An Important Note on Plagiarism...
by
Robert Betts
(Age: 62)
copyright 08-13-2001
Age Rating: 13 to 127
Some time back I received an email with two poems... One written by one of "The Greats" and another which was written by someone else. To all intents and purposes, they were one and the same.
I have just removed that 'someone else' from the site. I hope everyone understands and agrees. Our most valuable posession is our writing, which is a reflection of who we are. For someone to steal a work and put his name on it... that is an intolerable kind of theft. It steals our very self.
Let me define plagiarism carefully so everyone understands exactly what it is. First you cannot copy a work, change a few words and then claim it as your own. If it has substantially the same content and in poetry induces the same mental images it belongs to the original author. You are permitted to quote limited phrases, as long as you are sure to make it clear that they belong to the original author and you make reference to his name.
Being inspired by another does NOT constitute plagiarism as long as your work is essentially different. This has occured on this site many times and is perfectly acceptable. It is a nice courtesy to note that your work was inspired by..."John Doe" but not absolutely essential.
When in doubt, just make it clear WHO the work belongs to. If possible, notify the author that you are quoting him... again a courtesy.
In the case of a work in the public domain, (Such as Jingle Bells) credit cannot be given because the original author(s) are not known. It is OK to quote it without credit but it needs to be noted that it is not an original work.
Plagiarism on this site will NOT be tolerated. If anyone sees a work here and is aware that it is stolen, please email me with details.
Help Us Stop Plagiarism -
Nearly all works at PnP are original. However a few people choose to plagiarize.
To check, choose a phrase from the work, then either drag and drop to the search box or copy and paste.
click on search and works at Google will be shown which match. Just to be sure, please do this before
you recommend or rate the work highly...
I know some of my short stories are influenced by some of my fav scifi/fantasy writers but they ARE done if my style, my writing, my own words not taken from those people. They have to make a living, why steal? It is important for people to realize in stealing from someone else, they are stealing fom that person's livelyhood.
Bob, each poet/writer writes with their own voice, from their own heart; this is what makes poetry/writing so special. I do not understand why someone would want to do this and claim that the work was their own. By copying someones work the person is not only breaking copywrite laws that are there to protect an authors piece of writing, they are also lying to the reader, and in my mind more disturbingly, lying to themselves. Anyone who can lie to themselves cannot be trusted not to do this again.
I usually try to say who it's inspired by, since so many here inspire me greatly. I think I'll go check and make sure I haven't missed my mark on any. Thanks for making this known, and making it clear WHAT the big "P" entails. :)
You are so right! I have seen some poems that strike a familiar cord only to later hear parts of it in popular songs. Whether they be old or not. It's sad that one would try to claim the work as their own.
Right on Robert. You will note that at the top of each article/poem/recipe here there is a copyright. It is also in the head information which you can see by right mouse click, reveal source. I add myself and Marine Life in the head info simply to add more force to YOUR copyright. I would NEVER, EVER use a work elsewhere, in anthologies etc., without the author's written consent.
Welcome !
