When Imitation ISN'T the Sincerest Form of Flattery

This little rant has been a long time coming, but I hate confrontation and I kept convincing myself that it was just me, that no one else would see the similarities so I shouldn't bother saying anything at all. Until I asked April for her opinion. And she's not one to sugar-coat anything, even for me, so I'm pretty sure it's not just me.

This isn't going to be a post on plagiarism. We're all sick and tired of the subject, though it continues to run rampant. I'd never even really ever considered that I might one day become the victim of it. (Gawd, that sounds so cliché.) And maybe I'm still not...I don't know. My reviews are decent and well-worded, I guess, but never something I'd think someone else would want to copy. But reworking the paragraphs of my review and then using key phrases from it feels like I've had my review stolen from me. Two blatant attempts by the same person, someone I consider(ed) a friend...someone who's been friendly and asked for advice, someone I've freely given it to over the last couple of years. But who knows how many more reviews of mine she's perused while writing her own? I'm not one of those super-sleuths who's going to check all of this person's reviews against my own and call them out. That's not my style.

But neither is being walked on and not saying something. As I said, though, I'm not talking about plagiarism today. Because it's not just my reviews that have been borrowed...my newest and most favorite feature of ever has been copied with no credit given to me. So, no, this isn't just another post about plagiarism. No, this is more of a how could they post. I know this is wishful thinking, but I'm hoping that these people will see this post, realize that I know and knock it the fuck off.

I have a friend in a similar situation with her most beloved feature, and like me, she wants to avoid confrontation, so she's never said anything to the other blogger. But she knows this blogger knew of her feature prior to borrowing the idea for her own because that same blogger commented or tweeted about the awesomeness of the feature. But never did she ask if my friend minded if she borrow the idea but make it her own, still giving credit to my friend, which, of course, is the polite and proper way to go about this endeavor.

In my case, I can't prove that the blogger knew about my feature before starting hers, but I know she follows my blog and the wording of her intro leads me to believe that she did see mine first. I'm not saying my feature is wholly original -- the idea for it or the execution -- but I give due credit in my introduction to the post each and every time. And not only did this blogger basically copy my idea, she gave the feature the lamest title ever. And she's not even using it for its intended purpose half the time she posts it! What's even worse is that this blogger is a good friend of my friend whose feature was also copied. And I don't want drama, so I haven't said anything to either of them.

I know, I'm being intentionally vague, but like I said, no drama, no confrontation. Actually, I'm being very passive-aggressive with this post, but that is my style, unfortunately. I did ask April if I should say anything, and she thought this was the best approach, too. To vent but not create a feud with other bloggers.

I'm not vain enough to think that this is about me. I know better. But why, then? Why steal someone else's intellectual property and claim it as your own? Do you not have an original thought of your own? Seriously.

Okay, rant over. I'm turning it over to the voice of reason now. Er, I mean, April. Ha!

April's thoughts on the subject:

Well, I don't really know if I'm the voice of reason here but I do have a few things to say. It's obvious Jen is a little heated right now and she has every right to be. I've viewed the posts, and I've seen the feature. She is justified in feeling the way she does. Jen may be a close friend of mine, but if I thought she was overreacting, I would tell her. That's just how we roll. Honest all the way.

While you are all getting her rant at full blast, I've gotten tidbits of it over the past few months. It's been building up. It makes me so sad that she's going through all of this. One of the things that attracted me to Jen's blog in the first place was the way she writes. She may not see why anyone would want to copy her reviews, but I do. I wish I had thought of it first! J/k lol. She is way talented as a reviewer. It pains me to see her hard work ripped off.

I personally don't have as much experience with being stolen from. At least not my reviews. I have been copied on YouTube multiple times. There was an incident with my SIMS Trailer for Matched. A long time ago I had someone also make a trailer with the sims, and post it in my comments section to get views. I was more amused than upset because it was horribly made. And it had all of the same scenes, so it was obviously a rip off. And the person had the nerve to ask me in the comments to go check it out. Really?

Another instance, one that kinda made me mad, was my Fifty Shades of Grey Parody trailer. It was meant to be a joke, but it went viral. Shared on VH1's website even. As soon as it went viral, another animated parody showed up on YouTube with the same name. While it wasn't exactly the same, it was similar and it was purposely named the same so that it would show up next to mine and ride its popularity.

That is nothing compared having your words stolen from you, though. It's sad, but stuff like this happens every day. I don't understand either. Why do it? Just be original, and if not at least give credit where it's due. I don't have much else to say on the matter, other than it disgusts me. So I'll just leave you with some 311.

                              

Jen here again. Promise I'm done ranting. I just wanted April to know that the theft of her ideas is no less awful than the theft of my words. She's right, though. It's disgusting. Riding someone else's coattails is just beyond obnoxious. So don't do it! And those of you who've already done it:

Thank you.

Labels: discussion, i've got my ranty pants on, intellectual property, plagiarism