Someone's ripping off my story, lol...

Hey guys, long time no see. Before anyone asks, no I don't think I'll ever write the sequel I mentioned a few years ago, that is, unless I win the lottery or one of you wants to repay my student loans and all my bills, haha...

So, on to the point of this post. One of you guys tipped me off that someone on Fanfiction.net is word-for-word copying and pasting my story there and claiming it as his own: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10308916/1/The-Past-Is-Future . Thanks, Wonder.

I've already reported it, but even so, he's still posting more "updates", aka the rest of the chapters of the story I worked so hard on over here.

Could you guys do me a favor, (if you already have a fanfiction.net account), and go report it? At the end of the day, sure it's not a big deal, it's just silly fan fiction, but plagiarism and dishonesty really grind my gears. I mean really, how much of a loser do you have to be to rip off fan fiction? There's not even any money in it!

Best,
The_Panic

Comments

[Broderick]

I dont have an account on there, but you can report it yourself by going down to the story, and underneath the comment box is a tab called "actions". Click that and select report abuse. I sent an abuse report, and linked this blogpost to help establish the fact that the uploader was not the original author.

[GlassFloors]

I reported it as well

[the_panic]

2794570

Yeah, I already did report it myself, I have an account over there. I just figure if more people report it, they might pay attention haha.

[the_panic]

2794570
2794603

And thanks!

[FaceDeer]

Heh. Just a few days ago I was cross-referencing fanfiction.net and fimfiction.net stories on Goodreads, trying to ensure that the Goodreads listings had both editions present. Found only three where it was a blatant case of someone on fanfiction.net posting an unauthorized copy out of about three hundred or so (the rest appear to be legitimate dual-hostings by the author). So you're in rare company.

This one didn't get caught by my duplicate-finding search, but I'll make a note not to be fooled should it come up in the future. :)

[the_panic]

2794643

Interesting.

Yeah I seriously think it's hilarious someone is doing this. I mean, what's to be gained? What's even funnier to me is that he's got maybe 30 followers/"likes"/whatever it's called on FanFiction.net .

[Magical Trevor]

Reported! Super easy. Selected the 'author not having permission" or whatever option, and in the comment said that it wasn't theirs, didn't get permission, etc, and that the first link was the original story, with the second link being this blog post. So yeah, hopefully the matter will be resolved swiftly.

[FaceDeer]

2794647 To be fair, occasionally something like this might be a result of someone being a big fan and not knowing how to express it properly. The three that I found all had comments from the uploader that suggested the uploader wasn't trying to "rip off" the original author, but rather were just so enthused about the story that they wanted to share it more widely.

This is the first one I've seen where there's no sign of that, though - a quick perusal of his user page shows not a trace of a "this was written by someone else" comment. So that's unique. :)

Edit: Oh, and since I mentioned the Goodreads listing for this story, I might as well link it: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21954544. In case anyone here's a Goodreads user and wanted to post a review or shelve it or something. Sorry there's no cover art, Goodreads doesn't allow cover art for fanfics that's made from screenshots of the original show (probably not "fair use" enough).

[the_panic]

2794671

Yeah, and his little "authors notes" before each chapter, Jesus.

And I had no idea my story had a Goodreads entry, haha. Interesting.

[FaceDeer]

2794693 Fanfiction is a legitimate form of literature. :) I'm a librarian over there, BTW, so if you want me to add anything to your author page or otherwise tweak things just ask.

[Broderick]

2794616

Alrighty! With the way you wrote it, I thought you didnt have one, so I figured I would help out by explaining. It seems that it was not needed though. You are welcome, I despise plagiarism.

[Spacecowboy]

Hah, fanfiction. Talk about a hot mess of a site. Have your story in my favorites, but don't even remember it anymore. Either way, shame ya won't be writing anytime soon, and congrats on joining the ranks of those who've had their work ripped off elsewhere. Cheers.

[Wonder]

Yay. I got mentioned.

[Straker]

Sent a report with a link to this journal. Hope that helps.

[Sniperwolf24]

I got your 6, sent a report of violation to fanfiction.

[the_panic]

2794893
2794905
2795055
2795059

Thanks guys! Apparently my first report back in December when Wonder first messaged me wasn't enough, so hopefully a few other independent reports will do the trick. You guys are the best.

Spacecowboy : Yeah, when I wrote this first story back in 2012, I was working an internship and then later back to taking classes. Fast-forward to now (holy hell I can't believe it's been 3 years) and I'm done with undergrad, working full-time, and taking graduate courses part time plus numerous other personal projects that I hope will one day let me be my own boss haha... Maybe then I'll come back to doing a big writing project like this, but it'll probably be a completely original work at that point instead of fanfiction lol.

[Wonder]

All I can say is, that even though you have only done one story, it's awesome enough to be worth 10.
.........I would still like to see new ones though. Maybe start a patreon and advertise it in blogs so you can get help with your bills and stuff.

[the_panic]

2795412

Haha thanks, but unless they're willing to pay as much as a full-time engineering job, I don't think so lol.

[Gastornex]

Plagiarism reported, have a good day!

[markoatonc]

I reported it, but This site is years old in technology and solutions used, it's buggy and not properly updated, and Those rapports are answered rather rarely. SO I wouldn't have much hope.

[Venatus21]

GGRRrr
[Never read your story yet, but since it was in my read later list I got to your blog post talking about it.]
GGRRrr
[I also hate plagiarists too.]
GGRRrr
[I don't have a fanfiction account, but I hope this issue will be resolved.]
GGRRrr
[P.S. I love your Family Guy reference.]

[Crimson Dale]

As a loyal fan of yours and your writing, I already report it so I could help. No superb writer should be plagiarized by the hands of a filthy thief.
Just so you know, your story is still THE number one in my top 10 list of the best stories I have ever read since I made my own FIMfiction account back in 2012, and I'm still following you strongly.

I hope you have a great day, my good dear friend.

[Crimson Dale]

2797878
Dude, you have got to read it! Not now though, but you when you got lots of time to kill, read the_panic's only good story.

As I mentioned from my comment in this blog post, it was one of my first length romantic stories, and it is by far the most extraordinary piece of writing I've ever read.

[Venatus21]

2802329
GGRRrr
[I am currently reading Equinophobia, but once I am done I will read this story.]

[Crimson Dale]

2802515
Woah, man! I just finished reading that like a two weeks ago!
That story is certainly a hell of a read too. I guess you should finish that first

[kayfivejosh]

If you still haven't heard anything back, you can try to submit a DMCA taketown request to FFN. (form letter from FFN's TAPIR)

FanFiction.net Copyright Infringement Notification
To Whom It May Concern,

I have discovered that my (short story/poem/novel), [insert story title], has been altered and posted without my permission by a writer on FanFiction.net named [insert plagiarist penname] [insert plagiarist profile link]. I am from [insert country you're from].

My original fan fiction short story can be found here: [insert your story link]. I published it on [insert publishing date].

Her/His plagiarized copy can be found here:

[insert link to plagiarized copy]. S/He published it on [insert plagiarized story date].

Copyright law in the United States implies that even a derivative work (which mine is) that cannot be sold enjoys some protection from copyright infringement. We can see this in the realm of approved derivative works such as tie-in novels. I realize this is still a gray area, and is disputed in many venues. However, until a definite ruling comes down which removes fan fiction entirely from under the copyright umbrella, I will claim what rights I do have. [Use this ONLY if your work is also fanfiction AND if you are from the US. Delete if your work is original.]

You may reach me at my email address: [your email address].

I have a good faith belief that the use of the copyrighted work described above is not authorized by the copyright owner (or by a third party who is legally entitled to do so on behalf of the copyright owner) and is otherwise not permitted by law.

I swear that the information contained in this notification is accurate and that I am the copyright owner or have an exclusive right in law to bring infringement proceedings with respect to its use.

Thank you. I look forward to a timely resolution to this matter.

[Add electronic or scanned physical signature, depending on how you are sending this.]

It should be sent to copyright [at] fanfiction [dot] com. The subject should be "Copyright Infringement Notification"