I am so f**ing cross !!!

[Katie]

Ok.. i am writing this in the worst mood ever!!

I have had a look at an edition of the PJ from may and noticed that my old employer has submitted an article that i wrote (out of working hours) and has been published!!!

It is driving me insane.. It may sound petty but I spent so long trying to write it and make sure that all of the information is correct, i feel like someone has robbed my baby (i know, slight exaggeration!)

but as you can see, i'm not a natural writer, so it did acutally takes ages to get it perfect.. and to make matters even worse - they havent changed a bit of it!!

I sent this to the PJ back in December and they have published it 6 months later under her name!!

I contacted the pj and they said that it isn't thier problem basically, that they "thought" i wrote it on behalf of the company and tried to contact me but failed - they knew that she didnt write it as it was submitted a good 6 months beforehand by me - but they contacted her and asked her to put her name to.. i mean who wouldn't.. do no work and get all the credit..?? they gave it to her!!

please help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rafael]

write a 200 words letter in he PJ, it should be published next week. explain that you should get credits for the article as you are the author.
not sure if there was something under your employment contract that saays any invention/publication or innovation is a property of the employer, then you can not do anything.

btw which article is it? i am curious now and need to have a look at.

At least we now know it is you who wrote the article :P that's important...

[DavidS]

that they "thought" i wrote it on behalf of the company and tried to contact me but failed

To me it hinges on two points:

Was the article about work you did in the company: if so, check your c of e.

How difficult ARE you to get hold of. Are you registered with the RPSGP, for instance? Would the person who ghost signed the article have been able to get in touch with you?

I would be annoyed too. It seems to me that it was hardly urgent to publish this now. if they've had it for six months.

[Katie]

Hi there,

It wasn't an article about my work - more of my opinion on maternity leave and returning - as I have never had a child i had to do lots of research.

I'm not difficult to get hold of - and I had infact attempted to contact the PJ a few times since sending the article to them to find out when they were going to publish it so i could tell all my friends and family (like a sadcase)

I'm also a member of PJonline which has all my contact details.

I think i'll take Raoul's advice and write another..

[Rafael]

Just write a Letter, not another article. it should be published under the 'letters to editor' section. condemn the act and ask for acknowledgment next time. short letter should be sufficient to get you an apology.
Now cheer up Katie
Good luck

Raoul xx

[shan]

Hi there,

It wasn't an article about my work - more of my opinion on maternity leave and returning - as I have never had a child i had to do lots of research.

I'm not difficult to get hold of - and I had infact attempted to contact the PJ a few times since sending the article to them to find out when they were going to publish it so i could tell all my friends and family (like a sadcase)

I'm also a member of PJonline which has all my contact details.

I think i'll take Raoul's advice and write another..

Is this the article you are mentioning to ?????
From motherhood to pharmacist
Fri, 08/05/2009 - 19:14 — Admin Editor

Shan

[SolomonQ]

isn't it best to try to get hold of your ex employer and ask her to write to the PJ on your behalf, if she agrees, you're sorted, if she doesn't, you must have evidemce to prove it was yours, you've already said the PJ know it was yours.

[Katie]

hi there, i haven't a notion of contacting her - she wouldn't do it, we didn't leave on the best of terms, due to her/company ethics.

Luckily I have some e-mails sent between myself and the PJ from a private account to prove that it was me who sent it and when i sent it.

Guys thank you so much for all of your support - it has really given me back faith in human nature.

[PtitpupUK]

Do them for theft of copyright -- you own what you write, someone using it under their name are infringing your intellectual rights... Don't know if it works but it shure does work on Ebay !

[Rafael]

It depends on her contract of employement; i am remember reading something re innovation or invention under lloyds pre-reg contract, so might have the same restrictions on her contract. since the article was sent to publication the time she was employed, there is not much that could be done...... i mean no legal action IMHO.