Interesting things going on in the Internet world. I just heard from my sister that someone grabbed her entire FAQ, and put it up on their site – no link back, no accreditation, no nothing! When she addressed it with them, they acted as if they had every right to do so! Peeps, this is called plagiarism, pure and simple!
Webster defines plagiarism as:
transitive verb
: to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own : use (another’s production) without crediting the source
intransitive verb
: to commit literary theft : present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plagiarize
You can find out more about dealing with plagiarism here – http://www.plagiarism.org/plag_article_what_is_plagiarism.html .
I don’t know what to call this next issue, but it really upsets me. Individuals work very, very hard to create something that is unique to them, and to the work that they do. It really isn’t kosher to take what they have created and market it under your own banner! Giving something a new name, but keeping the same exact template, is lazy and rude. Whether it is how someone sets up their site or blog, how they handle their newsletter, whether they are offering e-magazine style content, whether they are running contest … whatever they are doing is unique to them, and reflects who they are. Make your work unique to you, and reflective of who you are! In the long run, professionals in any given field are going to want to network with other professionals in that field. Stealing their concepts are not going to endear you to them,and they may not be willing to work with you.
My suggestion – set up a personal code of conduct that is featured on your site, and then live by it!
© October 2012 Bonnie Cehovet
Bonnie Cehovet 
You said it Bonnie! I wonder what the karmic spin is for such things as creative disrepect:) hummm…
Debbie –
“Creative disrespect” – I love that! And the karmic spin would be indescribable! 😉
Blessings,
Bonnie
Bonnie, they need to be threatened with legal actions, it’s theft of intellectual property and is sanctioned!
Lena –
You are correct. Threaten legal action, and contact the company that is hosting the site, and let them know. They will often take the site down if things like this are happening.
Blessings,
Bonnie
You are right. I learned that you can protect yourself by putting copyright verbiage on your site. I am too trusting and hadn’t placed it on my contact page until lately. You don’t think it would happen because you know yourself would not do that. It is pretty sad that people would claim your work. Plagiarism is a big problem right now for schools too. So much on the internet makes it easy for people to steal. Great post!
Thank you for your kind words! It is not enough to simply place a disclaimer on your site. You have to run a check every once in a while – you will be surprised at what you come up with! 😉
Blessings,
Bonnie
I used to see one particular blog that was simply a cut and paste job from other websites and blogs – with no credit given to the original authors nor links to their sites. Eventually, I just blocked that person because it was irritating the hell out of me. People taking artist’s work and giving them no credit for it is another huge bugbear…..I can feel my blood pressure rising just thinking about it lol!
Just a thought – you can use copyscape to check for plagiarism of your work online, they also do free banners for you to use on your site http://www.copyscape.com/banners.php?o=r if that is useful to anyone?
Ali –
Thank you! This is a great idea!
Blessings,
Bonnie
Ali –
Some individuals must think we have “stupid” written across our foreheads, that we won’t know that we have seen the work they are purporting to be theirs before! 😉 I am with you on the blood pressure going up!
Blessings,
Bonnie
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