Warning: Copying of Our Articles

1. 60

   Pandoras Boxposted 15 years ago

   I knew this could happen, but was surprised by it this morning.
   
   I've been getting my hubpages accounts sorted out over the last week or so, and I moved some hubs from an old account I had here last year. Before anyone starts yelling about sockpuppets, I never came in the forums back then. I dunno, maybe I asked a technical question or two, but that would have been it at the most. I stopped using the account when my father died last year, cause I stopped everything then. The account focused on politics and I didn't want to get back into that stuff. Too time consuming and doesn't pay.
   
   Currently I do have a few accounts, which I am using for different niches. So I moved some old hubs from my old account which I thought might still be useful, and this morning I was submitting hubs to shetoldme. Much to my surprise another hub popped up as similar to what I'd submitted, and as I read through it I was shocked. I compared it to my own word for word, paragraph by paragraph, and I am now convinced that this person literally copied my hub, merely changing words around a bit.
   
   It was on hubpages. And it was done by a popular person here, too. Someone I liked.
   
   Now I should point out that I checked the comments to find out when, and it was published after my original one, which was under a name that would have been unfamiliar to her since I never came in the forums. And it was published before I switched it to my new account, a name which, for that matter, she wouldn't have recognized either since I've only posted in the forums a couple times under that ID.
   
   So it's not like she was stealing the hub from me. Still, be wary. Nothing you can do about it anyway I guess, but still it really annoys the hell out of me. What a low-life, mindless thing to do.
   
   I just feel better having said that, since there's nothing else I can do.

   replyreport
   1. 61

      Originposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I guess that's one of the unfortunate things of technology these days, it's so easy for a person to just copy and paste someone else's work.

      replyreport
   2. 64

      Daniel Carterposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Dear Favorite Sock Puppet,
      I really think you can claim plagiarism in this case. Changing sentences and words, but keeping overall structure is just too fishy. I would report her to Shetoldme, and to HP staff, and tell them what you found and that you believe it's clearly plagiarism. I think if you don't at least try to report this person, then they will continue to believe that they can do it to anyone else they want to. They need to be stopped.
      
      I think the thing I hate most about the internet is the utter lack of ethical behavior by people who in real life seem rather good for the most part. Thanks for the heads up.
      
      

      replyreport
      1. 60

         Pandoras Boxposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         I think you guys are right, I may have had a case, if I hadn't moved it to the new account. Now it just looks like I copied her. HP could probably check, I don't know if they keep records on deleted hubs and such. I'd feel kind of silly about approaching them about it without proof.
         
         I'm thinking of deleting it altogether now, because hers will show up on mine as related and vice versa, and anyone comparing the two will recognize that one of us copied the other. Since her's now looks like it was published first, anyone bothering to look would think I copied her, and I don't want people thinking that about me. I'm planning on being active here for a long time.
         
         But now going forward I'll bother to pay better attention to that sort of thing. Check the related hubs and that type of thing. I mean obviously alot of people will write on similar issues, that's normal, but this one was so thoroughly similarly written.
         
         I guess it just serves as more motivation to always make the very best hubs you can. There's a lot of competition out there, which is good, but not all of them are ethical.

         replyreport
         1. 64

            Daniel Carterposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            I'm pretty sure that you can prove it was in your other account. Just have HP check before you delete it or anything. It's worth the investigation. Besides, why enable this thief to continue doing to others what she's done to you?

            replyreport
   3. 61

      watchyaposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      How do you know is the person you think it is ?I can open a shetoldme as Pandoras'box, if you're not registered and do whatever I please. you should send an e-mail to the hubber you think stole your work and see what she have to say about it.

      replyreport
      1. 60

         Pandoras Boxposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         I followed the link to read the whole article. At first I didn't think anything of it, similar topics come up to everything you post there, but her title and lead in was so similar to mine. Then the rest of it was, too.
         
         Bummer.

         replyreport
   4. 67

      relacheposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Actually there is something you can do if someone here copies your work, and it's listed as part of the FAQ, plain as day.
      
      http://hubpages.com/faq/#copyright

      replyreport
2. 60

   TMMasonposted 15 years ago

   That sucks, Pandora.
   
   From what I been told. You should have plenty of recourse. Just complain to the other sites. hurmmm. Maybe it'll work. I don't think so, but maybe.

   replyreport
3. 69

   Pearldiverposted 15 years ago

   Of Course you can do something about it
   I suggest that you email that party and have them delete it immediately.  You have the copyright aspect in your favour.. so endorse it.. along with a written notification to HP which includes the copier's name.
   
   Stand your ground on this and don't be pushed around
   
   Good Luck.

   replyreport
   1. 60

      Pandoras Boxposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      The words have been changed around. Almost paragraph for paragraph, but different. Even the title is like that and the video postings. Almost identical, but somewhat changed around.
      
      Additionally, to make things worse, since I moved mine from my old political ranting account to a new account just like a week ago if that, it now looks like her's was published first. If I'd known her's was there I would have left mine in the old account and commented on her's something like "hey I published this hub months ago, and practically word for word..." Now it's too late for even that.
      
      Do you guys think putting copyright messages at the bottom of our hubs is a good idea or a bad idea? It might help some to prevent people from stealing your hubs so easily, but does it look bad to the prospective consumer?

      replyreport
      1. 58

         humagaiaposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         In the UK copyright is purely evidenced by it's existence. You would not have to make any statements, the copy is copyrighted automatically.
         Did you bookmark your version at the time, as some Hubbers have suggested in Hubs? Or did you create the Hub in Word first, in which case you would have a dated copy?
         You can obtain recompense for copyright infringement. If any money was made from the copying of your work then this is legally yours and you can also sue for compensation.
         This should be highlighted with HubPages management so that an investigation can be conducted. I don't know how long they keep back-up information but this could also give a timestamp for your original work.
         A salutory lesson to all infringers of copyright that you cannot hide on the Internet - you will be found out - eventually.

         replyreport
      2. 0

         SirDentposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         HP will have a record of when it was fisrt published even under a different handle. Stealing is stealing no matter what anyone else says about it. E-mail the HP team and let them sort it out.

         replyreport
4. 88

   rebekahELLEposted 15 years ago

   regardless if she knew who the author was, she stole it. I would send an email to her.
   
   I agree with Daniel.

   replyreport
5. 69

   Pearldiverposted 15 years ago

   It makes NO Difference what name or account that you had originally published under!  If this was done at HP.. then they have the details within the historical records that would show you to be the original author.
   
   If you wrote the original article in your own words that have since been manipulated.. then kick that party's butt and have them remove the duplicate.
   
   And Yes...you should list a copyright notice under every hub that you publish.

   replyreport
6. 60

   TMMasonposted 15 years ago

   So to clearify.
   
   Your work was stolen by someone here... and posted in another site?
   
   Not here?
   
   So you have to get hubpages to argue it with the other site also?
   
   And yes they should have it recorded... nothing ever disappears from the web. It will be there somewhere.

   replyreport
   1. 60

      Pandoras Boxposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      No they were both published here. Stupid, I know, but paragraph for paragraph it's mine.

      replyreport
      1. 60

         TMMasonposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         Yeah hub-pages should definitely be able to handle it then. And tell who the original creator was.... shouldn't be hard for them.
         
         I would complain... definitly.
         
         It shouldn't matter what you deleted, even the acount, they have it on record somewhere. They can find it. You should be fine Pan. Good luck.

         replyreport
7. 60

   Pandoras Boxposted 15 years ago

   Alright. I'm gonna go see if I did delete it. I had one hub left in that account that was still getting alot of daily views, but it was political and couldn't last much longer so I left it there. Therefore I didn't close the account. I'm gonna go see it I deleted the hub in question or just unpublished it. Then I'll prepare an email.
   
   I think maybe I'll also check into her other hubs and related ones to see if she's making a habit out of it. Seems kind of stupid to steal a hub from hubpages and republish it on the same site. Then again, though I did like this person, I never thought she was all that bright.
   
   I'm gonna let this thread die now, cause I feel kind of bad causing the speculation, but of course don't feel right revealing the name to clear the many innocent either. I'll just say that I don't think most people would have thought it possible in this person, so anyone you think it may be, it probably isn't.
   
   Plus I don't want to give other less than ethical people any ideas, lol.
   
   Thanks for the advice and encouragement (and for just letting me rant). Frankly you're right. If there's anything I can do about it I should, because we all have an interest in maintaining hubpages' good reputation.

   replyreport
8. 88

   rebekahELLEposted 15 years ago

   if she stole from you, I'm sure there are others. just because she's writing on HP doesn't mean she's playing by the rules. if it's yours, speak up.
   
   this happened to me recently, although he posted them on another site with his name as author. I left a comment and he removed them immediately and wrote me a letter of apology. then I went into each of my hubs and put a copyright with my name.

   replyreport
9. 76

   IzzyMposted 15 years ago

   I've only just come across this thread. What you are saying Pandora is that your article was spun, I think. And not spun all that well by the sound of it as the paragraphs are too similar to the originals.
   
   Email Hubpages giving them the details and let them sort it out. I've seen many hubbers on here plagiarise from the internet, and I've seen a few (usually new users that don't use the forums) try copying another hubbers work.
   
   What makes this different is that it is my understanding that this person uses the forums, and should KNOW that what she has done is wrong. Who else has she done it to? If she got away with it once, who is to say she hasn't done it again...or will continue to do it?
   
   I'm damned sure I'd be very upset if someone spun a hub that I've put hours of research into, even more so if it was a fellow hubber.
   
   Report her. Hubpages keeps records.

   replyreport
   1. 60

      TMMasonposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I thought hubs would stop a similair posts automatically?
      
      Is it that easy to trick it?

      replyreport
      1. 76

         IzzyMposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         They do usually TM. I believe their filters pick that up. But just occasionally one or two slip through. That is another thing that is so handy about the Hub Hopping tool, we can all spare a few minutes a day to look through them, and maybe catch a copied hub that got missed.

         replyreport
         1. 60

            TMMasonposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            I hear you. If everyone polices it I don't think anyone will want to be caught doing it. 
            
            Would be a shameful thing to be called out for.

            replyreport
            1. 0

               TheSablirabposted 15 years agoin reply to this

               I remember someone leaving a comment on one of my Hubs, when I first started on this site, and denying their comment because I didn't like it at the time (although, the comment was tame, I just didn't like it, lol). I checked their page, seeing they were new, yet on of their Hubs seemed very similar to one of mine. I can't recall who that person is and I so regret not paying attention to their name just so I can look them up again.
               
               I feel ya. It sucks big time!

               replyreport
10. 77

    AEvansposted 15 years ago

    HP doesn't take these things lightly e-mail team@hubpages.com explain the situation to them and they will take care of it.

    replyreport
    1. 0

       TheSablirabposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       I should have done that. I don't even think it crossed my mind at the time to do so.

       replyreport