Publishers Weekly reported on Tuesday that controversial company PublishAmerica is facing a new lawsuit. As reporter Steven Zeitchik wrote, “though this time it has upset someone with a lot more clout–and lawyers–than unknown authors.” The Maryland-based publisher launched a new business division in the United Kingdom called PublishBritannica which incurred the wrath of Encyclopaedia Britannica. The encyclopedia company’s suit alleged the use of the name could lead to confusion amongst consumers. The encylcopedia company wants the publisher to stop all usage as well as pay damages and and forfeit profits that resulted from the use of the name.
Publishers Weekly pointed out in their article that “A quick trip to the Web site PublishBritannica.com show a quirk–all references to the imprint are now made as PublishBritannia. The complaint refers to all of them as PublishBritannica, avec ‘C,’ leaving open the possibility that the company has changed the name–but not the URL–in response to the suit.”
I an author who wants to sue PublishAmerica too - my book came out in September, but they claim the release date is in November so they don’t have to pay me for the books sold in the first 2 months. Their editor added mistakes to the manuscript so I would have to pay for changes. Anyone I can talk to about this? Or should I just call a lawyer?
I, as well, would like information on how to begin a lawsuit against this company. My contract with tme was cancelled June 2007 and in October 2007 they sold copies of my novel. How many have been sold as of June, I am unaware and am desperately trying to find this answer. Someone please help me.
In a court of law, once the contract is “signed” by u, there`s not much you can do about anything -even in a court of law. The signature represents a “commitment” between you and the company, regardless of flub-ups. PA is in fact a very good company to go with if your into POD publishers (which they deny-but in fact are), make a “compilation” and begin working on normal routes…basically you as well as I fell for the old “work for hire” bit. and you get paid tidily-shit.
About the only thing anyone can really sue a corp like this, is if you are another court or sue them on the grounds of no opt-out, in the contract.
wa,wa,waaaaa….too bad about your problems…
Traditional Publisher is basically crap. They are not traditional in any way. This is deceptive and harms those of us who want to do literature. It is also a guilt by association. They never tell you that nobody will review you book. PA is great for grandmothers who want to leave a memoirs for their children but for a first-time serious literary author it can be very harmful. DECEPTION, and the guy posting . . . “To bad about your problems” he can say whatever he wants and not address deception but PA is all about deception. It is a vanity press regardless of what the deceptive appearance is. I am rign now, asking for my contract to be null and void. I will make it my business to expose them and they should avoid literary works. For those of you reading this that may not be an author or one writing a memoirs, you may not understand how it is like selling a child into slavery but I am sunk by them and they have spread their sick reputation onto my novel and I am sick to death of their propaganda and lies.
Unfortunately, I found out the truth about PublishAmerica after I had signed the contract. Fortunately, I found out before they got any of my money or that of my friends and family. I do get regular solicitations from them, inviting me to buy my own book, but they have done nothing to try to get anyone else to buy my book. I am saving everything, building a case that I hope will eventually get me out of the contract based on breach of contract. I may even see if I can get a lawyer interested in a class action lawsuit of some kind. If you would like to be part of a lawsuit like that, email me at donatty@flash.net. (I can’t make any promises or guarantees, though.)