Dairy Goat Journal

[Prickle]

If you read online or subscribe to the print version of the Dairy Goat Journal please consider the plight of Suzanne McMinn.

Suzanne owns the blog Chickens in the Road. A wonderful site about her decision to give up suburban life and move herself and her children back to her father's birth place in West Virginia and start a farm.

Recently one of her photos was stolen from another website by the Dairy Goat Journal and used in both their online and print versions without permission or credit to Suzanne or even permission from the website of her friends where it has been determined the photo was stolen from.

Suzanne says that she would have gladly let them use the photo, asking only for proper credit and link back to her blog, if they had only asked.

Please a take minute to read through these links and decide if you would join in writing a letter to the editors and owners of the Dairy Goat Journal and Countryside Publications (who also owns Backyard Poultry and Countryside magazines) protesting their treatment of Suzanne and who knows who else.

http://chickensintheroad.com/dailyfarm/stolen/
http://chickensintheroad.com/dailyfarm/appears-appears/
http://chickensintheroad.com/living/...dave-belanger/

For another recent instance of a magazine stealing from a blogger (not goat related)

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/web/11/...ex.html?hpt=T2

Please remember that the people who stole these photos and written content are professionals and not just someone who didn't know better. They of all people should understand and honor internet copyrights.

Thank you.

[Pony]

I looked into this, and I am just steamed at the photo thieves.

Hardly ethical behavior.

Thanks for the alert.

[HappyFarmer]

This makes me angry also. I certainly will contact Dave and give him my thoughts on the matter.

I recently sold a breeding pair of goats to someone. They only wanted the doe, but I wouldn't separate them. They sold the buck to a neighbor. On the neighbors website is MY photo of the buck that I e-mailed, no credit for me taking the photo (though he does have my herdname listed in 1 of the 2 (same) photos on their website. It irritates me that I wasn't given the credit, but hey, it's a real nice photo, and a current photo would have the winter hair, so I can somewhat see why they wanted my photo instead, but still. They aren't selling my photo and making money off of it, so I can live with it, I guess.

But in this situation, this magazine is making money off of the stolen photo. Wrong. Definately. Wrong.

HF

[Natural Beauty Farm]

It looks like Jennifer (editor) has given credit at least on-line. If the matter was not solved I'm sure she would have taken the photo down. I've known her for years and written articles for her. I've never know her to knowingly steal anyone's work. Most of the goat pictures she publishes are done in her own backyard, just so that she does not have copyright issues.

[Prickle]

It was taken down for a while but one of Suzanne requests was that it be left online with credit and a link as that's the only way she can be credited for it since the print issue has already been printed and sent out, without credit, unless or until they print an apology in another print issue.

[Pony]

I think the worst of it was Dave's attitude when he was called on it. Tried to say that it wasn't her picture, then said that someone else gave permission, then hung up the phone on Suzanne.

Not very professional.

Don't know who dropped the ball, but someone sure needs a couple of lessons in journalistic ethics and in dealing with people whom you've wronged - intentionally or unintentionally.

[Prickle]

An update:

http://chickensintheroad.com/dailyfa...dave/#comments

Dave blames it all on Jennifer.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Post an address for us to use, and he'll get more than a "few" emails and letters.:lock1:

[rootsandwings]

The editorial email address is: csyeditorial@tds.net
Or call Countryside Publications toll-free at (800) 551-5691 and leave a message for Dave Belanger.

[Pony]

Do they have a fax number?

[rootsandwings]

According to Suzanne, the check to her is on the way.

[Pony]

w00t!

Power to the people!

RIGHT ON!

[Prickle]

Yep..Suzanne won!

http://chickensintheroad.com/dailyfa...heck-for-2100/

Thank you all for your help

[ozark_jewels]

I've never subscribed to the DGJ, but I was published once in it.
They used a buck and me picture on their cover once as well. The pic of course, was free, they asked if they could use it and I said yes. I did get the credit for the pic.
My butchering article was asked about by Jennifer, she said if I would allow them to use it, they would pay $100. I said sure! I sent it and a couple weeks later I recieved a $50 check in the mail. I asked politely about the other $50(I was counting on it to cover my CAE tests that year), and the guy I talked to(don't know his name) said he knew nothing about another $50, but I referred him to Jennifer. I then recieved the other $50 in the mail. So......it was interesting, but I have no reason to complain about them.
Glad to hear its all been worked out!!