Plagiarism needs to be stopped!

A note by author Lissa Byran:
Yesterday, a particularly egregious plagiarist came to light.

On Facebook, Emme MG reported she had found a fanfiction story that was actually a plagiarized version of a published book. “Bella and the Royal Sheikh” by Bella 5755 is stolen from The Royal Sheikh by Katheryn Lane.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7780385/1/Bella-and-the-Royal-Sheikh

http://www.amazon.com/The-Royal-Sheikh-ebook/dp/B0052ZIQEK

Emme MG mentioned that the other stories on the profile looks suspicious because of how quickly they were posted, so I started doing some digging. Almost immediately, I discovered nearly every story was a replace-the-names swipe from another author. Christag Banners, Kelly Trobaugh, and Unimaginative Olena helped with the search. In the end, we determined that fifteen of the sixteen stories on her profile were stolen from other authors.

http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2371294/Bella5755

1. “This One was Just Right” is stolen from She’s Just Right by Diane Darcy http://www.amazon.com/Shes-Right-Fairy-Romance-ebook/dp/B0055V3R1I/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_3

2. “An Unexpected Event” is stolen from Sophia Sharp http://www.amazon.com/Shattered-Dream-Realms-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B0056U9X20

3. “Second Chances” is stolen from The Doctor Wears a Stetson by Anne Marie Novark  http://www.amazon.com/The-Doctor-Wears-Stetson-Diamondback/dp/1479225703

4. “Vampire Lover book 2” is stolen from Night Breed by Loraine Kennedy http://www.amazon.com/Night-Breed-Immortal-Destiny-Book/dp/1463793111

5. “Angel Eyes” is stolen from The Ylem by Tatiana Vila http://www.amazon.com/Ylem-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B004XTKGQW

6. “The Edge of Darkness” is stolen from Shades of Twilight by Martin Sharlow. http://www.amazon.com/Shades-Twilight-Martin-C-Sharlow/dp/1453773657/

7. “Are You Going to Kiss Me or Not” is stolen from Tuned into Love by Karen Jerabek: http://www.amazon.com/Tuned-In-Love-perfect-ebook/dp/B0053YIHHQ/

8. “Outlaw” is Indian Outlaw by Lorraine Kennedy http://www.amazon.com/Indian-Outlaw-Paranormal-Romance-ebook/dp/B004OL2XP6/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_4

9. “The One” is stolen from Vampire Mine by Paige Warren http://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Mine-ebook/dp/B004V9XTL8

10. “My Vampire Lover” is stolen from Born to Darkness by Loraine Kennedy http://www.amazon.com/Darkness-Immortal-Destiny-Series-ebook/dp/B004SOYUR8

11. “Dream Guy” is stolen from Meant To Be by Tiffany King http://www.amazon.com/Meant-Saving-Angels-book-ebook/dp/B004SCS6V6

12. “Shades of Twilight” is stolen from Jayden’s Faith by Emma Daniels:http://www.amazon.com/JAYDENS-FAITH-ebook/dp/B005LPVRJ2

13. “Haunted Cottage” is stolen from Ghost of a Chance by Emma Daniels http://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Of-Chance-Emma-Daniels/dp/1409288838

14. “The Cursed Canyon: is stolen from Lost and Found by Lori Devoti http://www.amazon.com/Found-vampire-romance-bundle-ebook/dp/B003LSTE46

The only story on Bella5755’s profile we were not able to confirm as plagiarized was the one-shot “Someone Like You.” Sadly, the plagiarist got away with it for almost a year and a half. One of the reviews in one of the stories noted in May of last year that it was stolen. I don’t know if the reviewer reported it or not, but the real author of that particular story was surprised when she saw nothing had been done.

I’ve been in contact with the authors who were plagiarized. For many of them, this was their first experience with plagiarism and they were shocked and bewildered. I told them the fandom was working to get these stories pulled. I wanted them to know they're not alone, and the fandom takes this seriously. Hopefully, a flood of reports will make FFN take action.

I strongly suggest all authors do periodic searches for their work. Choose a sentence from your story, preferably one without names, since those are likely to have been changed, and put it in quotation marks when you do a Google search.

Thanks for your help. All of us writers need to watch one another’s backs, and offer our support when something like this happens.