As promised here is the exchange (unedited) that Ted Burke and I had over the theft of my photograph.  If you’d rather read the discussion in PDF form please download here.  Of  course Ted has now deleted his post (and all of our comments) and he has went ahead and recreated it with a new Lady Gaga picture that he undoubtedly stole from another unwitting victim.

To recap, Ted stole one of my photographs, I called him out on it and he got embarrassed.  Now he thinks I’m after his poetry.

Man, I love the Liberal Arts.

—

Ted,

Maybe I’ll steal one of your ‘poems’ some time…

Nik Bronder
blackhandproductions.com
JULY 08, 2009 03:11 PM

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Well, Nik old pal, I understand your concern over protecting your intellectual property, but a simple comment here to ask me to remove the photo would have done the trick. I also would have apologized. But since you seem more prone to having snit-fits than being reasonable , I’ll forgo the I’m sorrys. If you decide to “steal” one of my poems, as in claiming authorship, you will have a hard time getting away with it. Things you find of mine on the internet are dated , and you’d only appear foolish attaching your name to something I’d written. In any case, you’re quotation marks around the word “poems” indicates that you think my poems very good. You’ve basically said that you’re willing to attach your name to things you think are inferior. Ironic, and perhaps telling; maybe you have self esteem issues. All the more reason to avoid your blog.

Have a nice day.
Ted Burke
JULY 08, 2009 03:38 PM

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I wasn’t expecting you to read my site just as I wasn’t expecting you to take one of my photos directly from my site without leaving any kind of credit… or god forbid ask for permission. At least you could have just copied the image instead of just leeching my bandwidth as well.

And I’m pretty sure I could copy and paste one of you poems just as simply as you did one of my photographs.

Nik Bronder
JULY 08, 2009 04:27 PM

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Well, I did read your site, Batman, and now I won’t, and it’s that simple, ain’t it? What you expected is besides the point. You could have left me a note and I would have removed the offending use of your image. But you didn’t, and preferred instead a snit fit. Fine. And yes, you could copy and paste one of my images, but that’s not what I was talking about. You used the word “steal” in your supposition, indicating you’d take credit for it. My response was good luck trying to get away with it: I would embarrass you with proof that you appropriated it and had, in fact, plagiarized me. By that time the whole issue of he-did-it-first would be forgotten and you’d be come off seeming like a fool, as I said. Really, Nik, get over yourself, and don’t threaten me with the “theft” my work. Bear in mind that I’ve made copies of your post here, and will trot them out, for future reference.

Have a nice day.

Ted Burke
JULY 08, 2009 04:40 PM

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Ted,

Now you I’m not sure where you’re going with this. I’m confused.

Proof?
Batman?
Get over myself?
Threaten?

So your response would be similar to what I did, provide proof in fact, that you did plagiarize me.  I’m just glad that you see how hurtful it is some one suggests they might take your work and claim it as their own. Now imagine if some one actually did that:

http://blackhandproductions.com/media/Picture1.png

I’d rather you didn’t “trot” out anything but whatever. I can make copies too.

I hope we all learned a valuable lesson today.

Nik Bronder
blackhandproductions.com
JULY 08, 2009 05:24 PM

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You’re obtuse as well as being a snit fitter. Say good night, Nik.

Ted Burke
JULY 08, 2009 05:28 PM

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Since you’ve gone ahead and posted about this on your blog, might you reciprocate and publish my response your post?

C’mon, Nik, you’re all about fair play,right? Print the response.

Ted Burke
JULY 08, 2009 07:23 PM

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Ted,

Obtuse? Now I beileve you’ve spent one too many Sundays watching

Shawshank Redemption.

By all means, let’s move this conversation to my site. I’ve already provided you with enough content on your site. It would be easier if you just commented on my post but I’ll post your response (unedited) by morning.

A little credit goes a long way.

Nik Bronder
blackhandproductions.com
JULY 08, 2009 08:47 PM

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Obtuse, yes. And I’ve never seen “Shawshank Redemption”. I’ll settle for you posting my response and then have done with it. You will satisfy yourself with the last word.

A little credit goes a long way, sure thing, but a subtle approach goes even further. But rather than request a deletion, you had a snit fit. Additionally threatening to “steal” some one’s poem out of spite doesn’t inspire contrition.  You’ve merely wound up coming off like a jerk. So print my response, get your last digs in, and perhaps, just perhaps grow up.

Ted Burke
JULY 08, 2009 10:58 PM

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I guess threatening to steal will never be as bad as actually stealing:

http://blackhandproductions.com/media/Picture1.png

I will forever find it amusing that you are really shaken by the fact that I merely mentioned that maybe I would steal one of your poems yet you never

really acknowledged the fact that you did indeed actually steal one of my photographs. I guess deep down inside you believe there is a difference…

No worries. I’ll post all of these comments on my site verbatim tomorrow. I hope you learned that stealing a photograph is the same as a plagiarized

poem.

Nik Bronder
JULY 09, 2009 01:04 AM