Stolen intellectual material

1. 60

   Dubuquedogtrainerposted 11 years ago

   Have you ever answered a question with a post or a hub and then had your content and ideas in those answers and hubs lifted by the person who posted the question to write their own hub? If so, how did you handle it? I think it is unethical at best, illegal at worst. It should be against HubPages rules.

   replyreport
   1. 0

      calculus-geometryposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      That's actually why I avoid giving long detailed responses to any questions here.  It's just too easy for someone to use my answer to draft an outline for their own hub.  If I have the urge to give a really thorough answer, I prefer to write my own hub in response.  It's nice because it gives you a link back to your hub.
      
      I agree that it is a dodgy thing to do, but how unethical it is depends on how original your answer was.  Were you including your own original research in your response, or giving out advice that was given to you from another source.  It's hard to assign ownership to ideas.  If you were passing along information that can be found elsewhere, I don't think it will do a lot of good to report it since you can't really prove that the other person stole the idea  from you. They could always claim that they did their own independent research. (Which who knows, maybe they did.)
      
      Sorry

      replyreport
      1. 60

         Dubuquedogtrainerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Their research consisted of reading and responding to my hubs until they were halfway convinced that what I had to say might carry some validity. They even copied one of my public domain photos and my layout. The ideas were gleaned from my answers and hubs. My ideas come from my work as a full time credentialed professional in the field and the hubs were a blend of current research, my own research, expert consensus and my own extrapolations and ideas on the subject.

         replyreport
         1. 0

            calculus-geometryposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            You should definitely report the person if they're doing it so blatantly.  While it's not against the rules for people to write on the same topics, it seems the other person is just piggybacking off of your articles.  Not cool.

            replyreport
            1. 60

               Dubuquedogtrainerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               I agree and I did report it. We'll see if HP sees it the same way I do. Quite rude and unethical in my opinion.

               replyreport
               1. 59

                  JessMcCrayposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  Very rude and unethical but if you want something to be happy about its a compliment- I'm not excusing the behavior and I hope hubpages does something about it

                  replyreport
2. 80

   Aficionadaposted 11 years ago

   Dubu, I think the following post from a long-ago thread may help answer your question:
   
   http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/72331#post1572947
   
   Incidentally, this (current) thread of yours seems to provide more details about the problem than the other one does.  Here, IMO, there's a stronger indication of why the "copying" is a problem.

   replyreport
   1. 60

      Dubuquedogtrainerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you.

      replyreport
3. 55

   janderson99posted 11 years ago

   Ideas are not copyright.
   
   This article provides an interesting insight into copyright and what you can do.
   
   http://www.allamericanblogger.com/21327 … zed-video/

   replyreport
   1. 80

      Aficionadaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      The ideas are not.  But there is also a standard of "substantial similarity" or "probative similarity" which may apply in this case. Check the post I linked, and follow the other links as you come to them.  In my opinion, Dubuque-- has a genuine cause for concern.

      replyreport
      1. 55

         janderson99posted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Ecclesiastes 1:9. New International Version (NIV). 9 What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
         
         If you publish an idea, and the sun shines on it, anyone can use it.
         Just Google the Internet.
         
         You can't patent an idea either.

         replyreport
      2. 60

         Dubuquedogtrainerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Thank you Aficionada.

         replyreport
4. 80

   Aficionadaposted 11 years ago

   Addendum:  your link is very helpful and informative, janderson.  It draws an important distinction between copyright violation and plagiarism of other types.
   
   In Dubuque's case, the offending Hub may not actually violate copyright laws, but it does appear definitely to violate HubPages' terms of service.

   replyreport
5. 80

   Aficionadaposted 11 years ago

   You can patent an idea?

   replyreport
6. 80

   Aficionadaposted 11 years ago

   You are welcome. I do hope you get it sorted out.  I know you've said that you've contacted the staff -- have you also flagged the offending Hub(s)? I think those methods of communication (e-mail contact and flagging) follow different paths, and I don't know which would be more effective.  In flagging, it may help to provide a link to the Hub or Answer that has been plagiarized, and it may (underscore may) also help to use the exact expression "substantial similarity" when you report it.

   replyreport
   1. 60

      Dubuquedogtrainerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you. Yes, both.

      replyreport
7. 0

   paxwillposted 11 years ago

   Hopefully the person who has been using your hubs for "inspiration" will see this thread and cool their heels.  If HP staff doesn't view the other person's activity as a violation, you could just start publishing dog training and health articles under another account.  I also hope you get it all sorted out.

   replyreport
   1. 60

      Dubuquedogtrainerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you, Paxwill.

      replyreport