Here We Go, Indeed

I recounted Scribd's removal of Don Ecker's report on the Highgate Vampire Case in "Here We Go Again...".

Here's what I wrote back ("RE: Copyright Notification (06/09/2009 - 01:41 PM)") to Scribd, dated Thursday, 11 June 2009 5:51:04 PM:

I think this matter can be resolved quite easily and I tender the most obvious and basic evidence to yourself, to prove this point.

Firstly, the article I uploaded onto Scribd is by Don Ecker, not "S. Manchester" (the claimant of copyright violation, as can be seen here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/16237292/High-Gate-Vampire-Case-Revised-PDF).

The author's byline (i.e. "by Don Ecker") clearly reveals that.

Second, I noted in the article's description that I had been given permission by the article's author - Don Ecker - to reproduce the article. I reproduced that letter of permission here, prior to uploading the article:
http://dawwih.spaces.live.com/blog/cns%218A9D48F55B45ECBA%21697.entry

Futhermore, I have also retained the e-mail in which I was granted said permission. I can forward it onto you, if you like.

And, I can also put you in touch with the author himself.

For starters, his website is here:
http://darkmattersradio.com/

I don't understand how a "a third-party notification or other indicia" has more legal precedent over my rights to reproduce an article I was given permission by the author to reproduce.

For more proof of my entitlement to reproduce said article, view this:
http://dawwih.blogspot.com/2009/06/don-eckers-investigation-into-highgate.html

I'm still awaiting a response to that, so, in the meantime - and with a little "inspiration" from "Demonologist", I've decided to complete my original intention, and reproduce Don's report here.

It'll be in the form of multiple blog entries, but I've reformatted it for the sake of readability. I've also opted not to reproduce the photos accompanying the original document.

Don has granted me permission to reproduce the article in a way I see fit. Read his "letter of permission", here.

Without further ado, here's the first installment of Don Ecker's "My Inquiry into the Highgate Vampire Case":

The alleged vampiric happenings at London’s Highgate Cemetery, circa the late 60’s and very early 1970’s have garnered world-wide interest. The internet is filled with references to this alleged supernatural happening. When the case began, I was a student in my first year of college, and then enlisted in the United States Army. The upshot is I never heard about this until years after the fact.

In 1981 I was a criminal investigator then living and working in the state of Idaho. I received a case that involved two dead and mutilated cattle which were exsanguinated. At the time of this investigation I was not familiar with the phenomenon of cattle mutilation although I had heard some weird stories about it. Later I was to become very familiar with this topic, but in 1981-82 I was a novice involving cattle mutes.

My then brother-in-law (my only sisters husband) was serving as a U.S. Navy Corpsman attached with the U.S Marine Corps. My sister was also a LPN so both were very current with medical knowledge with the plus side of having an interest in “weird or unusual stuff.” I was visiting family back on the east coast and my sister and her family were also there. One evening I told them about this weird case I had investigated. That was when my brother-in-law mentioned the Highgate case, and that an investigator (he didn’t know who) had opened a 19th Century vault in the cemetery and discovered an extra coffin, with body, of the supposed vampire. Okay, knowing him (my brother-in-law) I was intrigued enough to want more information on the case. In 1981-82 there was almost no way to get more than rumor type stories. I made myself a promise that if I could, I would follow up on this case.

Before I go any further, allow me to make several things very clear. Since I was a youngster I had loved supernatural stories and spooky tales. I had been a horror fan since I had seen the original Dracula with Bela Lugosi on late night television. The original movie, The Thing, made in about 1951 had me going to bed with nightmares, but I loved it. Yes, I have a real affinity with GOOD horror and GOOD science fiction.

To be continued...

Here We Go Again...

Yesterday, I went to check out Don's article (previously mentioned here), only to be confronted with this:

I then signed into my e-mail to see what the hell was going on.

Sure enough, Scribd Copyright Notice had sent me an e-mail ("Copyright Notification (06/09/2009 - 01:41 PM)‏"), dated Wednesday, 10 June 2009 4:41:00 AM. It read:

Hello, dawwih --

We have removed your document "My Inquiry into the Highgate Vampire Case" in response to a third-party notification or other indicia that this document was uploaded to Scribd.com without the authorization of the copyright owner. If you believe the removal of this document is the result of a mistake or misidentification, please visit our Scribd Support Desk to access the instructions for providing a counter-notification.

For more information, read about our Copyright Management System or contact us through copyright@scribd.com.

Please note that under Section 512(f) of the Copyright Act, any person who knowingly materially misrepresents that content was removed or disabled by mistake or misidentification may be subject to liability. Please also be advised that we enforce our policy that provides for the termination of users who are identified as repeat infringers.

I'm certainly going to be appealing their decision, especially as the document in question is under the copyright of Don Ecker! In fact, I previously reproduced his letter of permission here.

This certainly isn't the first time the Manchester camp (or, in this case, Manchester himself) have attempted to "shut me down" in some way, shape or form.

At this point, I can't help but be reminded of something L. Ron Hubbard Jr. said in an interview for Penthouse (June 1983), relating to his well-known father:

My father drilled into all of us: Don't go to court thinking to win a lawsuit. You go to court to harass, to delay, to exhaust the enemy financially, physically, mentally. You file every motion you can think of and you just lock them up in court. The courts, for my father, were never used to seek justice or redress, put to destroy the people he thought were enemies, to prevent negative stories from appearing. He just wanted complete control of the press --and got it.

Sure, the comparison might be a bit extreme, but I feel that one can see eerily similar parallels in the tactics being used.

I'll keep y'all updated on the progress of this latest attempt at Highgate Vampire censorship.

Don Ecker's Investigation into the Highgate Vampire Case: An Exclusive

Don Ecker has kindly given me permission to reproduce a report he has written called "My Inquiry into the Highgate Vampire Case".

Here's a teaser (p. 3):

I had discovered that a book had been written on it (The Highgate Vampire) by a fellow named Sean Manchester. I had come across his name on the web, and I also discovered another fellow named David Farrant who had written another book, similar in title, “Beyond the Highgate Vampire.”

I got in touch with John Spencer, and I asked John if he would be willing to contact the Sean Manchester group and ask them if I could interview Manchester. By this time I was aware that a great schism existed between Manchester and Farrant. Even knowing that fact, I had no idea how deep the rift was … or how much vitriol existed between these two.

What are you waiting for? Check it out and share your thoughts.