Why do people plagiarize?!!!

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

SR71PLT is wrong...again. You establish copyright by proving when you created the story. Registry with the copyright office is good to do but not required or essential for legal copyright.

 

[Guest]

GRRRRR....
So I just Googled one of the characters in my story... Alexander LeGaulle, and what do I find? Someone took my FIRST 2 CHAPTERS of "FALLING INTO DARKNESS" title and all, and posted it as their own story on Quizilla.

Please look at the link here

http://www.quizilla.com/stories/7284006/falling-into-darkness

I've sent an email to the site administrator about it. I mean they stole 2 whole chapters...(they couldn't steal ch 3 because they're not allowed to post anything erotic on the site) BUT STILL!!!!!

Then I went down a little further, and someone has Chapter 3 posted word for word on their Blog site as a fantasy piece with some visuals.

http://nudecarmenelectra.blogspot.com/2008/03/leelee-sobieski-in-nude-julian-mcmahon.html

Now the blogger didn't claim the work was their own, but still... it's implied. Anyone know what to do here? I know some of you have also had stuff stolen. I feel so... violated.

It makes me not want to post anymore.

Many sites specify in their guidelines that plagiarized works are not allowed.

I'm thinking MySpace, blog webmasters, that sort.

You have the earlier posting date for your story as proof over this person. Send the site owners the information, including links, PM Laurel from Literotica the same information and also send a message to the person who has stolen your work. (You may have to join that site in order to do this.)

What also works if you join the site where the offender has posted your work is to openly complain. Complain in open forum, including links and dates for the posted works. Shame them publicly. That works very well.

Good luck, El. So many of us here have been through the same thing.

 

[neonlyte]

Good luck, El. So many of us here have been through the same thing.

'cept me
I've reached the point where I might welcome it

 

[Guest]

Here are the rules posting on their site.

Quizilla Posting Rules
Quizilla is all about the creativity and originality of our users. We want you to feel free to express yourselves and your ideas in your quizzes, stories, poems, and journals. That said, there are certain guidelines in place to keep Quizilla a safe and friendly environment. Please use the guidelines below when creating new content on Quizilla.
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[Guest]

'cept me
I've reached the point where I might welcome it

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

People plagiarize because they dont know the craft of writing.

 

[Elianna]

People plagiarize because they dont know the craft of writing.

Sometimes I wonder...
I think people take things they like, and don't think about it when they post it again. This is becoming more and more of a problem with our teenagers today. A friend of mine, a history teacher, found that several of his kids had copied a site VERBATIM from ask.com and turned it in as THEIR work. With the internet it is SO easy to plagiarize.

Like I said before, it makes me sad. I like to see people enjoy my stories, but I hate to see them steal them.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Sometimes I wonder...
I think people take things they like, and don't think about it when they post it again. This is becoming more and more of a problem with our teenagers today. A friend of mine, a history teacher, found that several of his kids had copied a site VERBATIM from ask.com and turned it in as THEIR work. With the internet it is SO easy to plagiarize.

Like I said before, it makes me sad. I like to see people enjoy my stories, but I hate to see them steal them.

True.

I'm writing a horror novel. It's very, very good. Its better than CARRIE and maybe the equal of SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, because the end is original and I cant name a book or film like it. But I wont reveal any of it until it goes to the publisher, because someone will steal it. If your wares are good people will take them. So never post your good stuff on-line.

 

[Elianna]

True.

I'm writing a horror novel. It's very, very good. Its better than CARRIE and maybe the equal of SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, because the end is original and I cant name a book or film like it. But I wont reveal any of it until it goes to the publisher, because someone will steal it. If your wares are good people will take them. So never post your good stuff on-line.

Well... this is the very first thing I've ever posted anywhere. I don't think it's all THAT good, especially the first couple chapters which I wrote in a bout of insomnia.

Perhaps because it's my first time, it's a little more difficult for me. I mean really. I a freakin' mathematician. What the hell do I know about writing? Maybe someday I'll be good enough to get published, but... I'm admittedly an amateur who has a thing for writing little stories, not like you published novel writers out there.

TK- thanks for the info. I sent the webmaster an email like you said. On the blog site, I couldn't find what to do...

I find this copyright debate interesting. The law seems one that says "don't do this, it's against the law" without any penalty for the perps unless you, the author pay to get protection. Not even a slap on the hand. While I think the intent of the law is to protect us and our property, the actual implemtation and management of the law is physically impossible. While I know that this is the ONLY place my story is posted and you won't find anywhere online with an earlier date, I don't think it would stand up in court.

I think maybe TE is right. People will steal. It's against the law. But...who in the law gives a shit? They only care if you pay for rights to your own work... Hmmm... do I sense a conspiracy (though, granted $45 isn't that much). However, for someone who needs to keep anonymous like me, um....yeah, help me find and destroy, folks, 'cause copyright kinda defeats the purpose of anonymous. Sometimes harassment is more powerful than a law suit anyway.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

ELIANNA

On another thread I reported that a local judge plagiarized a book in a guest column he wrote for the paper. I found the book and the stuff the judge used was verbatim from the book. So NO! not much is gonna happen to the offender.

 

[sr71plt]

SR71PLT is wrong...again. You establish copyright by proving when you created the story. Registry with the copyright office is good to do but not required or essential for legal copyright.

Leave it to JBJ to not be able to read the law even when it's dangled under his nose. Practical redress has nothing to do with at what point "ownership" is established. It has everything to do with what you need to establish to go to court with a claim.

I'm always amused by people who think they have some sort of veto power over reality.

 

[CharleyH]

GRRRRR....
So I just Googled one of the characters in my story... Alexander LeGaulle, and what do I find? Someone took my FIRST 2 CHAPTERS of "FALLING INTO DARKNESS" title and all, and posted it as their own story on Quizilla.

No offence, really, but your story is probably plagiarized because it wasn't good enough to be noticed by anyone but you - who was looking for it.

 

[sr71plt]

No offence, really, but your story is probably plagiarized because it wasn't good enough to be noticed by anyone but you - who was looking for it.

Ummm. That's a non sequitor (as well as being offensive in spite of your disclaimer). If Elianna was the only one who noticed it, then it would have to follow that Elianna is the one who posted it elsewhere. Then it wouldn't be plagiarism at all. And that's only the first area of logic where your posting fails. How does any of this relate to others reading the story either here or there? It doesn't.

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

Ummm. That's a non sequitor (as well as being offensive in spite of your disclaimer). If Elianna was the only one who noticed it, then it would have to follow that Elianna is the one who posted it elsewhere. Then it wouldn't be plagiarism at all. And that's only the first area of logic where your posting fails. How does any of this relate to others reading the story either here or there? It doesn't.

It's just Charley's way of dissing Eliana because she's complaining about her story being stolen. Charley thinks it's stupid for someone to do that.

 

[sr71plt]

It's just Charley's way of dissing Eliana because she's complaining about her story being stolen. Charley thinks it's stupid for someone to do that.

Well, I think it's both useless and naive to do that myself. If you don't want your writing stolen, an Internet porn site is perhaps the worst place to post it in the first place.

 

[CharleyH]

Ummm. That's a non sequitor (as well as being offensive in spite of your disclaimer). If Elianna was the only one who noticed it, then it would have to follow that Elianna is the one who posted it elsewhere. Then it wouldn't be plagiarism at all. And that's only the first area of logic where your posting fails. How does any of this relate to others reading the story either here or there? It doesn't.

Seriously. No person plagiarizes a great story they know is probably copywrited. They plagiarize because they know a story is open to be plagiarized. Period. What are you going to do about it? Me, I wouldn't complain about it on Lit. I'd get active.

 

[sr71plt]

Seriously. No person plagiarizes a great story they know is probably copywrited. They plagiarize because they know a story is open to be plagiarized. Period. What are you going to do about it? Me, I wouldn't complain about it on Lit. I'd get active.

It's spelled "copyrighted," and anyone is pretty safe in figuring a story posted to a porn site hasn't had its copyright registered--and the additional kicker is that most who would steal the story have no concept of copyright protection in the first place. It appears that few writers writing the stories understand much about it either.

 

[Stella_Omega]

No offence, really, but your story is probably plagiarized because it wasn't good enough to be noticed by anyone but you - who was looking for it.

No offence, really?

Cut it out, Charley. If you're going to be offensive, don't be a weenie about it. Just get your troll on.

Me, I wouldn't complain about it on Lit. I'd get active.

Coming to lit is often the fist step in getting active. That's how Elianna finds out what to do with her activism. As she says above;

TK- thanks for the info. I sent the webmaster an email like you said. On the blog site, I couldn't find what to do...

people prefer to know they are not alone.

 

[CharleyH]

No offence, really?

Cut it out, Charley. If you're going to be offensive, don't be a weenie about it. Just get your troll on.

Fine Stell, my balls are on the outside - I meant to be honest, not offencive - the story sucked and only an idiot would call it their own. Better? lol (for you and me maybe - but not for the person who posted) We need to give a better opinion to that person.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Fine Stell, my balls are on the outside - I meant to be honest, not offencive - the story sucked and only an idiot would call it their own. Better? lol

I suppose that's better, if that's what you really think. It's worth knowing for those of us upon whom you'd heap your scorn, of course. We can decide on whether you're worth listening to.

But the quality of the original has nothing to do with the question of plagiarism.

Wonder why you spend time at an amateur writer's site at all, though. It must fuck with your head so much, to be forced into conversations with so many of the hoi polloi.

(for you and me maybe - but not for the person who posted)

For me-- I am not impressed, not the first time nor the second.

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

Fine Stell, my balls are on the outside - I meant to be honest, not offencive - the story sucked and only an idiot would call it their own. Better? lol (for you and me maybe - but not for the person who posted) We need to give a better opinion to that person.

Geez, Charley, harsh much? You're generally pretty blunt, but not often an ass. You can give a better opinion without coming off that way.

 

[Stella_Omega]

We need to give a better opinion to that person.

True, perhaps.
Elianna was not asking for opinions about her story, though. And no offense or not-- you had no 'better opinion' to give her.

 

[CharleyH]

Geez, Charley, harsh much? You're generally pretty blunt, but not often an ass. You can give a better opinion without coming off that way.

Crim, my post was meant for Stell, yet, if you are so concerned? Offer up your own critique to our fair friend.

 

[Guest]

Here's her original post, Charley.

GRRRRR....
So I just Googled one of the characters in my story... Alexander LeGaulle, and what do I find? Someone took my FIRST 2 CHAPTERS of "FALLING INTO DARKNESS" title and all, and posted it as their own story on Quizilla. . .

Now the blogger didn't claim the work was their own, but still... it's implied. Anyone know what to do here? I know some of you have also had stuff stolen. I feel so... violated.

It makes me not want to post anymore.

She specifically asked what she should do when someone steals her work. She didn't ask for a critique.

I understand that you have these pet peeves against certain things, such as people posting that they're bored, or people complaining about story votes.

Still, I don't understand why you feel the need to attack her writing.

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

Crim, my post was meant for Stell, yet, if you are so concerned? Offer up your own critique to our fair friend.

If that was what she was asking for, my dear, then maybe I would. However, she didn't start this thread to ask for critiques of her work.