Plagiarism between the 'Starsky and Hutch' and 'The Sentinel' fandoms

[mab_browne]

Over the weekend I read pepper-ckua's story 'Heart of Darkness' which was plagiarised from my story 'Right Memory'. Pepper wrote under the pen name micah_loden in TS fandom.

Comments

[mab_browne]

Thanks.

[mab_browne]

Someone asked me how I know that Pepper and Micah are the same people. I commented to her Micah pseudonym and she replied with her Pepper pseud, before editing it back to Micah. As there's nothing wrong per se with using different pseuds for different fandoms, I didn't say anything at the time.

[magician113]

also know they are the same person. I don't think it's a huge secret. I was communicating with her Pepper persona while we were working on collecting stories by category (she in S&H and I in TS). She mentioned she was Micah. I didn't (and still don't) think anything of if, since there are many writers who use different pseuds when writing in different fandoms.

I'm totally bummed by this development. Not only for your hurt, which I've expressed personally, but because Micah has her stories *everywhere* in TS. She's contributed to My Mongoose Ezine anthologies, participated in community challenges, and she's been consistently nominated and has received LMFAs, as mentioned. Additionally, her stories have been recommended by me and others at Crack Van, TS Fresh Air and I'm sure elsewhere.

I don't know what the outcome will be, whether she's done this just a few times or whether it's commonplace. But the two fandoms will definitely be rocked by what's discovered.

Thanks and courage to all involved.

[janedavitt]

I'm beyond shocked and distressed that she's done this to you and who knows how many other authors. This is someone who was welcomed by the Sentinel fandom, who won best gen author and best fic in the Light My Fire Awards...it's disheartening to think how undeserved the feedback and awards were.

[mab_browne]

Thanks, m'dear.

what would be more interesting is

[alyburns]

to whom those awards really belonged. Who actually wrote the story for which she won best fic?

Re: what would be more interesting is

[mab_browne]

I've googled my little backside off, although others are welcome to give it a go. The fact that so many people try to block bots from their fanfic and journal posts doesn't help situations like these, unfortunately.

*MAJOR

[alyburns]

HUGS*

Re: *MAJOR

[mab_browne]

Thanks. Hugs are good. :-)

[caarianna]

Oh, Mab, I'm so sorry this has happened to you. You're right to not let it pass, to report it but, yeah, it's distressing to be involved in a case like this. Takes courage to blow the whistle. ::hugs::

[mab_browne]

Thanks. The support and hugs are appreciated.

[weggsley]

This makes me so sad, especially for you, Mab, because I know you're really upset about this. I simply cannot comprehend the mindset of people who would steal so blatantly, pass off the work as their own and accept the accolades as though they are entitled to them. It's simply mind-boggling.

[mab_browne]

Actually, I feel not so bad on my own behalf. It's others who had closer relationships that she's led up the garden path that I feel sorry for.