So wait — they steal your content and tell you you’re being difficult by not letting it go? Okay, let’s switch out the people in this scenario.

Woodworker who’d just built a table for a company: You’re using that table without paying me for it. Either return it or pay for it.

Company: Now you’re just being difficult. You need to let it go.

Or this one —

Homeowner to an Air B&B guest: Uh, you need to move out now. This is our house, and you’ve stopped paying. Time to go.

Guest: Stop harassing me. I like it here and I’m not leaving. You need to just accept it or move out.

Both scenarios are ridiculous because it’s just not acceptable practice to screw someone over. But with freelancers, it’s okay?

Hell no.

Not only did they teach from my material without permission, they taught it at an organization from whom I parted ways. It was not pleasant, anywhere around. I owned my content and was an independent contractor with the company; they told me to stop being difficult and let it go. I did not. I’d stopped teaching for them because they paid later and later and less and less, and it was no longer worth my time.

For the most part, you’re right, Paula. One exception I’ve found is when someone is teaching you their particular technique for getting work or negotiating, etc. If they’ve developed something that, over and over, has served them well, sure. It might be worth hearing about (might — depends on who it is).

But most info can be found online. For free.

Someone actually did that? That’s unbelievable! Well, it’s believable because some people are just that damn brazen, but wow. I hope you sent them a cease-and-desist warning.

That’s what I look for, too. If the writer isn’t touting his or her courses every day of the week, they probably are busy creating a quality product instead of tooting their own horn.

I had a wonderful course by a well-known person that I felt I got a good bit from. And the price was fair, too.

It seems that the bulk of what’s being taught—unless its some highly-specialized niche—can be found through other resources.

I have taken some wonderful courses that challenged me in the best possible way. They were usually by the writers who did the least touting of their own awards and achievements. They had a solid publication record in what interested me, though.