Iuniverse AuthorHouse, Other ? Betrayal, Deception, Theft of Intellectual Property, Fraud, Monetary Theft, Psychological Trauma and Pain Internet
In 2007 I had three books published via IUniverse - a company that worked with me via the Internet and phone calls - through the completion of each manuscript / book - with everything relatively easy to access via thier site up until that point. Once sales began, however, I could no longer (it got more complex and then impossible) access any information about any of my books - not the number of sales, nothing about royalties, nothing (other than the fact that the books were still listed for sale) - period. I would go online periodically in search of my books and found them accessible / for sale throughout the country via Iuniverse and other sites - and even in other parts of the world. Sometimes these were new copies - sometimes they were (ahem) used (Amazon, EBay, other) copies. All of these books / copies for which I was receiving no notice, no royalties / payment, etc. [I did receive two small royalty checks early on, and then nothing.] These books (published in 2007) remain on the IUniverse "active" status (January 2013) - and are still to be be found (for sale) at IUniverse, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, EBay and a multitude of other websites. I am shaking with anger as I write this, as I have every time I have tried to locate a way to find out what is going on with my books, my copyright, my (I would assume) monies. The only calls and/or emails I get (periodically) from IUniverse - and I always speak my mind when I speak to someone on the phone - are to try and sell me new "products." In fact, the latest slam was a request to make each of my three books into ebooks - to which I stated (verbally and through an email) a more than explicit "no." No. No. No. Irregardless, IUniverse went on to make each one of my books - against my explicit refusal - into e-books - adding ripoff to ripoff to ripoff. I am intested in pursuing a lawsuit - definitely. Three books. My heart and soul. Where are my rights? Where are my royalties? Where is my human dignity to be found in any of a situation that moved way beyond exploitation a long time (but ongoing...) ago. I would love to hear from others in regard to this matter. I would happily pursue a lawsuit. My heart has been broken.