Creative Imitation or Plagiarism
What's the difference between creative imitation and plagiarism? Creative imitation is the process of modeling someone with more experience whose methods have proved successful. It is a starting place - an entry point, if you will, for a person to take off on his/her own. It is NOT plagiarism. Read the definition of plagiarism -The act of appropriating the literary composition of another author, or excerpts, ideas, or passages therefrom, and passing the material off as one's own creation. Plagiarism is theft of another person's writings or ideas. Generally, it occurs when someone steals expressions from another author's composition and makes them appear to be his own work. legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.comThere is a good post on Alex Mandossian's blog dealing with this very issue. Alex teaches not to create but to improve. I agree. But there is a point where creative imitation becomes plagiarism and we are seeing it in action. It's happening to my friend, Jeff Herring - acknowledged world-wide as the article writing, article marketing, article submission, and 'all things about articles' expert - and guest blogger on Alex's blog. Jeff's words and products have been stolen and are being reproduced and sold as someone else's own creation. When you read Jeff's post on Alex's blog, read the comments (and leave one of your own - there and here) and see how some understand while others misunderstand the point. In order to understand the post, follow the link provided and understand that the words and products you see at that link are Jeff's and Jeff's alone. But, they are being represented as someone else's. That is the very definition of plagiarism. This can happen to you. As you read this post, remember that creative imitation CAN boost your productivity. Plagiarism can ruin your reputation and damage any trust you might have gained from your previous efforts.
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Comments
Mm I was scanning some articles just the other day on a large article directory and came across some that sure looked close to being like Jeff's but they weren't.
The scope of the things we can create is just too great to stoop to straight out copying with some slight variations.
I do agree it is ok to model oneself after a mentor, at least to a degree as long as the unique quality that only one individual can display is added.
Jill
I just fired a client who sent me articles that she claimed were her own but most of them were excerpts of many different authors all pasted together. One article was word for word another authors article; the only thing changed was the title.
This person has a Masters Degree in Psychology - yet when I sent her the link to the article that had been published under another author's name, she blamed me for not recommending ghost writer. I thought they taught these things in higher education. In fact, when I was in college it was an automatic failed class if a student plagiarized.
There is software and websites available where
1. You can be alerted when your writings are plagiarized.
or
2. You can run articles sent to you through to check and see if the article has been published elsewhere by another author.
A list of options might be a great follow up post to this one.
You're right Creative Imitation just a starting point - but if one is diligent and passionate about a topic, it's amazing how the ideas take on a life of their own.
I feel for Jeff. Not just sales copy has been lifted from me, but actual paid content in the past which fans who had my back alerted me to and since it was on EBay, I got swift action.
There was a great session at the 2008 New Media Expo from two intellectual property attorneys who discussed this issue. One was very cool and had a podcast at http://www.RulesForTheRevolution.com. Content creators have lots of rights including take down notices to the ISP which usually works pretty well.
Unfortunately there are a lot of lazy, untalented people out there who think that if it's on the internet it must be available to anyone who wants to slap their name on it. I respect Alex's opinion on creative imitation, but most people don't get that vs. outright theft. It gives people too much latitude.
The sad thing is that instead of going way beyond the bounds of creative imitation, they could have just asked Jeff to partner or for permission to use some material and they could have worked together to each other's mutual benefit with everything on the up and up.
I've also modeled my online behaviour on some experts online, most of them even recommend it, but they also stress that to be successful online, you need to differentiate yourself.
Good advice, time and litigation:) will sort the bad ones out.
It seems that there will always be people who will try and rip you off.In the early days of my web site a developer and client actually reproduced word for word one whole page from my site.I never received a reply to either of my letters!
One thing that really upsets me is having an article republished on some other web site with the links conveniently withheld. I guess this is a fairly global problem and not too much that one can do to rectify.
What’s the difference between creative imitation and plagiarism?
A big grey area – great for lawyers and lawsuits!
Now at what percentage can an original article be modified that is out of the gray area and can be considered creative imitation?
I agree creative imitation is a starting place, yes improve - but you have to be distinct enough to stand out from the masses.
Most people copy and maybe slightly modify whatever article(s) they want to use because they agree with it and like it. Cheap shots – you’ll PAY!
Rather they should start with an article that they disagree with.
Be different, be bold, be revolutionary and unique.
Nooooobody would want to find out that their article(s) are republished elsewhere - without their consent. But it happens - from original articles to PLR articles.
It definitely is a global problem and currently the only way to rectify this is through a lawyer and the courts!
I know that one can watermark digital images – I am wondering if text can be watermarked?
Melody Campbell wrote about software and websites to check unauthorized use of articles. I would like to have this info!
Thanks - everyone - for you comments. One thing I'd like to clear up - it isn't just articles being republished without proper credit. It's sales copy and PRODUCTS that have been stolen and plagiarized. This person is stealing Jeff's products, repackaging them and selling them as his own using Jeff's exact sales copy to do it.
What a nice post about snoring, there remedies and treatment. Thanks for such an important post.
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