Someone used my work without credit — what do I do?

You made something and shared it, the way people do — without thinking twice. Then you found it somewhere else, wearing someone else's name. The shock was not only the theft. It was realizing you never learned the rules of this game. This kind of silence is common. People create freely and learn the boundaries only after someone crosses them. There is no shame in this. The rules of ownership are rarely taught. They tend to favor those who already know them. What you likely feel now is two things at once: anger at the taking, and a quieter embarrassment at not knowing better. Name both plainly. The quieter one is what keeps people silent long after the anger would have moved them to act.

◆ How this problem reads on the two dials

GuidanceKnowledge

Coaching

More to learn

1:1 with MuraWith others (a Pod)

Mostly you & the coach

A little with peers

The reader is missing concrete facts about ownership and process, but also needs steady coaching to turn that knowledge into an actual message sent to another person.

How the two dials adapt to you →

What’s really going on

You already own rights to what you made, the moment you made it — no form, no registration needed. What's missing isn't permission to be upset. It's plain steps: document it, name what you want, then ask directly. That knowledge is simpler than it looks.

🔒 What you’ll build togetherUnlock by starting

A moveWrite down when you made the thing — a date, a draft, a file's timestamp — before doing anything else.

A moveFind the exact place your work appears elsewhere and save it, noting the date you found it.

A moveDecide, in one sentence, what you actually want: credit, removal, or payment. Lead with just one.

A moveDraft a short, factual message naming what was taken and what you're asking for. No apology, no anger — just the facts.

A moveIf the use continues after you ask, or it feels bigger than you can handle alone, bring it to someone who advises on this for a living.

What changes unlock by starting

You'll know which rights you held automatically, without ever registering or filing anything.
You'll have a saved record of your original work and where it was used without permission.
You'll have plain language ready to send, asking clearly for what you actually want.
You'll feel less like a bystander to your own work.

One object, two jobs: a public answer to a real problem, and — the moment you start the chat — Mura’s live plan for your version of it.