Copyright Infringement

Copyright Infringement;
OK here's the crux of the matter, once you have written a work;

• If you are serious about building a career, you will want to try and promote your work and yourself,
  and even if you just dabble well it would be nice to know if someone ripped of your work you could be certain of some compensation.

You may be one of these who say;
" well I'd be quite flattered if someone thought my work was good enough to release commercially, that's all the reward I need"

To that I say; 

• If your work has been released it stands to reason they want to make some money out of it,
  mmm let me see now, copying your work and selling it their own, well that's theft plain and simple.
  Maybe you never intended to publish, maybe you never dreamed you could make any money out of your stories/plays etc., but someone is, now don't get me wrong I'm not saying sue them for every penny, after all they've published the work for you, but at the end of the day it's still your work.

There are two routes you could take the hard or the soft, of which I favour the soft option every time (or at least initially).

The Hard option;
It's your work. Full stop. 
By releasing the work without your permission they have breached your copyright.
By failing to identify you as the author they have breached your copyright.
After going to the courts; you have the right to seize infringing copies of the work.
You are entitled to royalties on the copies sold and can press for damages up to double the value of what you should have been paid as the licensee.
Downside of the hard option, you will probably have to fight every step of the way.

The Soft option;
Speak to the parties involved make them aware of the Hard option, and suggest a compromise, after all they've done you a favour getting your work published.
You will not seize infringing copies, or take them through the courts for damages if;
Any future copies identify you as the author,
You receive royalties on all copies sold to date, and any future copies.

Beware!...
Before you start getting heavy with anyone, make sure you have a watertight case.
The next page tells you how to protect your work