Looking over my dashboard, I noticed some incoming links carrying the same title as one of my recent posts. I clicked it, and found a blog called “Just Being Rich” and there was my own post, “Big Hat. No Cattle.” Others have borrowed posts before, but always with attribution. Of course. But here, it began by saying that here is an interesting post by “Jonathan . . . ” somebody and then the text. My text. My idea. His name and no mention of me. Neither could I leave a comment. (not sure how he did that)
When I taught English, I always emphasized the concept of intellectual property. Using the example of their tennis racket or car being stolen, I’d then move to “mind properties” and show students how important are one’s ideas and expressions. I can buy another purse or pair of golf shoes. But for someone to claim the creations of my intellect — the self that originates ideas, that thinks — is so unethical and dishonest.
Ironically, I’ve always said that experience is the best way to learn. I’ve been plagiarized, and I finally get it.
6 responses so far ↓
cosy // February 15, 2008 at 8:59 am
Those type of posts that you will find on other sites that link to you using someone else’s site are a way for comment spammers to find you. If you had left the incoming link, you would have noticed a huge jump in incoming spam comments on your blog. I noticed the same thing on one of my non-wordpress.com blogs and I left the incoming link (as a trackback) and the next thing I know I had 28 blocked spam comments by Akismet. I deleted the trackback and the spam comments slowed to a trickle again!
paisleyandplaid // February 15, 2008 at 9:09 am
Wow! After writing this post on content theft, I went to WordPress and Google to research possible solutions to the problem. It’s huge. So many bloggers are experiencing the same thing. Apparently people who don’t or can’t write just post somebody else’s stuff (minus credit) and make a few bucks on ads. Very disouraging.
Anyway, I tried to contact the violating site, useless, and then went back to my dashboard. The incoming links are gone. How did this happen? I have much to learn.
BTW aren’t commercial ads against WP policy?
In my research I got all the way to Cease and Desist law, of which we may all have to keep a copy. Good tips are available in the WP forum. Also the Millenium Act defines our legal rights regarding Internet activities.
paisleyandplaid // February 15, 2008 at 9:19 am
Cosy, thanks for the info. I did nothing to remove the incoming links. In fact, I returned to them to find the infringing site again, and they were gone. Any ideas?
I was also puzzled by his use of a name, and in the place where my blog title would appear, there was white space, just after the fake author’s name.
Cloud // February 17, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Hmmm not sure about that. Maybe that is a hosted on WordPress.com feature? The blog of mine I am talking about is hosted on another server. But it was the same kind of thing. It was an excerpt from my blog entry but with a messed up title and someone else’s name. I think it is a bot that just harvests the information and randomizes the writer’s name and title. I am not sure the purpose really, but there must be some kind of devious reason for it.
Whether they were plagiarizing or they are a web spammer it’s still an annoyance. I have little patience for thieves or scammers.
Bob // February 18, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Maybe it was Obama who did it. He has already been identified as the type. How about that. A plagiarist running for President, while you get kicked out of college for doing the same thing.
paisleyandplaid // February 19, 2008 at 5:18 pm
When we’re plagiarized, we understand why the issue is one of ethics and not merely academic. Ultimately it has to go to character, assuming we’ve been properly taught, and Mr. Obama has a fine education, hopefully doing his own work to get it.
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