

Voyager said:
Ben, I understand what you did and why you did it and why you feel like a shit heel for having done it. In the long run, consider this; the person may or may not care, the person may or may not get crucified for it, but if he/she does, you won't be standing on the sidelines going, why didn't I just say something to the poor sod?

Plus somebody else mentioned I'm doing them a favor in the long run. If I noticed it, somebody with a big lawyer might, too.

Voyager · Dec 19, 2007

Exactly. You shouldn't feel bad because either way, you haven't done any harm.

BenPanced · Dec 19, 2007

jst5150 said:
Maybe your note should have gone to the editors and publishers. They are the gatekeepers. If the author's already at the booksigning, that horse is already out of the corral.

BenPanced said:
Might not help. It's a self-pub through Lulu.

UPDATE:
I went over to Lulu and they have a "report" flag on the book's page and one of the options is possible copyright infringement, so I sent them a report.

BenPanced · Dec 19, 2007

UPDATE

:Headbang:

Heard back from the author.

They want to track down the DVD.

Voyager · Dec 19, 2007

lol, why? Is it something that obscure?

robeiae · Dec 19, 2007

SpookyWriter said:
Sounds like how my ex-wife made love.

Not really...

Oops! Nevermind.

SpookyWriter · Dec 19, 2007

robeiae said:
Not really...

Oops! Nevermind.

Devil Ledbetter · Dec 19, 2007

Sooooo, it wasn't The Bourne Ultimatum, was it? :tongue

Perhaps the plot is similar, but the execution is different. If so, it may not be a problem. Look at the kiddie movies Cars and Surf's Up. The plots are identical, the cast is, character-for-character the same right down to the idiotic best friend the protagonist throws the final competition too. Yet I didn't hear about any lawsuits.

I did the right thing, right? RIGHT?!

BenPanced

THE BLUEBERRY QUEEN OF HADES (he/him)

ofriv

Professore de la Rapscillion

WendyNYC

fiddle-dee-dee

jst5150

Vorpal Comics. Weekly Podcast. Twitch Artist. Vet

truelyana

Set yourself free

melaniehoo

And thus we begin the edits

truelyana

Set yourself free

Silver King

Megalops Erectus

BenPanced

THE BLUEBERRY QUEEN OF HADES (he/him)

Silver King

Megalops Erectus

SpookyWriter

Voyager

Ribbed for your pleasure.

BenPanced

THE BLUEBERRY QUEEN OF HADES (he/him)

Voyager

Ribbed for your pleasure.

BenPanced

THE BLUEBERRY QUEEN OF HADES (he/him)

BenPanced

THE BLUEBERRY QUEEN OF HADES (he/him)

Voyager

Ribbed for your pleasure.

robeiae

Touch and go

SpookyWriter

Devil Ledbetter

Come on you stranger, you legend,