Comments on: What Bikini Shots Have to Do With Writing

By: Lori

Lori — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 18:46:19 +0000

Anne, I think the answer lies in us policing our own work. If someone is caught using it without permission, shoot off warnings and follow up on them. It's not enough to say "It's happening everywhere" and us throw our hands up. We have to be proactive in helping curb the behavior.

Also, I think we should be putting copyright notices on our sites and maybe writing posts that educate our peers at least on what copyright and fair use really are.

By: anne wayman

anne wayman — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 18:22:40 +0000

While I totally agree with you Lori, I don't think we're going to see much change, even if that gal prevails against the school... it will make schools more careful, but most of the ripoffs we see aren't from schools.

It's just too darn easy to make a copy... from the net and we're not going to see that change.

There's also still some notion from the dot com era that information wants to be free... many people interpret that as license to copy.

I don't know the answer.

By: Paula

Paula — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 17:46:00 +0000

I don't think you'd be surprised if I told you the person's name, but I refuse to give her any attention, good or bad. You know who it is. (Thankfully NOT anyone who frequents this blog…unless she's looking for something to use in a mash up.)

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 16:10:51 +0000

Paula, THAT is scary!

Brian, that's even scarier. So what happens if they make money accidentally? Will they start worrying? LOL What strange logic, huh?

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 14:14:36 +0000

It's because so many people have such little knowledge of such things. I remember years ago being baffled about why people thought they could copy something. Turns out there is a myth that if you don't make any money off it, then it isn't a problem.

By: Paula

Paula — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 20:23:26 +0000

I know of a self-proclaimed writing "expert" (one who has the audacity to charge people for webinars built around her supposed expertise) who proudly lists (or at least once listed) mash-ups among the type of work she excels at. I truly fear for those newbies gullible enough to believe her tripe.

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 17:37:44 +0000

Cathy, your former client sounds like she's playing the lazy way out anyway. Wonder how she'd feel if someone had done the same thing to her (assuming she had any original content)?

Devon, it's not just the content mill workers, which makes this even more heinous. I've seen self-professed "gurus" doing this and promoting these types of practices. That, of course, proves they're not the gurus they think they are, but what of the people who are learning these bad habits?

Sharon, that they targeted you is of no surprise given your level of expertise, but that's little solace when you want to wring someone's neck!

By: Sharon Hurley Hall

Sharon Hurley Hall — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 17:03:46 +0000

This is a huge issue, Lori; thanks for shining the spotlight on it. I've had my blog content and posts I've written for clients plagiarized more often than I can count – I think a lot of people just can't cope with the scale of it.

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 15:18:32 +0000

What do you expect from content mills and content mill writers, who are "writing" 45 articles a week at $1/pop? No one can keep up that pace, so some of them cheat and steal. And should be punished for it.

By: Cathy Miller

Cathy Miller — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 14:38:41 +0000

It boggles my mind how many bloggers/business owners lack knowledge of copyright fundamentals. I had one client who had her site filled with copy and pastes of online articles. In her mind, she gave credit so there was no problem. Her line of business and the businesses she was taking the articles from were not exactly on the same page regarding beliefs. I know some of those businesses would have a real problem if they knew what she was doing. I tried to educate her, but she stood firm in her belief that she was doing nothing wrong. Almost made me want to contact those businesses.

But, when you have professionals who DO know copyright rules and choose to ignore them, that is even worse (in my humble opinion). There again, you would love to go to their clients and ask if they really want to do business with someone who does not act ethically in their business.