Vuyo finds out that his written article has been published on a website without his consent or proper attribution. What are the potential consequences for Vuyo, as the owner of the work?


Financial loss.


Loss of control over his work and potential risk to his reputation


Enhanced visibility and reach for his article.


Increased opportunity to get his other work published.

1 answer

Vuyo's situation of having his article published without his consent typically leads to several potential consequences, primarily negative. Here’s a breakdown of the options:

  1. Financial loss: Potentially a real risk, especially if Vuyo loses out on compensation he would have received had he published the article through proper channels or if he had agreements for payment.

  2. Loss of control over his work and potential risk to his reputation: This is highly likely. Since he hasn’t consented to the publication, he loses control over how the article is presented, which could lead to misrepresentation or misunderstanding of his views. This can negatively impact his reputation.

  3. Enhanced visibility and reach for his article: Although this could be seen as a positive, it is overshadowed by the breach of trust regarding his rights as an author. While more people may read his work, it doesn't compensate for the violation of his rights and potential financial losses.

  4. Increased opportunity to get his other work published: This is somewhat less likely unless the unauthorized publication leads to greater exposure in a way that ultimately benefits Vuyo. However, it is generally considered more of a secondary consequence compared to the violation of his rights.

Given these consequences, the most immediate and significant issues for Vuyo are the financial loss and loss of control over his work and reputation.