[bradleyland]

Legal action only makes sense when there is some substantial amount of money on the line. Only punters waste their time suing someone over the theft of a proposal. If the proposal contained so much work that it could lead to lawsuit, the author should have provide a summary version with an option to receive a full version upon payment.

This kind of thing happens all the time when you put your best work on the line. I've always felt that you're better of putting in the effort up front and get left at the alter from time to time than you are to withhold the effort. It's a matter of enlightened self-interest. At some point, you will find a client who is tired of all the crap vendors they've worked with in the past and will pay you for what you're worth.