New York Times Article - Theft of Unpublished Manuscripts

[redseafish]

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/21/books/publishing-manuscripts-phishing-scam.html

"A phishing scam with unclear motive or payoff is targeting authors, agents and editors big and small, baffling the publishing industry."

[someguyyoudontknow]

Just following up on this, Looks like they caught whoever it was.

https://variety.com/2022/biz/news/unpublished-book-manuscripts-arrest-fbi-1235147730/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20New%20York%20Times%2C%20the%20thefts,and%20gain%20access%20to%20unpublished%20manuscripts%20of%20books.

[redseafish]

Thank you!

[DrCCat]

Whats odd and sends up redflags to me is that Ive seen some agents request the 100% completed copy of a maniscrupt. Today I found an agent that requires that you not only sign a form but found this hidden in myrad of legal babble:

Therefore, you agree to renounce any claim that the Company misappropriated any ideas or
portions of your submission in any future Company productions.

Is this normal?