The most important advice for any author and publisher at this time is to check the Scribd.com web site. Search for names and titles. Chances are your work is not listed, but if it is write an e-mail to copyright@scribd.com with the following content:

Attn: Jason Bentley, Scribd, Inc.

Pursuant to 17 USC 512(c)(3)(A), this communication serves as a statement that:

1. I am [the exclusive rights holder | the duly authorized representative of the exclusive rights holder] for [title of copyrighted material being infringed upon, along with any identifying material such as ISBNs, publication dates, etc -- or, if the material is a web page, the URL];
2. These exclusive rights are being violated by material available upon your site at the following URL(s): [URLs of infringing material];
3. I have a good faith belief that the use of this material in such a fashion is not authorized by the copyright holder, the copyright holder’s agent, or the law;
4. Under penalty of perjury in a United States court of law, I state that the information contained in this notification is accurate, and that I am authorized to act on the behalf of the exclusive rights holder for the material in question;
5. I may be contacted by the following methods (include all): [physical address, telephone number, and email address];

I hereby request that you remove or disable access to this material as it appears on your service in as expedient a fashion as possible. Thank you.

Regards,
[your full legal name]

You will receive an automated message from Scribd, also inviting comments. I would recommend you speak your mind!

Depending on workload they will remove your work within a few days (during which time it is still available for view, print and/or download).

The Absurd Part: Protecting your work on Scribd

According to scribd.com:

• Automated past protection: Each time Scribd receives a DMCA-compliant takedown request from a copyright holder, we quickly remove the unauthorized document and add a unique reference file corresponding to that document to our copyright database, deleting previously-uploaded copies of the same work identified by the system.
• Automated future protection: We also urge authors and publishers to proactively add the text of their work to the Scribd CMS.

Note: CMS = Copyright Management System

What they’re asking you is to sign up to their web site, thus gaining yet another user, and upload your work so that it can be “protected”, meaning you provide them the means to verify and prevent unlawful uploads. It works the same way when you have the document “removed.” In all consequence, your document remains in Scribd database, no matter what.

As a Scribd user they also provide you a feature to “Manage Keyword Alerts”, meaning you will receive an e-mail alert as soon as somebody attempts to upload a document that matches your keywords.

It is like an e-mail from your friendly car thief: “Hi, I just stole your car. I am so sorry! Can I sell it now, please? If you do not agree, please fill out the attached form. In case our verification process finds your claim to be legally valid, I will return your car to you. However, please be aware that it is already damaged.”