Thanks very much to readers of this blog who have recently informed me about thinly-veiled rewrites of my blog posts appearing on the blog of One Hour Translation. This dates back to the summer of 2017, when OHT’s CEO responded to me about this issue, blaming outsourced writers hired by OHT and assuring me that it wouldn’t happen again (which it did). In at least two cases, OHT’s blog featured posts presented as their own work, which were substantially similar to posts that had appeared on my blog several years earlier. They’ve since taken these posts down (don’t worry, I have screen shots) but will not respond to my inquiries about how this happened, other than to say “We have forwarded your request to the Relevant department for the investigation” [sic].
Let’s be clear, One Hour Translation. When you publish thinly-veiled rewrites of an independent author’s work, you are not taking advantage of “the man” or some other anonymous entity. You are taking advantage of that person’s hard work, reputation, and expertise. You may blame outsourced writers hired on an online platform, but ultimately you published these posts; you took credit for them, and therefore you’re responsible for them.
Let’s be clear about something else, and this “something” makes me sad and angry for a variety of reasons. I talked this over with my lawyers. Yes, One Hour Translation, when I told you (in perhaps the fifth or sixth e-mail to which you didn’t respond, other than to remove the posts in question from your website, so I was sure you were reading my messages) that I was discussing this with my legal team, I was being honest, not bluffing. And in talking this over with my legal people, I found that in these types of copyright infringement cases, “playing dead,” as OHT is doing, is actually a pretty effective defense, because nothing other than a court complaint can compel them to respond. If OHT wanted to operate in an ethical manner, they could do something like:
- a) respond, and apologize to me directly
- b) negotiate a financial settlement with me that would reflect the fact that they claimed credit for my work
- c) publicly apologize for claiming credit for my work
That would be a responsible way to acknowledge that they made a mistake and that they’re doing what they can to make it better. However in the absence of that, my only potential recourse is to file a legal complaint and threaten to sue them. Were I to do that, they would be legally compelled to respond. But in the end, I don’t want to do that. It’s expensive, and time-consuming, and I’d rather put my energy into constructive projects rather than into suing people who claim my blog posts as their own. But I also realize that’s part of the reason these things keep happening: big companies that stuff their blogs with lifted content think that small-time authors will make a big fuss and then ultimately go away, because…well…the vast majority of the time, that’s what happens. So I’ll just say this: One Hour Translation, despite your assurances that my request has been forwarded to the relevant department, it most assuredly has not been, and I would venture a guess that this is not an isolated incident. Note that One Hour Translation is suspended from the American Translators Association until 2021 due to violations of ATA’s code of ethics and professional practice.
It’s very saddening to hear of this, Corinne. The translation industry is really a jungle these days. Dishonesty is rampant. Best of luck dealing with this problem.
Thanks! Yes, more than anything it just makes me sad that OHT can’t just admit what they did and come to an appropriate resolution with me.
What a pain! Shame on them. I could not find One Hour Translations on the web. Would that be onehourtranslation.com? (without the “s”).
Yes, that’s correct!
I am sorry to hear that this happened to you, Corinne. Shocking that people can do this and get away with it. Well done you for shining a light on it so the community is aware.
Thanks!
Connie, I’ve enjoyed your blog for several years and shared it with a number of collueges. Companies and individuals that live by unethical practices won’t change their behavior and should be sued because the only language they understand is the one where dollar signs are relevant. Well worded arguments and warnings. Now act on them. This is an unfortunate aspect of doing business, having to legally defend our work even when we are the victims of infringement, plagerism, or down right lies. I’ve had to do it in court when either other pseudo-interpreters and attorneys have questioned my actions or renditions. And it’s satisfying and vindicating when truth can speak for itself. Let us know how it goes. We’re cheering for ‘ya.
Sorry t hear that, Corinne. I do know exactly how it feels. It is even worse when it is a colleague who takes credit for the work of others. It is offensive and it hurts. And when you are ignored and your claims not acknowledged, it hurts even more.
Yup. Wish you didn’t have to go through this. No one deserves this type of disrespect for one’s work.
I have had people copying my content without consent, too. I have added two plugins to my blog/pages, which may not prevent these crooks from stealing my content, but it may help with legal actions. One is called “Copyright Proof” and adds a little copyright notice at the bottom of the page/post as well as a record of the content to their copyright database. The other is called “Append link on copy” and adds a link back to my website if somebody copies any text. I also use absolute links to my site when embedding images. If somebody then automatically scrapes my content, they will link back to me, not to them. Of course, none of these measures prevent unauthorized copying or rewriting of content, but they make it just a little bit harder for the crooks.
Thank you so much!! I am going to do both of those right now!!
I am sorry to hear that you have had to deal with unscrupulous people who should, if they were professional in their approach to translation, have known better.
I am speaking at METM18 on the need for (translation) bloggers and translators on social media to mark their digital territory: https://www.metmeetings.org/en/when-your-names-on-it:1102
May I ask permission here, Corinne, to refer to this blog during my presentation?
Hello Allison! Yes, sure, thanks for asking and that’s fine with me. Also see Carola Berger’s comment below on some interesting tools to protect your work online.
Corinne, I suggest you take legal action against them. They are known ethics violators.
One Hour Translation, Palo Alto, California, (September 2016) was sanctioned for multiple violations of tenets three and five of the ATA Code of Ethics and Professional Practice (CEPP). The member was suspended from ATA membership for one year for violation of the fifth tenet and for five years for violation of the third tenet, such suspensions to run concurrently (until November 11, 2021)
I must also say that I have enjoyed reading your blog, and I have linked to some of your blog posts (which I fully attribute to you) when I assign topics for individual meetings at my meetup for translators here in Tucson. I have also recommended your course for beginning translators to members, since I found it to be very useful when starting out. Guillermo recently told me that he was in contact with you, so I hope he gave you his business.
I feel for you, Corrine! I’ve always liked to read your blog and it saddens me to see how OHT is taking advantage of it. I hope you manage to resolve this issue in the end. Best of luck!
It seems I misspelled your name. Sorry about that, Corinne! 🙂
No worries!
Fair play Corrine for calling them out on this, this is blatant infringement on intellectual property rights, and One hour translation are a notoriously unethical bottom feeder so hardly surprising coing from them. it’s mesmerising they are still up and running with all the complaints about their terrible rates and unethical ways over the past years. Unfortunately if nobody sues them they’ll keep doing it. I think you should definitely file a complaint. Good luck!
As if it weren’t enough that One Hour Translation is a notoriously low paying company, now they’re infringing other people’s copyright? If I were a lawyer in your jurisdiction, I’d take your case pro bono.
Are you a member of the Author’s Guild? If so, they have free legal representation.