Sunday, April 29, 2012

CopyRIGHT



Food Diary (April 29, 2012)
Breakfast: Rolled oats with sultanas, almonds and flax seeds
Lunch: Pumpkin, rice, salad
Dinner: Eggplant salad, raita, cabbage, flatbread, rice
Baking/sweets: Kladdkaka

In March I mentioned receiving a note from a publisher asking me to remove a recipe because it was allegedly breaching copyright laws. We swapped emails and my last email response was unanswered. So I presume they decided not to waste their time running after me.  I maintained that I didn’t breach any laws and they had no right to require me to remove the recipe. Here is what I wrote to them:

Unless you have done so already, please take a detailed look at my recipe and the recipe on the Guardian site. Go through the ingredients and method, line by line. Its quite clear that I didn't write out the whole recipe as you incorrectly state. It is significantly different. Furthermore, if you have time and are willing, make both recipes and compare the results. They will differ, they will be both delicious but mine is a lighter version. I know that baking cakes and comparing results is not required by the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 . However it will not only convince you that the two cakes are different, you will end up with two delicious cakes. Its not a bad outcome.

I've looked at the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 and subsequent updates. I am not infringing any section. If you genuinely feel that I am infringing the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 please explain specifically how and if it makes sense I will certainly consider your request. I know that I have done nothing wrong and I hope you realise it soon, unless you have done so already. Its a waste of both your time and mine to argue over such an issue. Harper Collins no doubt has other more priority issues to focus on.

My irregular posting will continue for a while. Hopefully soon I will start to use my camera to take photos of food, it is starting to get rusty.

Today's Favourite Photo
Rocky road brownies

Today’s Favourite Blog
Source: Grist
This doesn’t sound too good. Two years after the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico shrimp caught in the area have been found to be eye less, female shrimp with their babies still attached to them, shrimp with oiled gills, and their gills full of black stuff. And to make it worse, these shrimps are making their way into grocery stores.

Crabs have been found with “with holes in their shells, shells with all the points burned off so all the spikes on their shells and claws are gone, misshapen shells, and crabs that are dying from within … they are still alive, but you open them up and they smell like they’ve been dead for a week”


This sounds a bit sad, and I am sorry for publishing such news.

17 comments:

  1. love the rocky road brownies! :) the nuts there are incredible!

    Latest: Of Latest Hit: Sesame Ramen

    ReplyDelete
  2. I still remember the copyright issue. Your answer is more than perfect. I have read in the meantime about other bloggers' problems with this man. Many people (including me) now remember the name of the baker and say they will never buy any of his books (I wouldn't even if it was on 90% sales). Contrary to what people think, I'm sure he knows the way his agent/publisher behaves and the only thing it does is making him a very bad advertisement.
    The seafood news are really sad indeed... I have never had anything coming from the Gulf of Mexico I believe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That man is getting famous, although for the wrong reasons. I've read many other bloggers saying they will avoid buying his books. Hopefully they will learn a lesson

      Delete
  3. Your kladdkaka looks delicious. Hopefully this copyright business will resolve itself soon.

    ReplyDelete
  4. They shouldnt even sell those shrimps

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now they shouldn't, but I guess people don't see the difference. The prawns can't see either!

      Delete
  5. Glad to hear that they've backed away with the copyright issue!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hahaha! I like your letter to the publisher esp the part about getting two cakes and it not being a bad outcome.
    How petty of them.
    The misshapen seafood is sad. Makes me think of Chernobyl and the years after that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe they made the cakes, enjoyed my one better and decided to lay this matter to rest:)

      Delete
  7. Good for you for standing up for yourself! Being wrongfully accused of copyright infringement is awful.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I hope that's the last you hear from those lawyers. And you don't need drama like that hanging over your head. People are busy enough without having to find extra energy to fight meaningless legal battles. That is not good news about the seafood industry. Scary times indeed xx

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love the way you handled that!! Good for you!
    Not so good for the poor shrimp in the Gulf of Mexico :((
    Mary oxox

    ReplyDelete
  10. Freaking awesome letter, thumbs up for you. I am slowly returning too, got the cast off yesterday.

    ReplyDelete
  11. good for you for not taking down your recipe and standing your ground. everyone's recipes could from somewhere- some type of inspiration or a certain ingredient from another recipe. Just because they seem similar doesn't mean they are the exact replica. Good for you

    ReplyDelete
  12. I certainly hope that is the end of this ridiculous accusation. You handled it so well. Yikes on the gulf seafood...I always heard to buy US shrimp over Asian, but now neither sound very appealing. Hope you're doing well, my friend.

    ReplyDelete