Edify me.

[MlledeLaPlumeBleu]

About plagiarism and outright theft: Sweet Sub Sarah had mentioned that she searches for her purloined stories using different methods. Since I've never published any writing online before Lit, I now find myself curious. Is theft a common phenomenon?

How many of you have had something lifted or otherwise "inappropriately appropriated", up to and including inadequate paraphrasing? What did you do about it?

I think most people would be irked by something like this, and while it may be absolutely pointless in the grand scheme of the vast, vague internet, I am wondering- what is a good way to search for these kinds of transgressions?

always up to bludgeon a windmill, Mlle

 

[TheEarl]

Many people have a particular phrase in their writing which they can Google for to see if it appears elsewhere. Everyone else hates it when their work's stolen, but I'd be quite flattered if anyone ever deems my work worthy of stealing. I'd still insist on it being removed and send angry notes, but I'd still be flattered.

The Earl

 

[deliciously_naughty]

I've had my stuff stolen a few times...it took multiple emails and cease and desists from Laurel but they were taken down. I try to pick story titles that aren't terribly common (although I've had a few exceptions so I'd never know if they were).

 

[Guest]

Earl, Earl, Earl! How many times have I told you (don't answer) - flattery is for fools and evildoers.

Prak

 

[oggbashan]

I have had a couple of stories stolen that were originally posted on Yahoo Groups.

They were posted on different groups but the people who did it didn't claim that the stories were their own work, they just removed my copyright details and said "Look what I've found." I haven't pursued the matter because the thefts were not for financial gain but out of ignorance.

I would have preferred a credit e.g. "Look what Og wrote - you can see more at ..."

Picture theft is much more common particularly from commercial sites. Many Yahoo Adult groups are full of such pictures even showing the copyright details. If it gets too blatant the Yahoo group may disappear overnight.

Og

 

[Quasimodem]

I have had a few stories on alt.sex.stories show up on story email lists. Since they were not making any profit from their endeavour, I did not make any threat.

They did use the Nom I wrote the stories under, so it wasn't really plagiarising.

Considering my average voting score, my stories are either too lousy, or not lousy enough to be worth stealing.

 

[Rainbow Skin]

Our current stories don't show up on Google. Well, mine don't. Except those I wrote long ago under another name, and in an earlier archived version of Literotica. (I get some interesting Googlewhacks.)

How would you know?

My only continuing consolation is that anyone lamebrained enough to steal someone else's work is going to be after the crudest, nastiest, cheapest stuff, and mine is just going to provoke huh? and be ignored.

On the other hand, that's what I thought when I was approached out of the blue and someone published two of my throwaway stories, for money.

And on some other fingers of that hand, I once caught out someone who was reposting some very good, sensitive stories -- You're Australian? You're a very good writer. I particularly like the way you've got the American idioms down pat. -- Blighted an e-mail conversation, that did.

 

[Quasimodem]

. . . Except those I wrote long ago under another name, and in an earlier archived version of Literotica. . . .

Rain,

Were you here too, back when Lit was ESC?

 

[Rainbow Skin]

Don't know what ESC is. No, not that far back, just an identity that was originally for... ah... cyber... ah... relations, with, um, someone who...

and which therefore I can't ever admit to and didn't continue using.

 

[Quasimodem]

Sounds like a story there.

Just don't forget to change the names to protect the guilty.

 

[Couture]

I find my stories all over the place. I usually don't worry unless my name and email addy has been removed.

 

[deliciously_naughty]

I find my stories all over the place. I usually don't worry unless my name and email addy has been removed.

I've had one or two people post my work with the copyright and authorship attributed to me. I usually respond to that with an email of thanks and gratitude. I take it as a compliment when that happens.

I get pissy when other people make money off my stuff or take credit for my work.

 

[Sabledrake]

I've had some of my early stuff (the Lion King story and the goddam Scooby story in particular) turn up in other places. They'd originally appeared on alt.sex.stories, too. I've also had a few run-ins with fools who swipe a story entire, insert a couple of their own characters, and actually think that I'll be pleased at how they 'improved' the tale. Uck.

Sabledrake

 

[Uther_Pendragon]

Story theft is incredibly common, and incredibly blatant.
Most of the commercial story sites use only stolen stories.
One way to catch it is to Google on a phase from your story.
I've seen my stories featured in ads for commercial sites.
I've also seen non-commercial posters rip off stories
and post them to ASS. Some of those scumbags even claim
that what they do is legitimate.
Google on "What is electricity, and what does it do after
leaves the toaster," some time. And Dave Barry is a *commercial*
author. He can afford lawyers.
I don't take it as a compliment. Many of the crooks have automated their
thefts to the point that they pull down others ads.