Tuesday 17 April 2012

Let's Discuss Plagiarism: Or How My Content Wound Up On Your Website


these images are called - wow - how did my content fall onto your website?!


So I blogged about the Logies.


I did. I always blog about awards nights. Because I love it. 


And today, for some reason I was googling the Logies - because clearly I didn't get enough - and lo and behold, I found extracts of my content sitting on a large news publication website. Behind a paywall.


Let's just get this straight. My content. Used as more than just inspiration, and right there - with 'staff reporter' attached to it. 


Apparently I am now a staff reporter - or a contributor at least, because they did at least change things around a little. I said tissues, they said Kleenex. 


I felt more than a bit miffed. I felt upset. Mad. Ferocious. Wild as a wild cat. Grumpier than the Gruffalo. And just plain pissed off. 


A friend told me I should take it as a compliment. I did. For two seconds. And then I just thought what kind of a lazy creep - who gets paid (I don't), steals stuff. They must be terribly uncreative. 


Who does that? 


I think you'd be surprised - it seems to be happening more and more. I've read about bloggers whole posts being cut and pasted and claimed as someone else's quite often. 


My story about MY miscarriage was clearly the inspiration for a large website - and replicated in a weekly print publication. Though someone at least put a byline on that. Not my byline, but heck, it's an improve.. no it's not. 


But the internet is becoming increasingly a small world. You took my words and you didn't think I'd notice? Well I did. And I'm watching. 

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's sad that attribution seems to be neglected by people who should no better. It is laziness in the extreme. It is so simple just to be honest.

Cat said...

That downright SUCKS!!! How awful for you and unprofessional of them! Sucks, sucks, sucks.

Felicity Moore said...

PMM, put in a call to the MEAA. They'll help you sort it out. It's serious stuff. And there aren't too many publications in this country behind a pay wall so it's a narrow field.

Anonymous said...

I am pissed off for you grrrrrrr


Lexi, you kill me. i cant stop laughing at your WoW face pictures hahahahalolol


nevie

Lou Lou said...

OMG, how bad is that! what did they reply? did you get an answer from them?

lisa :: the red thread said...

What the?! So lazy, so sneaky, so BAD! I hope you're going to dob the staff reporter in. Name and shame Lexi. Name and shame.

Steph Bond-Hutkin said...

Totally DISGUSTING Lexi. I'm beyond furious too. I've definitely had whole posts copied and pasted onto other websites, but mostly random sites with no traffic that are using my content to sell adwords against. Yes, it sucks, but it's not a MAJOR publication with millions of readers!!!! If I can help, please let me know.

gemma @ loz and dinny said...

Are you shitting me? Hope you get this sorted ... a nice fat cheque might be nice.

Christina Lowry said...

WTF?! I hope you are kicking up a MAJOR stink about this with the "writer" and the website? Please say yes and please keep us up to date with your progress?

It's so not on! (Standing on my soap box.) How often this must happen and the writer doesn't realise. My friends copy was just ripped off her photography website word-for-word by another Melbourne photographer. He even missed changing 'her' to 'him' in some places on his site. Mega dodgy jerk. Stamping feet and cranky face!

meetmeatmikes said...

OH! I found the piece. Geesh. How freaking rude and lazy. And not even brave enough to put their name to it. How ridiculous. I wonder how often this happens. We all know journalists REALLY want to be BLOGGERS. LOL (JOKE) Kinda... x

Rowantree Design said...

Journalists are not as talented as bloggers! Besides they don't get to be creative these days! Karma, my love!

Small Catalogue said...

I have two (potent) words: Media. Watch. They dig this type of hooey. Sorry for you Lexi, stealing is such a cowards act.

Dee. said...

OMG it's it clearly obvious that the theft's priority was the after parties and not the his/her writing assignment, shame on him/her karma will get its just deserts.

On the up side your work got published, in a stolen, unnamed kinda way, but it's still your work and we know that and so does the publisher.

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Shontelle said...

FFS!! Maybe their boss needs to bypass them and offer you the job. You clearly have a gift for it. I for one look forward to your award nights.

mama bear said...

Are you joking me Lexi? This is disgraceful. You should definitely seek action against them. x