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karenhealeyBFF Robyn is, in addition to being a hella great writer and an awesome person, the owner-operator of a martial arts studio in Tucson, where she BREAKS BRICKS WITH HER HANDS on regular occasions.*
She's a third-degree black belt who has been teaching for over 15 years, and one of the best teachers I've ever had for anything. Lady is credentialed with a capital C is what I am saying.
Today she got this email, (all formatting preserved):
How kind of Benchmark Publishing Group! They will not charge her at all for providing her expertise!
Being both a professional writer and professional martial artist, Robyn is not inclined to give away her skills so that other people can profit from them. She rolled her eyes, and forwarded me the email so that we could laugh at it.
We did! It would have stopped there. Except I was bored, and instead googled the site. In the ensuing twenty minutes, we discovered the following:
1) Benchmark Publishing Group appears to be run by editor/writer Stephen J Jackson. The books published so far are are non-fiction advice books that appear to be largely interview collections, presumably gathered in the method above.
I bought Your Fitness and Nutrition Questions Answered: Featuring Interviews With 15 Top Personal Trainers From Around The Country! (I was VERY bored), and discovered that it doesn't "feature" interviews. It almost entirely comprises them. There is a disclaimer (of which more later), a table of contents, an introduction and a conclusion. The rest is all interviews, with little contextualisation.
Are all the rest of the books like this? I don't know for sure, because I am neither that bored nor that willing to spend money, but the descriptions seem to indicate so:
It's perfectly legal to ask experts to give up their time and expertise to you so that you can throw their answers together, slap on a cover image, and sell it. I think it's also hella skeezy.
2) "Special editions" of many of Benchmark Publishing Group's titles are available, citing a single "exclusive interview" with a professional. In fact, some topics offer "special editions" of books with identical titles, a different cover image, and an "exclusive interview" with a different expert.
There is a "Special Edition" of Your Fitness and Nutrition Questions Answered: Featuring Interviews With 15 Top Personal Trainers From Around The Country! called: Your Fitness & Nutrition Questions Answered – Featuring a Unique Interview with Dr. Marisa R. Silver from In The Zone Personal Fitness.
Yeah, okay, except that the same expert appears in my bog-standard non-special edition, and so does the excerpt from her "unique interview" that appears on the "Special Edition" blurb.
3) Most of the website's blog content appears to be the full content of reviews reprinted directly from the New York Times. I am not sure that the source link at the end of each such post - "Source Article from [URL link]" - is sufficient justification for such full-scale ganking of other writers' work, presumably without permission to reprint.
4) The reason I keep calling it Benchmark Publishing Group in full, instead of just "Benchmark", is because there's a publisher called Benchmark Education. This is probably a coincidence, but it's irritating me.
Oh, and the only Amazon review for one of their titles is a five star one from a reviewer who has no other reviews, but that's pretty much par for the course.
In conclusion! Benchmark Publishing Group! Don't lend them your expertise!
OKAY NOW THESE DISCLAIMERS, because they are hilarious.
The website has a really long Terms of Service section. Highlights!
Alas, I have already broken those terms! Because:
I am breaking them RIGHT NOW by the amazing powers of copy/paste! I wonder if the New York Times just forgot to have such an awesome TOS section?
Because… magic? Magic that overwhelms fair use? That's some Disney level power.
And finally:
So if you were to email Benchmark Publishing Group, LLC to ask why the heck you had just paid extra for a special edition that had the same content as the normal edition, they could then presumably publish your email in a collection of fifteen emails and sell it. And use that picture of your dog you accidentally attached as the cover picture.
But don't you go trying to frame or copy any of THEIR content!
And then there's the disclaimer on the book I have, which is mostly notable for this:
If you ever go for a jog, you have AGREED TO ALL TERMS.
Jackson also includes the "talk to a medical professional!" advice, which is sensible enough for a guy who is providing all his real content through third party interviews, the validity of which he cannot guarantee. But then, there's the tautological wonder of this:
The information provided is the information provided! Okay, cool.
* Lies. Only for rank tests.
She's a third-degree black belt who has been teaching for over 15 years, and one of the best teachers I've ever had for anything. Lady is credentialed with a capital C is what I am saying.
Today she got this email, (all formatting preserved):
Subject: martial arts instructor needed
Hello,
Benchmark Publishing Group is looking for a martial arts/self defense
studio or instructor to interview, for two different books we're
currently publishing, entitled “Mind Body and Self Defense & A
Real World Martial Arts Guide” (at no-cost to you). If this sounds
like something you might be interested in, simply reply to this email
with the style of martial arts/self defense you teach (with a link to
your site), and we will send you the interview questions via email.
Kindest Regards,Stephen JacksonAssociate
PublisherBenchmarkPublishingGroup.Infostephen@benchmarkpublishinggroup.info
How kind of Benchmark Publishing Group! They will not charge her at all for providing her expertise!
Being both a professional writer and professional martial artist, Robyn is not inclined to give away her skills so that other people can profit from them. She rolled her eyes, and forwarded me the email so that we could laugh at it.
We did! It would have stopped there. Except I was bored, and instead googled the site. In the ensuing twenty minutes, we discovered the following:
1) Benchmark Publishing Group appears to be run by editor/writer Stephen J Jackson. The books published so far are are non-fiction advice books that appear to be largely interview collections, presumably gathered in the method above.
I bought Your Fitness and Nutrition Questions Answered: Featuring Interviews With 15 Top Personal Trainers From Around The Country! (I was VERY bored), and discovered that it doesn't "feature" interviews. It almost entirely comprises them. There is a disclaimer (of which more later), a table of contents, an introduction and a conclusion. The rest is all interviews, with little contextualisation.
Are all the rest of the books like this? I don't know for sure, because I am neither that bored nor that willing to spend money, but the descriptions seem to indicate so:
In this publication, the real questions you have about Yoga will be answered by industry professionals. Professional instructors and studios from around the country have weighed in with answers to common questions, as well as those not so common questions that some may be afraid to ask.
In Expert Wedding Advice For Planning A Perfect Wedding, we've interviewed 15 wedding industry professionals, to help you avoid some of the common mistakes that couples often make when planning their "big day". Inside, you'll hear from the real world experts who share many years of experience between them all. Let their experience guide you, as they share honest, straightforward advice, so that your wedding planning experience is as stress-free as possible.
Your home is probably the largest and most important investment you’ll ever make. For this reason, it’s critical that you protect and maximize the value of your property. In How to Maximize the Value of Your Home or Property, we’ve gathered Real Estate and Home Improvement experts, from around the county, to share their best strategies and advice, to help you get the most value out of your home.
It's perfectly legal to ask experts to give up their time and expertise to you so that you can throw their answers together, slap on a cover image, and sell it. I think it's also hella skeezy.
2) "Special editions" of many of Benchmark Publishing Group's titles are available, citing a single "exclusive interview" with a professional. In fact, some topics offer "special editions" of books with identical titles, a different cover image, and an "exclusive interview" with a different expert.
There is a "Special Edition" of Your Fitness and Nutrition Questions Answered: Featuring Interviews With 15 Top Personal Trainers From Around The Country! called: Your Fitness & Nutrition Questions Answered – Featuring a Unique Interview with Dr. Marisa R. Silver from In The Zone Personal Fitness.
Yeah, okay, except that the same expert appears in my bog-standard non-special edition, and so does the excerpt from her "unique interview" that appears on the "Special Edition" blurb.
3) Most of the website's blog content appears to be the full content of reviews reprinted directly from the New York Times. I am not sure that the source link at the end of each such post - "Source Article from [URL link]" - is sufficient justification for such full-scale ganking of other writers' work, presumably without permission to reprint.
4) The reason I keep calling it Benchmark Publishing Group in full, instead of just "Benchmark", is because there's a publisher called Benchmark Education. This is probably a coincidence, but it's irritating me.
Oh, and the only Amazon review for one of their titles is a five star one from a reviewer who has no other reviews, but that's pretty much par for the course.
In conclusion! Benchmark Publishing Group! Don't lend them your expertise!
OKAY NOW THESE DISCLAIMERS, because they are hilarious.
The website has a really long Terms of Service section. Highlights!
READING AND ACCEPTING THE TERMS OF USE AND READING AND ACCEPTING THE PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVACY POLICY OF BenchmarkPublishingGroup.Info ARE REQUIRED CONSIDERATIONS FOR BenchmarkPublishingGroup.Info GRANTING YOU THE RIGHT TO VISIT, READ OR INTERACT WITH IT.
ALL PERSONS ARE DENIED ACCESS TO THIS SITE UNLESS THEY READ AND ACCEPT THE TERMS OF USE AND THE PRIVACY POLICY.
BY VIEWING, VISITING, USING, OR INTERACTING WITH BenchmarkPublishingGroup.Info OR WITH ANY BANNER, POP-UP, OR ADVERTISING THAT APPEARS ON IT, YOU ARE AGREEING TO ALL THE PROVISIONS OF THIS TERMS OF USE POLICY AND THE PRIVACY POLICY OF BenchmarkPublishingGroup.Info.
Alas, I have already broken those terms! Because:
Unless you have entered into an express written contract with this website to the contrary, visitors, viewers, subscribers, members, affiliates, or customers have no right to use this information in a commercial or public setting; they have no right to broadcast it, copy it, save it, print it, sell it, or publish any portions of the content of this website.
I am breaking them RIGHT NOW by the amazing powers of copy/paste! I wonder if the New York Times just forgot to have such an awesome TOS section?
HYPERLINKING TO SITE, CO-BRANDING, “FRAMING” AND REFERENCING SITE PROHIBITED
Unless expressly authorized by website, no one may hyperlink this site, or portions thereof, (including, but not limited to, logotypes, trademarks, branding or copyrighted material) to theirs for any reason. Further, you are not allowed to reference the url (website address) of this website in any commercial or non-commercial media without express permission, nor are you allowed to ‘frame’ the site. You specifically agree to cooperate with the Website to remove or de-activate any such activities and be liable for all damages. You hereby agree to liquidated damages of US $100,000.00 plus costs and actual damages for violating this provision.
Because… magic? Magic that overwhelms fair use? That's some Disney level power.
And finally:
Visitor agrees as a condition of viewing, that any communication between Visitor and Website is deemed a submission. All submissions, including portions thereof, graphics contained thereon, or any of the content of the submission, shall become the exclusive property of the Website and may be used, without further permission, for commercial use without additional consideration of any kind. Visitor agrees to only communicate that information to the Website, which it wishes to forever allow the Website to use in any manner as it sees fit. “Submissions” is also a provision of the Privacy Policy.
So if you were to email Benchmark Publishing Group, LLC to ask why the heck you had just paid extra for a special edition that had the same content as the normal edition, they could then presumably publish your email in a collection of fifteen emails and sell it. And use that picture of your dog you accidentally attached as the cover picture.
But don't you go trying to frame or copy any of THEIR content!
And then there's the disclaimer on the book I have, which is mostly notable for this:
AS AN EXPRESS CONDITION TO USING THE INFORMATION IN THIS BOOK, YOU MUST AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING TERMS. IF YOU DISAGREE WITH ANY OF THESE TERMS, DO NOT USE THE INFORMATION IN THIS BOOK. YOUR PARTICIPATION IN ACTIVITIES MENTIONED IN THIS BOOK MEANS THAT YOU ARE AGREEING TO BE LEGALLY BOUND BY THESE TERMS.
If you ever go for a jog, you have AGREED TO ALL TERMS.
Jackson also includes the "talk to a medical professional!" advice, which is sensible enough for a guy who is providing all his real content through third party interviews, the validity of which he cannot guarantee. But then, there's the tautological wonder of this:
Information provided is not all-inclusive, and is limited to information that is made available. Such information should not be relied upon as all-inclusive or accurate.
The information provided is the information provided! Okay, cool.
* Lies. Only for rank tests.
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no subject
Date: 2012-10-23 10:10 am (UTC)Skeezy indeed.
no subject
Date: 2012-10-23 10:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-10-24 07:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-10-23 11:37 am (UTC)Gah!
Date: 2012-10-23 04:25 pm (UTC)Thank you for the research; I'm sure it will save someone a lot of grief.
no subject
Date: 2012-10-24 01:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-10-24 12:18 pm (UTC)