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 