Friday, April 29, 2011

Content Call Out

Usually this stuff blows right by me. But today it's under my skin. I'm talking about stealing content. Copying and pasting others' work and words and pretending as if it's yours when it's obviously not. While imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, smashing and grabbing content and selling it off as your own isn't. It's a bit thoughtless, I think. A bit thoughtless and a lot rude.

It's been happening so often with my blog lately that I finally decided to mention it. Hey, we all make mistakes. No one's a perfect blogger or completely original thinker. But if you lift words or images from this site, please attribute content or link back to this blog.

I appreciate your understanding.  -Brin

16 comments:

Kim @ NewlyWoodwards said...

Wow! That's the most bizarre thing I've ever seen. I'm so sorry you have to deal with that. It's more than a "little" inconsiderate. Ridiculous, really.

Jordy Liz said...

why would someone try to make it their own when it's completely easy to link back to your blog. glad you called it out. :)

Cindy Brick said...

Brin, I went and left a comment on her blog...if it's any comfort, I've had this happen before, too. One church -- a church, can you believe it! -- copied my column word for word, then had the gall to print it in their newsletter, without even adding my name. (I guess they didn't figure I'd ever see it...but I did.)
Thanks for pointing it out. Hopefully she'll do the right thing, delete the offending post, and apologize both to you and her readers. Hang in there.

Katie said...

Sorry this happened to you, Brin. I can't believe someone would do that..word for word, even, trying to pass it off as their own. I hope it gets cleared up...

RachH said...

This is so dishearteningly wrong. I can't believe someone would do that!

Becky K. said...

Wow! That is awful! Glad you were able to discover it and hopefully set it straight.

Bee said...

That was bold and brash, wasn't it?! Oh, my Goodness. Isn't there a way to disable the copy and paste feature?

I've always felt if I did something like that, God would smite me right then! Because it's wrong!

Anonymous said...

Hi Brin...had quite a chuckle when I read her April 28th blog entry...all about making right decisions...mmmnn...me thinks she made a wrong one a while ago:) Leisbet

Karen Deborah said...

I don't understand. It's not like we are PAID writers! Blogging is wonderful because it's individual and unique. Stealing is stealing. There are a lot of free copy right services out there for blogs.

yodafatkitty said...

Isn't it truly amazing how many folks just don't care to know the difference between right and wrong?
Sad. And yeah, very rude.
Don't let it affect you!

Seawashed said...

That really is terrible Brin. It is so sad. I don't understand why anyone would do this. But I've had words and ideas taken from my artwork. All I know to do is leave it with God...he sees and knows all.

Cheryl L said...

Interesting.....i tried to follow the link and her blog is now set to private. Gee, wonder why!!!???? Crazy.....and just down right dishonest.

Mary Martha said...

Brin, I want to apologize, I did put up a quote from the book you have quoted on fb. I cited the author but not your blog. I hope this isn't what you are referring to. If it is, I am truly sorry. I have now provided a link to your blog under the quote. I would not steal your actual words and not cite you though. I do love your words and can see why people would be jealous enough to want to claim them. Your soul shines through your words. May the Peace of God be always with you.

Kathleen Grace said...

I have seen this before, how on earth did you even find it?! I see they have made their blog private now...good for you for calling them out on it. Hopefully it will discourage other people who steal content. Becasue that is what it is. Stealing.

Brin said...

Thanks, y'all. I probably should have let it go again, but when I contacted the blogger and got no apology, or offer to remove the post, or *any* response, I decided enough was enough...

Cheryl L.- I didn't know until you commented, but yes, it does appear as if the blog has been set to private. ... Yeah. ;)

Mary Martha- you're so kind! But no, I wasn't referring to passing along quotes or other material that are attributed to others that I mention on my blog. What I was talking about was folks who copy and paste my writing... or save and repost my pictures... as if it's something they wrote or photographed. It happens often, but it's wrong, you know? Intellectual property theft is just as nasty as actual property theft, I think. ;) You had no need to apologize, and by my all means, as long as you quote your source or link back to the material so people can easily identify the author, etc., I see nothing wrong with that! :D

Kathleen Grace- a reader named Sheila spotted it and emailed me and commented. Gosh knows I never would have known otherwise!

Thanks for the support, y'all. We need each other! :)

Anonymous said...

Sorry that happened. People can be pretty shallow sometimes sadly. This blog is so tiny anyway, it's pretty pathetic if you think about it, why someone wouldn't just write their own words inspired by something you wrote or did.. integrity is not in everyone unfortunately.

I'm quite sure you could hire a coder and blog tech type person who can lock your posts from being copied and pasted and you can also lock your photos coding from being able to save the image. Might help!