Comments on: The odd tale of Alphascript Publishing and Betascript Publishing http://www.chrisrand.com/blog/index.php/2010/02/27/odd-tale-alphascript-publishing-betascript-publishing/ Strong men have run for miles and miles, when one from Cherry Hinton smiles Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:10:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Natalie D'Arbeloff http://www.chrisrand.com/blog/index.php/2010/02/27/odd-tale-alphascript-publishing-betascript-publishing/#comment-17686 Natalie D'Arbeloff Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:10:27 +0000 http://www.chrisrand.com/blog/?p=1345#comment-17686 Hello Alla, About Wikipedia: why they haven't mentioned the BetaScript issue? I don't know, but it might be because it's really up to any individual to pursue a case where they feel their own rights have been infringed. Wikipedia is free content, which can be edited by anyone, so what Betascript is doing is not strictly speaking illegal since everything that goes up on Wikipedia is not copyright. The main information section gives details of what Wikipedia is and how it works. I send you my very good wishes and good luck. Natalie Hello Alla,
About Wikipedia: why they haven’t mentioned the BetaScript issue? I don’t know, but it might be because it’s really up to any individual to pursue a case where they feel their own rights have been infringed. Wikipedia is free content, which can be edited by anyone, so what Betascript is doing is not strictly speaking illegal since everything that goes up on Wikipedia is not copyright.

The main information section gives details of what Wikipedia is and how it works.

I send you my very good wishes and good luck.
Natalie

]]> By: Natalie D'Arbeloff http://www.chrisrand.com/blog/index.php/2010/02/27/odd-tale-alphascript-publishing-betascript-publishing/#comment-17680 Natalie D'Arbeloff Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:54:02 +0000 http://www.chrisrand.com/blog/?p=1345#comment-17680 Hello Alia - I understand very well your anger and frustration but it's necessary to understand the facts: Wikipedia content is free and it is not illegal for anyone to download anything from Wikipedia. This is why people like Betascript (and whatever other name this company uses) can justify what they are doing and why it is difficult to legally prosecute them. We consider what they are doing immoral but proving that it is also illegal, one needs to show specific proof in individual cases. I am sure that Wikipedia is not "working together with these crooks" as you suggest. It's simply that the free Wikipedia platform can be abused by unscrupulous and greedy profiteers such as the Betascript people. However, it seems that you have a strong case if they have taken a book of yours and published translations of it without your permission. This is definitely copyright infringement and what you should do is write a formal letter to the company (I've given the address in my last comment above), or ask a lawyer friend to write it for you, stating all the details. After they reply, you can decide what you want to do. Good luck! Hello Alia -
I understand very well your anger and frustration but it’s necessary to understand the facts:

Wikipedia content is free and it is not illegal for anyone to download anything from Wikipedia. This is why people like Betascript (and whatever other name this company uses) can justify what they are doing and why it is difficult to legally prosecute them. We consider what they are doing immoral but proving that it is also illegal, one needs to show specific proof in individual cases. I am sure that Wikipedia is not “working together with these crooks” as you suggest. It’s simply that the free Wikipedia platform can be abused by unscrupulous and greedy profiteers such as the Betascript people.

However, it seems that you have a strong case if they have taken a book of yours and published translations of it without your permission. This is definitely copyright infringement and what you should do is write a formal letter to the company (I’ve given the address in my last comment above), or ask a lawyer friend to write it for you, stating all the details. After they reply, you can decide what you want to do.
Good luck!

]]> By: Alla Yaroshinskaya http://www.chrisrand.com/blog/index.php/2010/02/27/odd-tale-alphascript-publishing-betascript-publishing/#comment-17679 Alla Yaroshinskaya Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:23:47 +0000 http://www.chrisrand.com/blog/?p=1345#comment-17679 Natalie, many thanks for your great support. Yesterday I begun from Amazon - I wrote them all I think about Beta and about Amazon selling these "books". I demanded to remove 2 my books with my name. I am going to continue to fight with these crooks using the law. What do you think - why Wiki knowing about that business keeps silence? Natalie, many thanks for your great support. Yesterday I begun from Amazon – I wrote them all I think about Beta and about Amazon selling these “books”. I demanded to remove 2 my books with my name. I am going to continue to fight with these crooks using the law. What do you think – why Wiki knowing about that business keeps silence?

]]> By: Natalie D'Arbeloff http://www.chrisrand.com/blog/index.php/2010/02/27/odd-tale-alphascript-publishing-betascript-publishing/#comment-17678 Natalie D'Arbeloff Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:34:56 +0000 http://www.chrisrand.com/blog/?p=1345#comment-17678 And for anyone who wants to contact that company directly, here's the address I had written to. The replies I received were from Katharina Bergmann: Dr. Katharina Bergmann Legal Department International Book Market Service Ltd. 17, Meldrum Str. | Beau-Bassin | Mauritius Tel / Fax: +230 467-5601 k.bergmann@bookmarket-service.com www.bookmarketservice.com Business Registration No.: C07072290 Board of Director: Benoit Novel VDM Publishing House Ltd. has been renamed and is now International Book Market Service Ltd. And for anyone who wants to contact that company directly, here’s the address I had written to. The replies I received were from Katharina Bergmann:

Dr. Katharina Bergmann
Legal Department

International Book Market Service Ltd.
17, Meldrum Str. | Beau-Bassin | Mauritius
Tel / Fax: +230 467-5601
k.bergmann@bookmarket-service.com
http://www.bookmarketservice.com
Business Registration No.: C07072290
Board of Director: Benoit Novel
VDM Publishing House Ltd. has been renamed and is now International Book Market Service Ltd.

]]> By: Natalie D'Arbeloff http://www.chrisrand.com/blog/index.php/2010/02/27/odd-tale-alphascript-publishing-betascript-publishing/#comment-17677 Natalie D'Arbeloff Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:21:17 +0000 http://www.chrisrand.com/blog/?p=1345#comment-17677 <a href="http://www.bookmarketservice.com/about.html" rel="nofollow">Here's a link to the website of International Book Market Service Ltd</a>. (formerly Alpha or Betascript). Have a good laugh (or cry) at how they describe themselves. Here’s a link to the website of International Book Market Service Ltd. (formerly Alpha or Betascript).
Have a good laugh (or cry) at how they describe themselves.

]]> By: Natalie D'Arbeloff http://www.chrisrand.com/blog/index.php/2010/02/27/odd-tale-alphascript-publishing-betascript-publishing/#comment-17676 Natalie D'Arbeloff Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:00:45 +0000 http://www.chrisrand.com/blog/?p=1345#comment-17676 To anyone who has been ripped off by Alpha or Betascript: they are now calling themselves International Book Market Service Ltd. It isn't enough to complain about it here in this forum (though that too is useful), you must take energetic action: write to the company itself, describe in detail what they've done and say that you are taking legal action against them. Demand that they immediately remove the material they've stolen (Wikipedi entry about you or or whatever) and also demand that they send you a PDF copy of the fraudulent 'book' that they're advertising on Amazon and anywhere else. Do not pay a penny, ever, to these scammers! Also contact Amazon and the other online booksellers about your specific case and insist that they remove the particular title you're concerned with from their listings. I did all of this and managed to get them to delete the 'book' they published with my name on the cover. (please see my several comments in the above discussion - last one was on 29 May, 2011). It does take some effort but is worth it. They count on people being unwilling or unable to do anything about their huge scam operation. To anyone who has been ripped off by Alpha or Betascript:
they are now calling themselves International Book Market Service Ltd. It isn’t enough to complain about it here in this forum (though that too is useful), you must take energetic action: write to the company itself, describe in detail what they’ve done and say that you are taking legal action against them. Demand that they immediately remove the material they’ve stolen (Wikipedi entry about you or or whatever) and also demand that they send you a PDF copy of the fraudulent ‘book’ that they’re advertising on Amazon and anywhere else. Do not pay a penny, ever, to these scammers! Also contact Amazon and the other online booksellers about your specific case and insist that they remove the particular title you’re concerned with from their listings.
I did all of this and managed to get them to delete the ‘book’ they published with my name on the cover. (please see my several comments in the above discussion – last one was on 29 May, 2011). It does take some effort but is worth it. They count on people being unwilling or unable to do anything about their huge scam operation.

]]> By: Alla Yaroshinskaya http://www.chrisrand.com/blog/index.php/2010/02/27/odd-tale-alphascript-publishing-betascript-publishing/#comment-17674 Alla Yaroshinskaya Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:37:50 +0000 http://www.chrisrand.com/blog/?p=1345#comment-17674 Dear friends, I am author from Moscow, former MP and advisor to Russian President, Alternative Nobel Prize (1992). I found that some crooks from BetaScript Publishing published illegally my book in English and in German and <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alla-Jaroschynska-Lambert-M-Surhone/dp/613505158X" rel="nofollow">sell them via Amazon</a>. This is real shame for people who used intellectual work of many people to make money for themselves and it is shame Amazon knowing on thst still sell such kind of "books". This is also questions for Wikipedia. Why they do nothing against such situation? Maybe they also work together with these crooks? One more question: why nobody in West countries do nothing against such illegal work this group of people? I am going to write about all this shame an article to Russian mass media and also I ask your advice what we might to do together against this crazy situation. Or we only may to "cry" here to each other? <a href="mailto:boka1953@rambler.ru" rel="nofollow">Please write me your opinion to my email</a>. Thnak you in advance. Alla Dear friends,
I am author from Moscow, former MP and advisor to Russian President, Alternative Nobel Prize (1992).
I found that some crooks from BetaScript Publishing published illegally my book in English and in German and sell them via Amazon.
This is real shame for people who used intellectual work of many people to make money for themselves and it is shame Amazon knowing on thst still sell such kind of “books”.
This is also questions for Wikipedia. Why they do nothing against such situation? Maybe they also work together with these crooks?
One more question: why nobody in West countries do nothing against such illegal work this group of people?
I am going to write about all this shame an article to Russian mass media and also I ask your advice what we might to do together against this crazy situation. Or we only may to “cry” here to each other?
Please write me your opinion to my email.
Thnak you in advance.
Alla

]]> By: Kudpung http://www.chrisrand.com/blog/index.php/2010/02/27/odd-tale-alphascript-publishing-betascript-publishing/#comment-17655 Kudpung Sun, 22 Jan 2012 07:04:18 +0000 http://www.chrisrand.com/blog/?p=1345#comment-17655 I am positively disgusted that that articles that I have largely written such as <b>Malvern, Worcestershire</b> and other collaborative efforts to produce fine Wikipedia articles of <i>Good Article'</i> status, are being used for profit, and possibly being attributed to other authors. These articles are the product of hundreds of hours of dedicated research and work by competent volunteers. That said, many other Wikipedia articles that have not yet received and passed the scrutiny of the Wikipedia team of new-article patrollers are unreliable and totally worthless. I am positively disgusted that that articles that I have largely written such as Malvern, Worcestershire and other collaborative efforts to produce fine Wikipedia articles of Good Article’ status, are being used for profit, and possibly being attributed to other authors. These articles are the product of hundreds of hours of dedicated research and work by competent volunteers. That said, many other Wikipedia articles that have not yet received and passed the scrutiny of the Wikipedia team of new-article patrollers are unreliable and totally worthless.

]]> By: julian Foster http://www.chrisrand.com/blog/index.php/2010/02/27/odd-tale-alphascript-publishing-betascript-publishing/#comment-17652 julian Foster Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:22:55 +0000 http://www.chrisrand.com/blog/?p=1345#comment-17652 I have just received one of these books which I had to wait about 21 days for it to arrive .I was really getting quite excited that it may be waiting for me on my arrive home from work .well today it turn up and I have just thrown it the corner in disgust after scanning through the contents .As you stated these books are not cheap and out of 90 or so pages 20% seemed to be legal reference to use of the useless articles in it ,of the remaining 70 pages I would say that 25 have any direct reference to the books title then it just meanders of into slightly relevant general description of items .The title of this book is not important as I am sure that anything published by these companies will be along the same lines ; Leonardo lived along time ago before TV;Teenage mutant ninja turtles ;Helicopters ;Crayons ;index;Further reading . Crap these books are wrong. Avoid them this practice is wrong and I think Amazon should outlaw them ,may be they own them????. I have never been compelled to comment online before even though I am irritated by a whole shed of modern day values, but when you by a book you are trying to further your knowledge on that subject how ever trivial (that is your choice ) . Total rubbish bordering on illegal if not immoral . I have just received one of these books which I had to wait about 21 days for it to arrive .I was really getting quite excited that it may be waiting for me on my arrive home from work .well today it turn up and I have just thrown it the corner in disgust after scanning through the contents .As you stated these books are not cheap and out of 90 or so pages 20% seemed to be legal reference to use of the useless articles in it ,of the remaining 70 pages I would say that 25 have any direct reference to the books title then it just meanders of into slightly relevant general description of items .The title of this book is not important as I am sure that anything published by these companies will be along the same lines ; Leonardo lived along time ago before TV;Teenage mutant ninja turtles ;Helicopters ;Crayons ;index;Further reading . Crap these books are wrong. Avoid them this practice is wrong and I think Amazon should outlaw them ,may be they own them????. I have never been compelled to comment online before even though I am irritated by a whole shed of modern day values, but when you by a book you are trying to further your knowledge on that subject how ever trivial (that is your choice ) . Total rubbish bordering on illegal if not immoral .

]]> By: Taral Wayne http://www.chrisrand.com/blog/index.php/2010/02/27/odd-tale-alphascript-publishing-betascript-publishing/#comment-17619 Taral Wayne Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:58:28 +0000 http://www.chrisrand.com/blog/?p=1345#comment-17619 I appear to be the subject of one of the bogus books. If the information is taken from Wikipedia, then it is somewhat ironic in that I had a hand in writing what that entry. But that isn't what bothers me. I can find almost no information out about this book or what's in it -- but one brief desciption says 58 or 68 pages of black and white illustrations. That's an entirely different matter in that if it's my artwork, it is copyrighted material, published without my permission, and I would happily sue the tattoos off their buttocks, never mind their pants! I appear to be the subject of one of the bogus books. If the information is taken from Wikipedia, then it is somewhat ironic in that I had a hand in writing what that entry. But that isn’t what bothers me. I can find almost no information out about this book or what’s in it — but one brief desciption says 58 or 68 pages of black and white illustrations. That’s an entirely different matter in that if it’s my artwork, it is copyrighted material, published without my permission, and I would happily sue the tattoos off their buttocks, never mind their pants!

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