The Battlestar Galactica Transcripts are a major draw of visitors to the site. The transcripts have bumped the guide's pages to the top of the search engines. I've exchanged emails with people on six continents about the transcripts and closed captions. And with all this wonderful attention comes other who wish to host these transcripts on their own sites. I usually oblige for the better of the fan community, so long as they ask politely.
They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery, so what is theft considered?
I came back from a relaxing vacation to discover that some fledgling site is using the transcripts that I and several others have helped prepare over the last year.
You'd think that the big warning at the bottom, asking webmasters not to take without permission would deter them a little. Or maybe even guilt trip them into at least acknowledging where the transcripts came from. Not so for this antisocial webmaster.
Despite that I usually giver permission for the transcripts to be posted elsewhere, this webmaster got greedy, and tired to pass off the transcripts prepared for this site as his own.
As to be expected, I sent a professional and courteous email asking that the transcripts (with my own words) be removed. Instead he blew smoke up my ass, and resorted to name calling.
After a few volleys of emails, this webmaster has replaced some of my transcripts with those that someone else prepared (I wonder if he got permission?), left some of the sadgeezer scripts up, and is in the process of having one of his minions tweak the remaining sadgeezer transcripts to look as his own. Too bad, he's doing a really half assed job, because its not fooling anyone.
It's time like these that I wonder why I should bother preparing the transcripts, when some juvenile will take credit for my own work later down the line. The truth is though, that I enjoy contributing to the scifi fan community. And so long as I'm having fun, I will continue to contribute.
Anyone else have a similar opinion? Comments? A story to share?
__________________________