After consulting with a number of copyright experts, including the very kind Andy Sivell of Working Titles Publishing, it turns out that I’ve little chance of doing anything about Mac OS X: The Essential Manual. I could get an injunction out against Smith’s at best, but all that would do is stop Smith’s from selling the ‘book’, not get me any money.
Oh well. Figured the chances of cash were small.
Interestingly though, during the course of the consultations, I turfed out the old Paragon Publishing freelance contract that I signed all those years ago when I started writing for iCreate. As well as being self-contradictory, etc, it had one noticeable clause: if Paragon were to ever reuse my work, they would tell me about it in advance (although not pay me, of course). Which they didn’t. Twice.
I’ve signed a few freelance contracts in my time, but the thing that’s struck me about almost all of them (amongst a few other things…) is that so much work goes into them, yet it’s always the publishing company that breaks them first. Why do they bother?
I’m sure a lawyer could tell me if I asked nicely.