Plagiarization

[fairlane]

A while ago when I was reading Lord of the Rings fanfic, I saw a story that had been plagiarized - apparantly word for word with only the characters names changed.

After being called on it, the 'writer' posted an authors note saying that they were a student of *physiology* and were doing an experiment on human nature for an essay. There was so much wrong with that defence, but I guess it showed at least some imagination lol.

[fairlane]

Well, the other day I wrote Evie in my fanfic and described her as really thin. Then I realised - hang on that's not how S E Hinton describes her, that's how Artemis Rex described her.

So maybe it is possible to pick up on aspects from other peoples writing without realising it lol. (it's ok I changed my description of her).

[Keira]

Mars, I was going to bring up that point about the girl who went to Harvard, but I kept forgetting, lol. That's the only published one I knew about before today.

Thanks for the tip for ffn. I'll go figure that out

[akanechan]

I believe you actually can subconsiously plagiarize. Here's why:

In high school, when you become a big fan of a book, you can keep numorous things about the book in your mind for a long time, because you sincerely love it. Then, in college, while writing, you think back in your mind. Then a paragraph from the book comes to mind. You wouldn't know it'd be from the book, so reaction: "That sounds a bit familiar...Oh well. -uses it-"

That's just a theory.

[fairlane]

...I had more to say but I had to run! The Evie thing was an example of how a character trait in fanfiction, especially of a minor character, could subconciously stay in a readers mind as described by another writer.

[zevie]

I think people just don't know where the line is.

I'm not defending plagiarism AT ALL, it is a heinous, heinous crime. The published author thing freaked me out a little. When it's word for word that is. I think there's an official limit for that somewhere... I know there is for music. Something like six notes and you've crossed the line, lol. It's a little more ridiculous for music though.

But, I really think a lot of it isn't malicious (in the amateur category, when you're published and making monies, there's no excuse). I think some people really just don't know how off it is. I don't mean this should excuse them at all, but, when someone obviously points to the story where they stole from, they must seriously not think they're doing anything wrong to that writer. Or, they may be a little slow.

One or two lines I don't think is a big deal really, because that *could* be coincidence, and definitely could be subconscious. Mars, that line you mentioned, there were like, two words that were the same: "analyzed" and "don't". Oh, and "said". No offense, but I think that's a little too honest, lol. There's no similarity but the feeling behind it, which isn't patented by anyone, except maybe the first teenaged guy. (Said Adam to Eve: "The Lord sayeth not to analyze me.")

Am I crazy, or was there some lawsuit against J.K. Rowling for plagiarism? Some Larry Potter or Henry Porter or something out there... Don't remember clearly, as it is post Canada day. Bleary. I apologize for excess ramblings.

[Masquerade]

This might be really off-topic and random, but I read a Kit Pearson book, "A Handful of Time", and I remember thinking it was funny, because the Harry Potter saga had just started taking off, and one of the characters in this book, the girl's father, was actually named Harris Potter.
But I doubt there was a lawsuit against J.K. Rowling over that one...

[Tensleep]

Mars brings up a good point, as usual. Fan Fiction is basically allowed plagerization. We don't ask, but we do it anyways. Who's to say it's really wrong to borrow things from each other's stories without asking?

Well, me, because I think it's lazy, but hey.

Maxiekat, thanks for the link. I still think that's really dumb, especially for an established, published novelist. I'll have to take you up on those reccomendations when I have a chance to read a book! I get so wrape up in writing lately that it's insane!

See ya in the funny papers!!!

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