I received in the post this morning (04/03/2006) the following letter regarding the Hypothyroid patient survey which was available from my site until tuesday the 28th February when the survey was closed.

The idea for the survey came from myself in november 2004, as did the first draft, until shown to members and the committee of TPA-UK who then had some input, as was the covering letter and the initial PR. However not more than 70% of the final survey changed in content from the original draft

Because of my contacts I was also able to point them in the direction of NSM who compiled the survey in the end and I was the contact for some time. It was originally agreed that I would have copyright on the survey and there are emails to prove this however when it was finally finished this was disputed and I was told to take the copyright off, although in the end authorship was granted. I didn't at this point have to allow the survey to go ahead under these circumstances however felt that it was too important to stop and I had put too much work into it.

In january 2006 following a further dispute with Sheila Turner who is currently chair of TPA-UK I decided to leave the group, and set up this web site adding a link to the survey as I felt that it was important to get the information out further and as I have done over 70% of the work on it then was told I was allowed to do so as I have some claim to it.

The covering letter still available on this site is in fact the one I first wrote and has no alterations done by anyone else and is included on the site as it is a useful, easy to understand document

Copies of all emails and drafts are in my possession proving the above

For the latest news  on this

http://thyroid-disease.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=138&Itemid=2

My reply to the TPA-UK solicitors posted monday 3rd April 2006

Dear Mr. Hand

Thank you for your letter of 3rd March 2006 regarding the copyright of the Hypothyroid Patient Survey. I was surprised to receive this as Mrs. Turner was fully aware of the survey on my website and acknowledged it in a very positive message posted on her Yahoo Group on 5th February 2006.

I am well aware of the history of the survey having played an integral part in its creation and development. It will please you to know that the links to the survey were removed immediately upon closure of said survey, that being several days before receipt of your letter.

With regard to, “this act causing loss to TPA not least because it has to pay the cost of postage etc…” I am again surprised that Mrs. Turner considers that my site is causing such loss to TPA. The survey has not been available by links on my website since the closing date but remains available on Mrs. Turner’s TPA website, some 32 days after the closing date. I therefore fail to understand how TPA is incurring costs from any other source other than its own website. The survey can be downloaded via a link from http://tpa-uk.technocool.net/TPAUK/survey.htm. You may care to check these links to verify matters before contacting your client about this. Should these links suddenly disappear, or be publicly refuted I have in my possession dated-stamped hard copy screen shots and independent documentary proof of this from several sources, should you require it, which confirm my statements.

Mrs. Turner's complaint is vexatious and I would be grateful therefore if you could submit proof that the sole copyright and authorship of this document does indeed belong to TPA-UK and Mrs. Turner, as well as proof of the additional cost to TPA-UK, within 7 days, to substantiate this concern.

I would also request that you ask your client to refrain from making derogatory statements on her Yahoo Group and elsewhere, about me and also the work I did for TPA-UK. Even if such messages are deleted immediately, they remain in the Digests where they are available for members to read. I have received copies of a number of such messages from well-wisher TPA members and I am currently considering my options in respect of these defamatory messages.

Yours Sincerely

Dawn Wood