This is an old subject but it seems to need revisiting every few months so here it is again. Please take a moment and read it.
Let me preface this blog by saying I have no wish to perform the Labours of Sisyphus attempting to police postings on Active Rain. That said however, as a writer, I am forced to make a plea for giving credit where credit is due. Every writer is entitled to copyright on her/his material and the right to control when and where it is used as well as getting proper credit for said works. Many people assume that just because something is posted on the Internet if is free to all. They assume they can just "cut and paste" and then put it in their own blog without even taking the time or courtesy of stating where they got the material.
This is unfair for a number of reasons:
1) It is illegal as most material on the Internet is copyrighted and should not be used without the express permission of the author.
2) Active Rain ask each and every time you post if this is original material or if not do you have permission to use it. That's right its the final button you have to click before you post. So if you cut and paste and then click this button you are be less than truthful if it is not yours or you do not have permission to use it. There is a box to check if you have permission to use copyrighted and in addition the pop-up box plainly ask the following: "Please confirm that this entry does not contain copyrighted material. Posting copyrighted material without permission WILL result in being removed from Active Rain. Post entry?"
It is usually considered acceptable to quote short pieces from someone's article- two or three sentences-as long as you cite the source by giving the author's name and the publication as well as the date and and other information that would allow anyone to look up the original article. The key here is citing the source; that way it does not appear as if you are attempting to pass it off as you own.
3) It undermines our professionalism and creditability. There is plenty to say without ripping off other people. How would you feel if you discovered that someone was taking your original writing and doing a cut and paste without giving you proper credit or asking your permission.
Even if the material is obviously meant for public domain have the courtesy of citing the original source if possible or at least where you found it. That way you are not implying that it is your writing.
I am posting this on some of the groups I am most active with here in the Rain. Please let this serve as notice for the Group about absolutely nothing . If you post non-original material and fail to give credit for it you will be warned and then if you fail to correct it by citing the source, your post will be removed.
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