If you can't take the heat get out of the kitchen: Cooks Source Magazine editor Judith Griggs may never be entering the public's "kitchen" again, now among the most hated in America after unapologetically stealing a copyrighted article from Monica Gaudio. The latest isn't exactly great news for the Cooks Source editor, whom probably better be considering the term "lawsuit".
It only gets "better"--or worse, for Cooks Source Magazine editor Judith Griggs, at every turn, after she chose to run Gaudio's copyrighted work ("As American As Apple Pie -- Isn't !") on Page 10 of the Cooks Source Magazine's October 2010 print issue. As of November 5, Griggs seems to be intent on continuing to take public relations into her own hands, in what clearly seems to be to her own detriment.
Now the Cooks Source's editor has posted a new message, apparently meant to battle the thousands of messages of hate that continue to bombard Facebook and Twitter:
The Cooks Source Magazine Facebook fan page now reads "Any posts considered libelous will be removed. Thank you to Christian for his page mechanics. We shall be temporarily adapting the [Facebook] wall. Apologies to our regular fans". Well, that's what the fan page last read on November 5, anyway--the debate continues, as to whether Zuckerberg has chosen to remove the Cooks Source Magazine fan page from Facebook and actually close it down.
So many spoof fan pages have popped up on Facebook that it's becoming hard to tell which Facebook page actually belongs to Cooks Source. Rumors and media reports abound, that Facebook has ripped the magazine's fan page from its database, closing it down. Even on spoof pages, the common theme on Facebook--and across the web-- seems to be inspired messages of hate over the theft.
So, Judith Griggs has been apologizing on Facebook--only, apparently, that apology seems to be a bit misplaced. The apology probably would've been more well-served if directed to Monica Gaudio, the person whom actually suffered the alleged Cooks Source theft. Griggs' apology to the magazine's "regular [Facebook] fans" isn't going to cut it--not for the public, not for the media, and certainly not for the courts.
It seems Editor Griggs has also discovered a newfound interest in the law, with her references to "libelous" posts or Facebook comments and possible removal. The latest Facebook status update from the editor is a bit humorous and ironic--the latest from the same woman who stated to Guardio that "the web is considered "public domain" and you should be happy we just didn't "lift" your whole article."
The Cooks Source Facebook fan page, November 5, status update from Judith Griggs' update earlier in the day reads: "There are lots of people here that do not understand a few basics yet they all seem to be experts in the print industry."
It's completely unclear as to what those "basics" are to which Judith Griggs or her company refers, however those in the "print industry" would tend to disagree with copyright infringement and the unethical publishing of stolen articles as a standard (or at least acceptable) part of the "industry".
Even top Hollywood celebrities known when to toss in the (kitchen) towel and hire someone with expertise to actually help clean up a PR mess. In the Cooks Source scandal, "mess" doesn't even begin to describe the nightmare created. Griggs may wish to consider use of some intelligence, including getting the likes of a PR specialist such as Howard Bragman on the line, or she just may burn in the fire that's being fueled nationwide.
It seems that Judith Griggs doesn't understand the term "Copyright Infringement", or believes in ignoring such ideas as intellectual property rights. If the Griggs scandal goes down the path it seems to be headed, the court system may make the Cooks Source Magazine editor more aware of the law after her little "foray" into the public eye. A lawsuit seems no less than impending.
The Cooks Source Magazine may just end up down the tubes, after any (paying) worried advertisers choose to flee from the PR nightmare Griggs has thrown upon herself. The magazine is supposedly funded by paying advertisers, and that list may get skimpy after the scandal that continues to only get worse. It's taken less than a matter of days for Judith Griggs to have risen in the ranks to among the most despised people--and all it's taken for that hate has been ego, and a few choice words.
Above all else, the Cooks Source scandal stands as proof that the "pen"--or its online version of it--truly is mightier than the sword.
"Hell hath no wrath like a woman scorned" can easily be substituted with the phrase that "hell hath no wrath like an artist scorned"--in this case, hell for Cooks Source editor Judith Griggs appears to have no wrath like the defendants of an artist scorned. For Cooks Source Magazine and its PR nightmare, Guardio's got a lot of "defendants" whom have taken it upon themselves to seek retribution: Twitter is alive with tweets under the hashtag of #crookssource and the magazine's Facebook fan pages have been taken over by input of ticked-off people across the nation. For now, Judith Griggs just may be the most hated woman in America--and may not be coming off of that list too quickly.
Now under fire, the Cooks Source editor's no longer showing her face, literally--replacing her normal picture with a less controversial photo opp of strawberries. The magazine's editor told Gaudio that " the web is considered "public domain" and "you should be happy we just didn't "lift" your whole article and put someone else's name on it"--after Gaudio contacted Griggs about Gaudio's article that was published in Cooks Source Magazine without authorization.
That controversy is just the beginning in the copyright saga of craziness that has fueled Facebook and Twitter replies en masse, sparking hashtags of #crookssource across Twitter. The Cooks Source Magazine has been dubbed "Crooks Source" and tweets about the company, and alleged thievery, continue to fly.
So whats is Cooks Source and how did the hatred toward the magazine and its editor begin? Cook's Source Magazine is an advertising-supported print magazine with a subscriber base that current editor Judith Griggs claims to be between roughly 17,000-28,000 print subscribers, with additionals Facebook-dedicated fan pages.
Circulation numbers for Cooks Source Magazine are a bit baffling, with a wide range of about one third of overall circulation--a rather large "variance". It's additionally unclear as to how many of the overall listed circulation actually consists of paid subscribers to the magazine. One of the most intriguing parts about the New England area publication, however, may be the lack of information for Cooks Source: there isn't a lot, or any. The website domain is apparently registered in Toronto, Canada, despite U.S. publication. Potential subscribers to the Cooks Source Magazine may have a difficult time in finding a way to do so, with not even the company's own website listing contact information, physical address information, telephone number or easily-found editorial information.
Right now, Cooks Source Facebook fans aren't so friendly--thousands are clicking 'Like' simiply to leave hateful remarks for Griggs, bash her display of copyright infringement, and openly make jokes about the woman. If ever there has been a PR nightmare in America, Griggs has created among what may be one of the most memorable.
It began when editor Judith Griggs kind of, sort of, "republished" an article (aka, copyrighted work) from Gaudio, without providing an ounce of credit or attribution to the actual author. The content belonged to Monica Gaudio, and the term "republished" is used loosely because--in what she states to have been a beneficial act to the work--Griggs claims the stolen article was "edited" in efforts to make it better. Monica Gaudio was actually a good sport about the stolen work. Rather than immediately demanding monetary "damages" for copyright infringement, which the author is legally entitled to do, Gaudio asked for only two things: an apology, and the most minute of monetary "compensation", or rather a small donation to the field of journalism.
Apparently those two simple requests rubbed Cooks Source Magazine editor Judith Griggs, and her ego, the wrong way. Gaudio's request for an apology, which she requested be made both on the Cooks Source Facebook page and in the traditional print version of the Cooks Source Magazine, as well as the small financial donation to a school of journalism, resulted in an email backlash from the editor Griggs. The donation amount that Gaudio had requested was approximately ten cents per word of the stolen article, a minor $130, to be donated to the Columbia School of Journalism. Griggs' email response indicates that her opinion of the school is that it is wealthy enough--but more on that later.
For those experienced in the arena of Copyright Infringement, and related costs of stealing someone else's work and using it as your own, Gaudio's proposal was a dream. Basically, Judith Griggs couldn't have gotten off easier. Unfortunately for Griggs, and her magazine, ego seems to have reared its ugly head--and really gotten in the way.
It's unclear whether the request for apology or request for the minute donation is what threw things over the edge--either way, editor Griggs has created a virtual nightmare for herself and (now-hated) Cooks Source Magazine company.
Before things had really gone south over the Copyright Infringement issue, Monica Gaudio had simply contacted editor Griggs to inquire how her copyrighted article, which contained content provided by Jim Matteson, had appeared in the Cooks Source Magazine publication. When Gaudio had found out that the stolen article was not accidental, Griggs had asked Gaudio what she wanted--resulting in the two requests. Apparently several emails were exchanged in-between--from all appearances, Gaudio has displayed more patience and forgiveness in the theft than most. Regardless of whether any of Gaudio's email communication was actually nasty, which doesn't seem to be the case, any nastiness would seem warranted after having her article stolen.
Cooks Source Magazine editor Judith Griggs sent Gaudio the strangest of emails--complete with not only lack of apology but condenscension, telling copyright owner Monica Gaudio that the author should be grateful that the magazine who stole the article had edited Gaudio’s written work and cleaned it up. According to Griggs, Monica Gaudio should be grateful because "now it [Gaudio’s own article] will work well for your portfolio."
Monica Gaudio was probably under the impression that her own work would, already, work just fine for her own portfolio. The article stolen by Cooks Source and Griggs was authored by Gaudio about five years ago in 2005 for her website “Gode Cookery”.
United States Copyright law does not require that intellectual property, such as a written article, actually bear the copyright symbol in order to be protected under Copyright Infringement: in this case, Gaudio had done everything more than correctly, adding the unnecessary copyright symbol to her written piece. Additionally, the website domain name for "Gode Cookery" also happens to be registered to Monica Gaudio. While the domain name, again, does not have to be registered to the author of a copyrighted piece, Gaudio's work could not be more protected under intellectual property laws: Judith Griggs seems to be up a creek, without the obvious required tool, on this one.
Monica Gaudio was surprised by congratulations, earlier this month, from a friend who commented on Gaudio's article inclusion in Cook's Source Magazine. Gaudio says the friend actually wanted to know how the article's inclusion came to be part of the publication. Gaudio herself probably wanted the answer to that question: the Cooks Source Magazine was a publication she'd never heard of, unaware of its existence. Gaudio contacted the magazine's editorial staff, receiving a response that asked what Guadio wanted.
What the author wanted--in return for the completely unauthorized publication of her copyrighted work--was simple, amounting to far less than what she would be legally entitled: Gaudio asked simply for an apology, and a small donation to the Columbia School of Journalism.
Here is the vital portion of Cooks Source Magazine, editor Judith Griggs', email response to Gaudio per author Monica Gaudio. Editor Griggs' email response is as highly unbelievable as the actions illegal:
"Yes Monica, I have been doing this for 3 decades, having been an editor at The Voice, Housitonic Home and Connecticut Woman Magazine. I do know about copyright laws. It was "my bad" indeed, and, as the magazine is put together in long sessions, tired eyes and minds somethings forget to do these things.
But honestly Monica, the web is considered "public domain" and you should be happy we just didn't "lift" your whole article and put someone else's name on it! It happens a lot, clearly more than you are aware of, especially on college campuses, and the workplace. If you took offence and are unhappy, I am sorry, but you as a professional should know that the article we used written by you was in very bad need of editing, and is much better now than was originally. Now it will work well for your portfolio.
For that reason, I have a bit of a difficult time with your requests for monetary gain, albeit for such a fine (and very wealthy!) institution. We put some time into rewrites, you should compensate me! I never charge young writers for advice or rewriting poorly written pieces, and have many who write for me... ALWAYS for free!"
Judith Griggs seems to be a large believer in the idea of interns, with all that supposedly free writing work being provided to her and Cooks Source. If she's lacking an intern at any point, the editor can just do what she claims to be so commonplace in the publishing industry, and "lift" a "whole article and put someone else's name on it." Editors nationwide are probably thrilled to be associated with anyone in the profession who claims to be so ethical.
Judith Griggs' role as editor of any publication does seem a frightening concept. If in fact the Cooks Source Magazine editor's claims are true--that she previously served as editor of "The Voice, Housitonic Home and Connecticut Woman Magazine"--those publications are probably regretting that decision, and any affiliation, at this point. In particular, "Housatonic Home" may well be shrinking in horror after Griggs' reference: the woman whom claims she was employed in the role of editor, at the publication, is completely unable to even spell its title correctly. Yes, Editor Griggs, the word "Housatonic" does include an "a", not an "i".
Logic would lead the average person to believe that those in the professional capacity of "editor"might at least consider an "edit" of outgoing email communication, to check for errors. It could be kind of embarrassing otherwise. Here, in the United States--which happens to be the locale of publication for the Cooks Source Magazine--"offense" lacks a "c". Moreover, those "tired eyes and minds" must've rolled into other areas, with the editor's or staff's ability to "somethings forget to do these things"--it's assumed the word is actually "sometimes", though the insertion of the correct term adds no more sense or credence to the statement.
The above touches on editing basics, not even addressing attempts toward use of the English language, run-on sentences, lack of grammar, or strange combinations of wording which suggest English as a second language: "you as a professional should know that the article we used written by you was in very bad need of editing, and is much better now than was originally." It all tends to speak for itself--most of the nation would probably agree that The Washington Post or New York Times probably aren't feeling like they've missed any hiring opportunity.
While it may be argued that a thief is a thief, the reality is that there are smart thieves--and then there are just plain dumb crooks. Editor Judith Griggs seems to fall into the latter: rather than simply claiming accidental misuse, or in a worst-case scenario, anteing up the one hundred and thirty bucks, Griggs has fully admitted to theft of the stolen article. Worse, for her, is that the editor was stupid enough to put that admission in writing. Smart thieves know that written proof equals doom--and poorly-written, arrogant proof equals certain doom.
Media across the nation continues to pump out articles related to Griggs' thievery: Forbes, The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, The Guardian and media outlets across the nation including news outlets of NBC, FOX, CBS and numerous others continue to cover the public outrage over Guardio's stolen article.
Simultaneously, Judith Griggs seems to be creating a new definition--or, rather, her actions are leading others to create a definition of the Cooks Source Editor: among the top Google search results include that by "Smart Bitches Trashy Books" Definition of Judith Griggs which includes the following reference to the woman:
"Judith Griggs
griggs
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): griggs'd
Pronunciation: gr\ i \gz
1. To use content on the web without permission, then request payment from original author for rewrites and editing.
2. To remain ignorant of plagiarism, ethics, copyright, and asshat behavior.
Etymology: From Cook's Source editor Judith Griggs' use of Monica’s article from Gode Cookery without attribution or permission, and from Griggs’ subsequent rejection and ridicule of Monica’s request for compensation.
Example of usage: "Why'd you get an F on that essay?" "I griggs'd the professor's doctoral thesis from her website, and I even cleaned it up for her and told her she should give me an A, but she failed me anyway."
While someone's adding a definition for Griggs, someone's also providing the editor one: the domain of www.judithgriggs.com has now been registered, displaying a comprehensive "Wikipedia" style page that clearly provides the definition of Public Domain, uses of public domain and pertinent intellectual property rights law.
Oh, what a wicked web we weave...