eBook

da_rule

As some of you may be aware (and some possibly not), I recently released an eBook (under a pen name) on the subject of private parking ticket appeals. This book contained information on the way to appeal, what a PCN actually is, difference between the breach of contract and contractual charge models and definitions of the various appeal points (no GPEOL, vehicle stolen etc).

The book also contained template letters for both appeals to the PPC's and POPLA/IAS as well as templates for discharging registered keeper liability and a letter to use where the PPC has not issued a POPLA/IAS code.

Over the weekend I was contacted by someone (who will for the time being remain nameless) via Twitter about the book. Then a chain of emails began essentially flaming me and the book. This was then followed up by various negative reviews of the book (one of which is obviously fraudulent as it refers to a purchase of the hard copy of the book, despite the fact that no copies have been sold yet). Thankfully Amazon are going to identify the posters (got to love American customer services). The main gist of the reviews were that the book was a rip off etc.

I spent weeks writing, constructing and proofing this book, and it would have been a damn sight easier if I had just ripped the text off. I'll openly admit that the appeal points are similar to the ones used by this (and many other) forum, but I changed the text to make it easier to use. I also included with the templates complete instructions on how to edit them. The appeal (both at PPC and POPLA/IAS level) templates contained within the book had 14 points of appeal (some of which obviously aren't relevant to every case), which is far more than the generic templates on this forum provide (and that is not a criticism).

I purposely did not mention MSE or any other forum in the text of the book or the blurb as I did not want to piggy back off of MSE search results. Unfortunately the 'reviewers' did mention MSE etc and have improved my search engine ranking, which is why I have temporarily removed the book from sale. The book has also had no advertising (beyond the obligatory Twitter and Facebook accounts).

This post serves two purposes, firstly to apologise to any of the genuine users (not withstanding the ones who took the time to review my book) if you feel that I have in any way acted out of line. Secondly, the book will be relisted for sale this weekend, I am more than happy to provide any of the genuine, regular users with a PDF copy of the book before then should they wish to check it. I am happy for you contact my either by this thread or by inbox if you have any other concerns. When I relist the book for sale I will also be undertaking an advertising campaign (off forum).

My intention has not been to take anything (or anyone) away from this site and I have continued to actively give 'free' advice to users of this forum without actively promoting my book, and this will continue. The book is simply there to provide all of the information in one location. I will be adding a sentence or two to the foreward of the book (if people want me to) advising readers that the information is freely available on the forums.

bargepole

da_rule wrote: »

... I will be adding a sentence or two to the forward of the book (if people want me to) advising readers that the information is freely available on the forums. ...

I think that should be 'foreword'.

Let's hope the standard of proofreading is better in the actual book ...

da_rule

bargepole wrote: »

I think that should be 'foreword'

Yeah it should be, I'm quite impressed that was the only mistake to be honest, typing on a phone and all that.

kirkbyinfurnesslad_2

Unfortunately what you have done is simple copy and steal peoples work on here with out asking permission. Some might call it theft.

So sorry this was not your "only mistake"

If you going to simply copy and paste other peoples work then at least have the decency to ask if they mind.

Some of the statements in your book are just completely incorrect. and others are frankly outrageous

So yes in effect your book is a "rip off" from peoples work on here. Although we are all on the same side it would have been polite to have asked people if could copy stuff. You copied what I did with disregard and that is unacceptable.

The is nothing wrong at all with the concept of what you have done, but to simply plagiarise other peoples work is just completely wrong.

Going to sue me ?

4consumerrights

I have read this e-book and in fact returned for a full refund - it was the biggest load of cr*p going. A lot of factual inconsistencies and poor information.

Full of typographical errors - not what it promised proper templates and ad verbatim copying of posts from here.

and I didn't leave a review either has had already requested a refund!


If that was the best you could do.......

Your advice on this forum has at the best of times simply copied from regular posters or referred to the sticky threads. At the worst of times - you give wrong advice!

Stroma

So copying people's comments on here is okay then ? That's the problem with Amazon, they allow anyone to sell books without checks. We are on the same side as in the enemy are the parking companies, but there is a way of doing this properly.

Have you read pranksters guide? His work whilst quoting relevant cases, but the work is his own, he worked hard doing it and is considered authoritative in the field. Perhaps if you tried that it would be considered something we wouldn't mind pointing too.

da_rule

Thank you for the feedback, and with hindsight (which is always 20:20) I should have posted on here first informing the regulars of my intentions etc.

KIFL I agree with you (which is something I never thought I would write), we are all on the same side. I am sorry that you felt that I had ripped off your template, I honestly felt that I had changed the text and content to a large enough extent so as to make it distinct, and I understand that you feel that this was not the case.

prosnap

Currently unavailable.

"We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock"

4consumerrights

da_rule wrote: »

Thank you for the feedback, and with hindsight (which is always 20:20) I should have posted on here first informing the regulars of my intentions etc.

KIFL I agree with you (which is something I never thought I would write), we are all on the same side. I am sorry that you felt that I had ripped off your template, I honestly felt that I had changed the text and content to a large enough extent so as to make it distinct, and I understand that you feel that this was not the case.

And why would you not agree with KIFL normally - he has more knowledge about this business in his little finger than you have in your whole body .

It is not just KIFL's template you stole - but the very concept of an ebook for appeals was cited by him on Parking Pranksters guide thread

You have also copied other poster's text on here - let us remind ourselves of the audacity you had when you started this thread:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4936340



B]

Ok, so I'm sure that everyone else has noticed the business venture that has popped up in recent days.

My question is, in a free forum, with a 100% POPLA win record is charging people to deal with their matter for them a good idea? Now I understand there is a trade off, £16 to have the matter dealt with, no matter what the appeal outcome vs the time someone spends on each appeal.

My concerns though are:
Are the materials that are provided for free (templates etc) on this forum now being used for gain?
Are there any breaches of the forum rules in advertising/pursuing business in this way?
As it is new members who are being messaged in relation to this, is it giving a bad impression of the forum?
Sorting the matter out for people means that they cannot learn and sort it out themselves next time, so they become dependent on the service
Sorting the matter out for people also means that the forum loses experiences when it comes to dealing with new Parking Companies/AOS' etc
People being pursued by the users in relation to the offer (for example in this thread: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....php?t=4936275 there are 5 posts relating to the offer, including 2 after the OP has said they weren't interested)

da_rule

4CR - Thanks, firstly, the concept of an ebook was not something that I was aware of (having not read that thread). In terms of the thread I started, I never said I was against the idea and the general consensus of the forum also appeared to be favourable to your business idea.

I have to also say that I did not actually copy any text for the main chapters in the book.

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

Da_Rule, from what you described in your post here, I don't think you understand copyright and plagiarism.

Firstly, according to the T&Cs of this forum, the copyright of any posting remains with the originator, and MSE have a right to republish. That does not give anyone else the right to re-publish the posts here. These postings are not in the public domain.

Secondly, simply rewording makes it a derivative work at best it does not make your work free of copyright of the original, especially when you tell people what you've done. Plagiarism is essentially exactly what you have described:

"an act or instance of using or closely imitating the language and thoughts of another author without authorization and the representation of that author's work as one's own, as by not crediting the original author".

In simple terms, the postings here are free for people to read and use for their personal use as it is clearly what they are posted here for, but they are not there for people to create a commercial work. You can type away for years, but if the work is based on someone else's work, which you freely admit, it can never be yours.

As an example, George Harrison got into problems over My Sweet Lord which the judge found sounded too much like another song. George Harrison did lots of extra work, recorded it, not a note was sampled, but he lost because it was felt it was derived from another song that he was held to have subconsciously copied.

In simple terms, you need permission of the copyright holders to publish your book if you have taken text from this forum and used it to create your own work. If you can say with a clear conscience that you did not use postings here, but based it purely on your own research then you are in the clear, however, statements like " I'll openly admit that the appeal points are similar to the ones used by this (and many other) forum, but I changed the text to make it easier to use." are an admission of creating a derivative work. So before threatening to sue for something you have admitted doing, I'd go and get some legal advice.