RIDE-CT – Classic Cars Celebrating Classic Cars in Connecticut
HARWINTON, CT – Should I be outraged or flattered? Should the offending publication at least have to pay a reprint fee for the copy and several photos? After all, I’ve made a living for five decades using words and part of my income still comes from writing and shooting photos. Or should I just laugh it off?
It was a few days ago that I was tipped to the fact that “The American Tri-Five” magazine reprinted a copyrighted story I did in mid-December for the “Republican-American” newspaper in its April-May 2024 issue. Without asking permission. The story was on Nick Spino of Torrington, CT and his 1955 Chevrolet.
In the print biz that’s called theft or at least unauthorized use.
How this happened is perhaps explainable. The magazine is for owners of 1955-56-57 Chevies and it asked readers to tell them about their cars, so club member Spino innocently sent a link to the story on the newspaper’s website – just so they could see his car.
Now you’d think anyone with a lick of knowledge about publishing would know that most material is copyrighted and that using it is verboten without permission from the source; in this case, either the newspaper or the writer/photographer (me). No one ever contacted me and the existence of the reprinted story surprised the newspaper’s managing editor as well.
It appears that “The American Tri-Five” magazine simply pilfered the story and photos for a two-page spread, and even included the “My Ride” feature identifier that the newspaper uses.
Yes, the mag gave the newspaper and the reporter credit as a courtesy, but that’s not sufficient. What the magazine did was like walking into a package store and strolling out with a six-pack of beer without paying, then thanking the brewery for its barley pop as it’s being guzzled.
I alerted the newspaper over the weekend to what the magazine did. My editor responded that she plans to send a “chastising” note to “The American Tri-Five” but doesn’t plan to pursue it. A reasonable call considering what it would cost to bring in the publication’s lawyers. So, should I be outraged and maybe have my palm out for a gratuity? Or should I just chuckle that my work got ripped off and forget about it?
I’ll opt for the latter as it has provided fodder for this column. I may as well post the story on Spino’s ’55 Chevy with pictures on this website as well – with permission from the writer. An irony to this tale is that a check of the American Tri-Five Association’s website contains, yes, a copyright at the bottom, albeit one that is out of date.
