The Bloggers With The Most To Say
Blog Plagiarism: Weigh in...
Today I tackled the offense of blog plagiarism that I recently dealt with on my blog. What are your thoughts on blog plagiarism? Have you dealt with it before? Have you engaged in the act?
Best,
Hannah Katy
www.HannahKaty.com
Best,
Hannah Katy
www.HannahKaty.com
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Holly Young on -
Aw...honey! I feel so protective of you and your little blog as a fellow 20sb member! I wanna go punch that girl right in the kisser! Ok not really, but you know what I mean. Your blog is adorable...that's just not a good feeling.
I hope this isn't bad advice, and I don't know if you've left any comments or anything on this other person's blog, but I'm afraid if you don't say ANYTHING then she will continue to copy your words. I think you need to politely express your side. HER readers deserve to know the truth. If I was spending time reading a "fake" blog- I would want to know.
I read a blog from a girl named Meg. She dealt with a similar issue...she may have some better advice.
http://or-so-i-feel.blogspot.com/
or (scroll down to "a word about plagarism") Look under her April archives if the link messes up :)
http://or-so-i-feel.blogspot.com/2010_04_01_archive.html
She's wonderful.
Anyway, I'm going to bookmark/follow you b/c I love your writing and I think you're adorable. I believe in "karma" just a little. What goes around comes around. People will see you for who you are and your wonderful words and talent...they will gravitate to that. And eventually, they'll see the truth about *her* too.
HANG IN THERE!
Holls
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Permalink Reply by Hannah Brencher on -
Thank you so much! You are too sweet. I did take all the necessary moves to have the posts removed, and she has removed them. SO all is well! But what would an experience like that be without writing about it? Ha.
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Permalink Reply by Nuggles on -
Wow. I've been inspired a couple of times by blog posts to post on the same topic, but I always give credit to the author and link back to their site. They're always my blogging friends, also, so I know they won't care and are always amused by it, too. This girl should be scalped.
I've never dealt with plagiarism myself, but I know writers that have. It's NOT flattering- it just sucks. Blogs are supposed to be about YOUR life and YOUR experiences, so to steal someone ele's post defeats the purpose of blogging in the first place.
Keep us updated on how you deal with this- we're pulling for you.
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Permalink Reply by Hannah Brencher on
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Thanks so much! She has removed the posts... I sent a series of infringement notifications to her blog and to Google. But you are so right, it is far from flattering... Especially the two posts she chose: deeply personal posts where she deleted any personal information that would not allow her to twist it into her own story.
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Permalink Reply by Cassie on -
Is your blog copyrighted? If not, copyright the heck out of it and threaten to take legal action if she doesn't take the posts using your content down, or at least gives you credit! I'm pretty sure getting a copyright isn't that difficult. Google it and see what you come up with. I see plenty of blogs that have the mark on the bottom.
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Permalink Reply by Hannah Brencher on
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Yup, there are copyright notices all over the place... Some people just don't care I guess. But thank you!
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Permalink Reply by filleosophy on -
I've had my writing plagiarized on the Internet more than a dozen times (that I know of). Everything from blog entries (even those that included specific details about my life) to something as simple as my "about me" page. People have used what I've written on their domains that they pay for, their free Wordpress/Blogspot type blogs, Livejournal, Myspace, and even on Facebook.
It's weird, but people are weird.
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Permalink Reply by Z.J. Ascensio on -
I'd say leave a polite but assertive comment on her entry saying that you're happy you inspired them, but you'd really appreciate a back link and credit. If that doesn't do anything, contact the writer saying that you have proof based on date posted that your entry is indeed the original, and if they refuse to take it off their blog or give you credit, you'll go a step up and contact the hosting service. AND if that still doesn't work, send a message to the legal department of the host with all the proof telling them that you'll take action if something isn't done.
Sometimes nothing you can do will stop a copier,but these threats have worked for me and others in the past. Also, use a service like My Free Copyright so that you'll have verifiable proof that you were the first to post and register your entries. If it comes down to anything legal, that will be a big help.
I'm sorry you're having to deal with this. It's a disgusting feeling to find that someone has ripped off your stuff.
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Gleason on -
As a writer I definitely do not engage in plagiarism. I've often been paranoid of if my stuff was being plagiarized, but I'm less paranoid now...
That sucks that you've been through it in the past.
Paranoia back on?
http://herestothegoldendays.blogspot.com
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Permalink Reply by Orion 'Nips' Swift on -
You haven't really 'made it' until someone copies you?
I absolutely think it is wrong. I'd rather have a great writer inspire me to write better than taking their work. It makes the work feel cheapened and doesn't sit well in my stomach.
A few years ago, I had someone take a few of my photos and post them on their blog. I was furious for a few hours. At the advice of friends and family (after I had called and texted EVERYONE in my phone), I calmly composed an email to the perpetrator and kindly asked them to either credit me or remove the images from their site. The photos were deleted within the hour. There was no explanation from the guy or follow-up email.
Then my mom sent me a text which made the whole thing feel a little better: 'Someone thought your pictures were so beautiful they tried to claim them as their own.'
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Permalink Reply by Hannah Brencher on
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Ah yes! You are spot on! And I love that text that your mom sent- my friend said something along the same lines..
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Permalink Reply by Gina on -
OK, so at first, when I read the title of this thread, I was like "Is ANYBODY going to say they are FOR plagiarism?" Honestly!
Anyway, I think it is flattering when another blogger is INSPIRED by my post and asks permission to copy/ link/ etc. But, I would be completely pissed if somebody just flat out took my content.
You DO own the copyright to your material (if you are living/ blogging in the US). By virtue of it existing, the copyright exists. If you want to make it official and stamp it all over your blog, you can (should) and nobody will think less of you for it. You can go to myfreecopyright.com and their servers will log all of your entries every day and keep records of what you posted when. While you own the copyright the instant you publish your work, this site keeps a written record for you, should you ever need to go to court over it.
And, while I encourage people to take legal action when appropriate, if you are not a big-time blogger when can prove significant monetary damages due to copyright infringement, you probably would spend way more money on legal fees than you could ever hope to gain back from this low life. Stealers of content know this; and I think it's one of those ugly truths that we all just have to deal with.
© 2012 Created by Lisa.
