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Immateriaalioikeuksista
syyskuu 19th, 2014
”Can we discuss plagiarism?”I run an Elfquest-based roleplay forum in the Internet. It is named Wild Forest Holt.
It is an okay forum, just a tad slow with action.*type type*
I have used a lot of effort to the concept, ideas and tribe info, such as tribal roles.
Thinking: ”I can’t think of anything.”As far as I know, no one has snatched my ideas, art, writings or anything of same sort.
”Bad drawing skills have their benefits. Hah.”
I was pretty much surprised, when I noticed similar material in another EQ-based group.
Thinking: ”Hmm…”I asked my friends opinion.
Me in chat: ”Hey, see any similarities in these lists? [link 1] [link 2]
My friend in chat: ”Now that you mention it, yeah.”Apparently, the admin in another group had sought out some inspiration from the other groups.
”Which basically is quite alright, I guess? One would know how to pose sub forums, categories, etc.”But, to be honest, I was not thrilled to find my list copied and pasted without my permission.
”And I do realize that lists are really hard to write using one’s own words, without copying anyone.”
”
But the list was partially identical from word to word. It had only been altered for another setting.
”Even the fulfilled roles were marked the same way!””Don’t get me wrong, tho. If an idea is a good idea, it can be used. But credit where it’s due, right? Of course right.”
I had copied my own skill list from an old, nowadays ended, group. I had a mention of the fact.
On the screen: Please note! This list has been copied and altered from Shadow Wood Holt!
There won’t be misunderstandings this way.And of course, I could not write to the admin of the other group like this:
”Waaah, I own the rights to the term ’hunt leader’! Also to the jungle theme!
I’ll sue! You owe me 100 zillion euros!”
So, I wrote like this:
”Hi! I noticed some similarities in these lists, so is you have been searching for inspiration from my group, it would be nice if you could mention it and maybe add a link.
Good luck and all the best!
– Mia”Thinking: ”So, they did mention the source. Small font. No link. (* Makes me a little mad.
*Sigh*
(* The link was added, eventually.”What I am trying to say is that even if some thing is in the Internet, it does not necessarily mean that it is available for all use.
Asking permission and mentioning sources are mandatory things.””Everybody here knows this, right?
Of course right!”Art thefts are a whole different story…
”WHY ON EARTH WOULD ONE CROP OUT THE ARTIST SIGNATURE?!
IMAGE SHARING SITES SUCK!!
WHY ARE WATERMARKS REMOVED!?
MAKING MONEY WITH SOMEONE ELSE’S WORK!!
IT MAKES ME SO PISSED, THIS MODERN COURSE OF THINGS!!”
