Comments on: Content Theft is a Personal Violation

By: Katharine Swan

Katharine Swan — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 21:27:10 +0000

In this case, it’s not only plagiarism but also copyright infringement. There’s a pretty big difference. The Little Book of Plagiarism does a pretty good job of explaining it.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 21:18:47 +0000

Academically speaking I’d call “content theft” plagiarism. After all in writing we often cite (key point here) and give credit to others ideas/work/papers. The blogger clearly did that in her creating a list that took people to the orginal work, thus citing it.

Stealing is stealing, plagiarism is plagiarism, unauthorized use is unauthorized use and there is no need to argue beyond that. Ignorance is not an excuse either-which is something a few unfortunate people in the classes I TA’d for found out the hard way.

By: Freelance Writing Jobs » Blog Archive » How Can You Tell if Your Content Has Been Ripped Off?

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 19:56:37 +0000

[...] you’re no doubt already aware, my biggest pet peeve is content theft. I think there’s nothing worse than lazy website owners or bloggers who feel it’s ok to [...]

By: Mariella

Mariella — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 10:49:14 +0000

A> Lists are commonly used for blog posts. If you’ve been blogging for a long time, you’d know it’s one of the most popular types of posts.

The blogs Deb had linked should actually thank her for the free promotion.

By: A

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 03:04:31 +0000

I don’t get it. The entire content of your thrifty list consists of OTHER PEOPLE’S WORK. There’s one crappy little intro sentence for each “article”, and then you provide a bunch of links to other websites neither written, researched, nor maintained by you.

It’s ironic to me, then, how you can feel so self-righteously angered about your content being used on another blogger’s site.

By: Bryan M

Bryan M — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 16:54:53 +0000

After reading a few more comments I am provoked to add that theft of intellectual property IS the same as theft of physical property. Put in economic terms, a writer is a laborer who adds value to facts to make a final product of intellectual property. In this way, facts are no different than raw lumber that a carpenter might fashion into a well-formed and fashionable chair. If a carpenter finished a chair and someone grabbed it from his workshop–without paying for it–painted it, and sold it in their own shop, would we consider that to be theft? Absolutely. Would we demand that the thief compensate the carpenter and be punished? Absolutely. Why do some of the posters to this discussion see that a writer’s labor is so worthless? I could not possibly offer an answer to that question: I simply do not understand the viewpoint.

By: Bryan M

Bryan M — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 16:46:37 +0000

It is very kind to say that most content theft is a misunderstanding. When someone fails to comprehend that taking something (that means anything) that does not belong to you is stealing that is a deficit or moral character, not a misunderstanding. We, as a society, give intellectual property thieves far too much leeway. When has ignorance *ever* been an acceptable defense of any crime?

Having said that, the comments already posted to this discussion should be required reading for anyone creating content. Some freelancers delude themselves into thinking that *everything* they type is copyrightable when the truth about what defines copyrightable material often lies somewhere in the synthesis of law and common decency. We can’t claim every good idea as exclusively ours, like a spoiled 7 year-old touching every toy in their sibling’s toy chest. Nor can we be too specific in what aualifies as unique content. In the digital age, where it is far too easy to cut, edit, and paste, it is up to each of us to come together to find some code of conduct that protects writers so that we can feel free to create.

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 16:30:50 +0000

Deb, I blogged this over at my site.

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 14:46:38 +0000

It’s a rash of instances caused by non-journalistic types thinking everything on the Internet is free or worse, not caring. However, I’ve seen journalists act the same way. Lack of ethical standards is rampant. In short, if it’s someone else’s article, link to it and attribute it to that person. If you want to print it verbatim, ASK.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 22:53:34 +0000

Although I haven’t had this happen to me, I can only imagine how angry it would make me. Glad to hear that you are making some progress with the stolen content. I know I would surely put up as much of a fight as you have.

Good Luck!