Monday, October 26, 2009

Dead tree press = bastards


For the second time in my short blogging career, lazy 'journalist' working methods have seen part of a blog post I have written stolen and printed in their publications.

The first time it happened, the guilty party was the local paper. I contacted them voicing my displeasure and an apology was issued in my direction. I accepted and let the matter drop. No real harm done.

This time the Sunday Mail saw fit to lift part of my 'Blatant racism at the BBC' post and insert it into this article.

It must be very simple to be a tabloid journalist these days. The wonder of google makes the cobbling together of stories easy and quick.

However, I would like to point out this and in particular the following part,

Non-Commercial. You may not use this work for commercial purposes.


Yes, I know that in legal terms it really means nothing. But here in the blogosphere we have a few unwritten rules/understandings. Any blogger can lift anything from any other site and use it provided an acknowledgement is used.

The fact that a newspaper lifted and printed my words, to help it make money, sticks in my throat a bit. Even an E mail from them beforehand would have been nice and I probably wouldn't have bothered provided it was used within context.

But no.

They just did it.

Bastards.

many thanks to DL for letting me know they did it!

16 comments:

RantinRab said...

It goes without saying...

And I was trying to have a cunt free day.

Shibby said...

They should have asked permission first, regardless of whether it's good or not that your message got some time on the mainstream.

Shibby said...

I will say one thing more though, if they're not trying to demonise you and police you, they're pilfering your material for an easy buck.

Unknown said...

They think that bloggers are anonymous, wish to remain so, and won't dare challenge their use of material.

Steal some of their stuff and present it libellously out of context. See how they like it.

Trident said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Trident said...

Hi Rab, it's happened to me quite a few times, just blogged about it at my place (as part of a reflection on my frustration).

The Daily Fail never contact bloggers before doing it, others do (well they did me). Nice if they paid though.

It's a compliment Rab, and a sign of the demise of old-media I think - if it's any consolation...

Unknown said...

So Norman Silvester stole some of yer shite for the Daly Fail...er... Mail eh Rab, and yer moanin' about it.

H/T to Norman Silvester and thanks for the tenner to malign a fellow blogger, you lazy wanker! (I wonder what I could say for twenty quid?)

Only choking with envy Rab :)

Derek Johnston played for Rangers. Brill said...

Don't agree Rab. Bloggers are constantly complaining about being ignored by the MSM yet you're moaning about being taken seriously by the MSM.
I only read blogs for my news and ignore the BBC etc. I get frustrated that the MSM talks bollox all the time. I'm fuckin ECSTATIC that they're using your blog. Please keep up your blog and please congratulate the MSM when they plagiarise your stuff.
There's no chance they will ever pay you so just enjoy the fact that they're being influenced by you.

Dark Lochnagar said...

Your right though Rab, it's cheap and easy journalism. Some of us are trying to write decent and amusing pieces every day and these bastards have just to write a bit for a Sunday paper and then filch off us and expect to be paid for it. Cunts!

banned said...

" A Scottish blogger calling himself Rantin Rab said:... " I would have thought that compliment enough Rab but, if we want to get picky I was chatting with a computer law lawyer the other day; she reckons that we have broken copyright the moment we save a pic to our hard drive let alone post it on Blogger. She was genuibly shocked when I told her that the bloggosphere ( and eleswhere ) thrives on this.

Fidothedog said...

Thought I would give this a mention.

RantinRab said...

Folks, I know we don't have a leg to stand on as we are a bunch of copyright thieving bastards and I suppose it is good to see your own words in print but they must use it in context.

Anonymous said...

The Sunday Mail is a scum paper, they do this all the time.

Usually from Socialist websites though.

Swiss Bob said...

Rab, but did you credit Mr Smith?

Hobnobgate said...

The Daily Wail have now stolen your story. It's ridiclous !

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1223457/HobNobgate-This-really-takes-biscuit---BBC-thought-police-tried-cover-gentle-quip.html

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