My Work Has Been Plagiarized

[Ruthmarie]

I have just discovered that my work has been plagiarized and am not sure how to proceed to taken action against the perpetrator. From 1980 to 2000, I was a Veterans' Services Representative for Yuba & Sutter Counties in Marysville, CA. In short, it was my job to fight the VA in an effort to force them to pay our veterans the compensation they were due. I was extremely popular with the veteran population and was extremely successful in attaining their long awaited benefits. On Memorial Day in 1999, I attended a special service at a local church, dedicated to the memory of all veterans. The service was very moving and after leaving, I began jotting down lines of poetry that ultimately became a fairly lengthy poem that I entitled, A Place They Called Vietnam. I posted the poem on the bulletin board in my office and began to have clients requesting copies. Soon, the poem had circulated amongst the veterans receiving PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) treatment at the Sacramento VA Outpatient Clinic (where I was a guest speaker on several occasions). Some months later, I received a new client by the name of David Ray Reed, who read the poem and said that he would like to put it to music. A few days later, he had actually done so and then advised me that he had friends in the recording industry and that he would like to record the song and split the profits with me. I agreed, and my husband and I made the trip to Prairie Sun Recording Studio in Cotati, CA and watched while David recorded the song. From my understanding, he even found investors to put out the money for the purpose of circulating the song and getting it out over the airwaves. As Mr. Reed was a recovering alcoholic and living at 'The Progress House' in Coloma, CA., I probably should have been leery of him from the onset, but after all, he was able to record the song at a legitimate studio, so I believed everything he said. A few weeks later however, Mr. Reed disappeared with the investor's money and owing the recording studio. I admonished myself for my own idiocy and eventually forgot about it. A few years later however, I was alerted by a veteran friend that David Ray Reed was touting, A Place They Call Vietnam, as HIS song on the Internet (a site called, My Red Hat ), and trying to sell copies of it. I immediately alerted the webmaster at My Red Hat, and they pulled all information about Mr. Reed off of their website. This evening, quite by accident, I discovered that Mr. Reed is at it again. He has appeared on a television show to promote his new album entitled, "Christmas in Texas." This album includes the song, "A Place They Call Vietnam." The song contains the words to the poem I wrote. You can see this for yourself at [url]http://www.lonestarmusic.com/album.asp?aid=4442[/url], and he is actually selling this song as his own work. I understand that Mr. Reed now resides in Texas, while I live in Hoquiam, WA. I am still in touch with some of my veteran clients in California, who well remember that I wrote the poem before I ever met Mr. Reed, and I am quite certain they would be more than happy to provide written affidavits attesting to that fact. Further, I placed the poem in an envelope and mailed it to myself in August of 1999. I still have that envelope, stamped, postmarked and unopened. In addition, it appears that Mr. Reed is touting himself as a disabled Vietnam veteran. I remember from his VA claim that he was in the Navy and never saw the slightest bit of action in Vietnam. Since his DD-214 is a matter of public record, that point can easily be proven. I will appreciate any guidance you are able to provide.What is the name of your state?

[racer72]

What is your proof of copyright? You provide no information of this in your post.

[S__]

Originally Posted by racer72

What is your proof of copyright? You provide no information of this in your post.

Wait... I thought that original works were automatically copyrighted? That's what I understood from the answers to my post. She has witnesses and such that know it was hers, and the dated "letter" she sent herself. Are you implying that in order to have something truely copyrighted, it has to be registered? If not, what are the other alternatives? I'm confused, now.

[quincy]

S_
Creative works are automatically copyrighted upon completion. Ruthmarie's poem was copyrighted, even without registration, when she wrote it. In addition, Ruthmarie seems to have enough proof of when she wrote the poem to enable her to sue for infringement.

Ruthmarie -
Is it possible that Mr. Reed or the Prairie Sun Recording Studio registered your lyrics and Mr. Reed's music with the U.S. Copyright Office, perhaps as a joint work?

If not, what you will need to do is register your poem with the U.S. Copyright Office. The poem must be registered before you can file an infringement suit. Infringement suits are handled in federal district courts.

You should have an attorney assist you with your suit although, if money is an issue, you can try to find a free legal clinic with an experienced copyright lawyer to guide you through at least the first steps.

An attorney will be necessary, because your infringement suit will be complicated.

[S__]

Originally Posted by quincy

S_
Creative works are automatically copyrighted upon completion. Ruthmarie's poem was copyrighted, even without registration, when she wrote it. In addition, Ruthmarie seems to have enough proof of when she wrote the poem to enable her to sue for infringement.

Thank you for clearing that up!

[quincy]

You're welcome.

[goldenplains]

Originally Posted by Ruthmarie

I have just discovered that my work has been plagiarized and am not sure how to proceed to taken action against the perpetrator. From 1980 to 2000, I was a Veterans' Services Representative for Yuba & Sutter Counties in Marysville, CA. In short, it was my job to fight the VA in an effort to force them to pay our veterans the compensation they were due. I was extremely popular with the veteran population and was extremely successful in attaining their long awaited benefits. On Memorial Day in 1999, I attended a special service at a local church, dedicated to the memory of all veterans. The service was very moving and after leaving, I began jotting down lines of poetry that ultimately became a fairly lengthy poem that I entitled, A Place They Called Vietnam. I posted the poem on the bulletin board in my office and began to have clients requesting copies. Soon, the poem had circulated amongst the veterans receiving PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) treatment at the Sacramento VA Outpatient Clinic (where I was a guest speaker on several occasions). Some months later, I received a new client by the name of David Ray Reed, who read the poem and said that he would like to put it to music. A few days later, he had actually done so and then advised me that he had friends in the recording industry and that he would like to record the song and split the profits with me. I agreed, and my husband and I made the trip to Prairie Sun Recording Studio in Cotati, CA and watched while David recorded the song. From my understanding, he even found investors to put out the money for the purpose of circulating the song and getting it out over the airwaves. As Mr. Reed was a recovering alcoholic and living at 'The Progress House' in Coloma, CA., I probably should have been leery of him from the onset, but after all, he was able to record the song at a legitimate studio, so I believed everything he said. A few weeks later however, Mr. Reed disappeared with the investor's money and owing the recording studio. I admonished myself for my own idiocy and eventually forgot about it. A few years later however, I was alerted by a veteran friend that David Ray Reed was touting, A Place They Call Vietnam, as HIS song on the Internet (a site called, My Red Hat ), and trying to sell copies of it. I immediately alerted the webmaster at My Red Hat, and they pulled all information about Mr. Reed off of their website. This evening, quite by accident, I discovered that Mr. Reed is at it again. He has appeared on a television show to promote his new album entitled, "Christmas in Texas." This album includes the song, "A Place They Call Vietnam." The song contains the words to the poem I wrote. You can see this for yourself at [url]http://www.lonestarmusic.com/album.asp?aid=4442[/url], and he is actually selling this song as his own work. I understand that Mr. Reed now resides in Texas, while I live in Hoquiam, WA. I am still in touch with some of my veteran clients in California, who well remember that I wrote the poem before I ever met Mr. Reed, and I am quite certain they would be more than happy to provide written affidavits attesting to that fact. Further, I placed the poem in an envelope and mailed it to myself in August of 1999. I still have that envelope, stamped, postmarked and unopened. In addition, it appears that Mr. Reed is touting himself as a disabled Vietnam veteran. I remember from his VA claim that he was in the Navy and never saw the slightest bit of action in Vietnam. Since his DD-214 is a matter of public record, that point can easily be proven. I will appreciate any guidance you are able to provide.What is the name of your state?

Ruthmarie, has this been resolved?