Cooks Source Editor Finally Responds... Makes Things Worse [Updated]

from the maybe-copy-a-recipe-for-humble-pie dept

Yesterday, we wrote about how Cooks Source magazine had been caught pulling a story off the internet and republishing it, without permission. Making matters worse, when called on it, the editor, Judith Griggs tried to lecture the original author, Monica Gaudio, with a hilariously wrong explanation of copyright and the public domain, and even (condescendingly) suggests Monica should pay her for the editing she needed to do on the story. And, from that, the internet took over, posting messages all over Cooks Source's Facebook page, and (more importantly) tracking down many other examples of such copying.

And, for most of the day, Griggs herself remained silent. However, she has finally responded, and done so in a way to make things worse. She wrote a mocking apology, which I'll post in its entirety (typos and all), since Griggs has made it clear that anything she puts online she intends to be in the public domain:

Hi Folks!

Well, here I am with egg on my face! I did apologise to Monica via email, but aparently it wasnt enough for her. To all of you, thank you for your interest in Cooks Source and Again, to Monica, I am sorry -- my bad! You did find a way to get your "pound of flesh..." we used to have 110 "friends," we now have 1,870... wow!

...Best to all, Judith

So, that's not an apology at all. And it's mocking why people have been ganging up on her. So, once again, people started commenting and mocking the magazine. And... again, Griggs seems to be making things worse. Amusingly, she's trying to go on with "usual" business, putting up a "cookie contest," and then asking anyone who "wish to be negative" to go elsewhere. Then there's finally a series of "responses," which do continue to make things worse, and suggest that Griggs still hasn't come to terms with why people are upset. First there's the "you just don't understand" claim:

There's lots of people here that do not seem to understand a few basics yet they seem to all be experts in the print business.

Update: There are some claims in the comments that these comments are from a "fake" account. The original comment does appear to be from the real account, but some are wondering if the user was actually Griggs.

Speaking of not understanding a few basics, why not start with how copyright does, in fact, apply to the internet? Then there's the lashing out with threats of libel against those posting on the site, and a defiant promise to keep publishing as well as a promise to "take action" against those who "hacked" the website.

Notice that nowhere in this is there any attempt to actually explain how she thought it was okay to repeatedly copy articles and photographs into a magazine while presenting them as if they had been specifically commissioned or licensed for the magazine.

Anyway, we'll continue to monitor and update with any evidence of real comments from Griggs.

Filed Under: cooks source, judith griggs, monica gaudio