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Please Be Careful About Claims of Plagiarism

Blog Posted:1/21/2016 5:47:00 PM

Poets, be VERY, VERY careful about saying that someone has plagiarized. Remember, many poets post on various websites under different pen names. Do not EVER say someone has plagiarized on a PoetrySoup blog or comment. If you are concerned about this problem, please REPORT the poem using the Report Poem feature and reference the original poem. We will help anyone who is falsely accused of plagiarism publically in pursuing damages. You have been warned. Let us address it.

Identifying a famous poem that's been plagiarized is obvious. That's not what we are referring to. We are referring to non-famous poems on other websites by poets with a different pen name.

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Nette
Onclaud

Date: 1/23/2016 6:58:00 PM

my friend suggested this service called 'copyscape' at www.copyscape.com though there is a fee involved...

James
Fraser

Date: 1/23/2016 1:48:00 PM

All you really need to know is via this link http://www.checkforplagiarism.net/plagiarism-law

Skat
A

Date: 1/22/2016 7:07:00 PM

thank you TPS for taking care of one of the accounts I reported this morning. That was awesome. SKAT

Skat A
Date: 1/22/2016 8:08:00 PM

The Report Button Works after all... Cheers. SK

Judy
Konos

Date: 1/22/2016 4:48:00 PM

Vee
Bdosa

Date: 1/22/2016 4:26:00 PM

I have had a few poems plagerized, not on Soup though. About 7 I think, and someone else always told me the who's and where's. All of them teen girls and I quickly and politely stopped them, they all apologized. All of them.

Andrew
Crisci

Date: 1/22/2016 1:44:00 PM

I have had some poems published in the USA and UK without my permission. My poem Animation Halloween Night ( The Witch's Chase ) has been published both by Jihyo Eom & Behance on YouTube. I doubt if they had contacted Poetry Soup for permission. What should I do? I need your advice. Thanks,Team Poetry Soup.

Skat
A

Date: 1/22/2016 12:45:00 PM

It would be nice if we had a free plagiarism checker on this site in the future. :)

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 1/22/2016 1:25:00 PM

This being said, a free plagiarism detector is (obviously) not fail-proof. Still, it is better than nothing. The fact is that one poet seems to have been systematically entering fully plagiarized poems into contests.. not one contest... two contests... the poet was probably going to do it again and again.

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 1/22/2016 1:22:00 PM

What is ridiculous is that I fairly sure that 99.9999999 % of poems on Soup are plagiarism-free... but that tiny, almost microscopic percentage could add a big butt fly in the contest ointment.

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 1/22/2016 1:20:00 PM

Numbnut! (said like my dad said to me) :DDDD Ruben, we gotta start somewhere, right? If at least we can somewhat ensure that the poem was ACTUALLY written by the poet, seems to me the very least we can do before we begin giving out medals ;)

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 1/22/2016 1:17:00 PM

LOL@ Ruben!

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 1/22/2016 1:16:00 PM

I need to ensure an even playing field... it is unbelievably sad to me that this is required. I want my hardworking contestants to know... I am looking out for them, ensuring that wins are valid. SHEESH!

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 1/22/2016 1:12:00 PM

How fair is it to the other contestants if some sneak is peppering his or her poetry with incredibly moving lines stolen from the crème de la crème? A judge choses winners based on many factors. I will be running every entry against those OFF SITE detectors, from now on!

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 1/22/2016 1:10:00 PM

I have no idea, SKAT, of what is entailed to add a link (since the site is free) on PM members "Contest Administration Main Page" errrr, maybe RIGHT UNDER the "What to Remember about hosting a contest." Contests are really where it becomes our responsibility to ensure that another member has not committed plagiarism.

Skat
A

Date: 1/22/2016 12:35:00 PM

Dear, TPS, isn't there anyway, your system can filter or find plagiarized poems as soon as the poet submits the poem? Is it impossible because of all the accounts someone might have with other poetry sites? Tps, you mentioned above, ""the report"" button. Does this mean you will monitor and investigate the accounts reported? I would appreciate if you look into some of the new accounts. I also noticed you have lots of pointless accounts. with Entries that read nothing more than 5 letters. Example title ---> jfjgh fghfghghfgh..... <--- not even a poem. The account's not even active. Isn't this a real poetry site? All of a sudden it feels like a fools poetry site. Where anyone can post one or three lines and never come back. Plagiarism is a big deal, however, this is the internet, it's always gonna happen. This is your site, I'm glad you are trying to work it out right now. You should also consider adding rules for the new poets. If they make accounts on here, they have to try to, at least, be active. What is the meaning, of posting one day and never coming back? Thank you. SKAT

Team Poetrysoup
Date: 1/22/2016 12:40:00 PM

No, that's not possible. Determining plagiarism is usually a process.

Tim
Smith

Date: 1/22/2016 10:25:00 AM

I have one of my poems used in an advertisement to sell Chia Cinnamon Crunch http://betsysbest.com/blogs/blog/17158076-my-chia-cinnamon-crunch ...I never gave permission...parts were rewritten since my poem Help http://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/help_606000 was about a candy bar. I think TPS should look into poems stolen from their international website that are used for profit.

Tim Smith
Date: 1/22/2016 2:39:00 PM

That does bite Cyndi. I might have one of my lawyer friends write her a "nice" letter. I wonder what the going rate is for an ad "slogan".

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 1/22/2016 1:28:00 PM

That totally SUCKS, Tim. Let's hope that Betsy Best accuses YOU of plagiarism and then TPS will help defend you, and thereby you could prove who was zooming who... (hit me on the back of the head, Tim. ) Still, I am angry FOR you...

Team Poetrysoup
Date: 1/22/2016 12:42:00 PM

Looking into plagiarised poems is the responsibility of the poet. If someone is using your poetry in advertising without permission I would say...cha ching! They owe you money.

Cyndi
Macmillan

Date: 1/22/2016 8:59:00 AM

Ruben this out, from Wikipedia. This is an example of how laws differ, even between the provinces of MY country: In Quebec, defamation was originally grounded in the law inherited from France. To establish civil liability for defamation, the plaintiff must establish, on a balance of probabilities, the existence of an injury (fault), a wrongful act (damage), and of a causal connection (link of causality) between the two. A person who has made defamatory remarks will not necessarily be civilly liable for them. The plaintiff must further demonstrate that the person who made the remarks committed a wrongful act. Defamation in Quebec is governed by a reasonableness standard, as opposed to strict liability; a defendant who made a false statement would not be held liable if it was reasonable to believe the statement was true." So, how this would come into play if someone TRULY felt plagiarism had occurred...hmmm...

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 1/22/2016 9:10:00 AM

If the exact same poem were to appear multiple times on the internet but under different names, I do believe that it would be "reasonable" to assume that someone has "borrowed" the poem. It would be more probable, than possible... Just showing how this may play out, in reality.

Cyndi
Macmillan

Date: 1/22/2016 8:00:00 AM

For Forget Me Not: Stephen King says, "Bachman had become a kind of id for me; he said the things I couldn't, and the thought of him out there on his New Hampshire dairy farm - not a best-selling writer who gets his name in some stupid Forbes list of entertainers too rich for their own good, of his face on the Today show or doing cameos in movies - quietly writing his books, gave him leave to think in ways I could not think and speak in ways I could not speak." In other words, OPPOSING STYLES. If we see multiple postings of one particular poem all around the net under different names, which of course is totally the author's right, we can only GUESS at the reasons the writer felt compelled to do this. ;) Me? I won't guess ... though I have several theories.

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 1/22/2016 8:25:00 AM

Then, the responses from TPS should have let the 'aggrieved parties' know that plagiarism does, in fact, happen here on Soup, TPS will take care of the plagiarism by removing membership and that when plagiarism happens on Soup, members will not be informed due to privacy issues.

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 1/22/2016 8:24:00 AM

Still, Ruben? If there were one or two people who put in a complaint about my blog (Gee, d'oh, I wonder who that would have been?)

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 1/22/2016 8:18:00 AM

Well, we agree. LOL. It is a problem! Sorry, I slept well last night. Brain is working. Wait a day. It will turn off, again, and I can go into dum-dum mode.

Charmaine
Chircop

Date: 1/21/2016 11:40:00 PM

Last time I googled.my name Charmaine Chircop poet and found poems from mine that I posted here on an f.b page of a woman Her user name Poetry On Demand. She never asked my permissiion...and just got them from here and posted them on her page.She even asks for a small fee for giving out poetry.Its not your fault tps...It is hers.I know you cant do anything about that..But it really sucks when people just use your poetry without asking,again Im not referring to you as Tps. If I wanted I would have confronted her,but I let it be...Tnks for your blog.

Tim Smith
Date: 1/22/2016 4:03:00 PM

I know how you feel. Same has happened to me. Once someone asked to use my poem Beauty Inside for a presentation. I happily ageed to let her.

Charmaine Chircop
Date: 1/22/2016 3:34:00 PM

Its not about compensation.My poetry isnt good enough to make me rich : ) lol,I dnt want compensation..I just dnt like the fact that someone I dnt even know will just copy about half a dozen of my poems to their fb page and be rude enough not to ask permission.. Anyways..nw it happened .I just keep my eyes open in the future.: )

Tim Smith
Date: 1/22/2016 10:29:00 AM

Glad they mentioned you Charmaine but if they are profiting from the use of your poetry you should be entitled to some sort of monetary compensation. I don't mind my poems used for teaching or even personal use but when someone is profiting off one it does get me upset.

Charmaine Chircop
Date: 1/22/2016 7:27:00 AM

This person did add my name ..But She posted five poems ..one after another..even the one dedicated to my daughter Christina...She didnt erase any lines or add to my poetry..She just copied them on her fb. Page. There is my name on thecpoems ..but .all I wanted was for her to ask ..to ask permission.....and especially if She have in mind to try make any profit of poems that are. not her's .I find it very rude..but anyways .Let bygones be bygones....: )

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 1/22/2016 5:41:00 AM

My work has been used by students, which does not bother me. But someone ELSE profiting from my poems without my permission? I'd be hammering on some doors... grrrr....

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 1/22/2016 5:41:00 AM

I hear you, Charmaine. Though there is a copyright placed on every poem posted on Soup (though the current year setup is scary and does not reflect when the poem was 'actually' penned,) publishing or posting anything on the internet can and often does lead to works being fully 'pirated.'

Cyndi
Macmillan

Date: 1/21/2016 8:20:00 PM

I love what technology does. The ease of obtaining information. Now, there is an immediacy to media which we did not have, not even twenty years ago. But, at the same time, there is so much STUFF out there, and I can see how facts may become blurred. Still, I do wonder, the wording you have used, that you would help anyone who is falsely accused... and though I understand the legal reasoning behind that statement... I wonder, would you help a souper pursue damages against another souper, should plagiarism be proved? Costly, that...

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 1/22/2016 5:34:00 AM

I will write poetry today and tomorrow and the days after that, as long as I have a brain that remembers and a heart that beats. But I am capable of writing more than poetry in the process. Cheers. Welcome to Soup.

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 1/22/2016 5:31:00 AM

Seeker. Should you be interested in reading my most current work, it has been published on the online journal, Ekphrastic: writing on art and art on writing. arhttp://www.ekphrastic.net/apps/search?q=Cyndi+MacMillan. I am currently working on my next submission package for another Canadian journal, and I'm waiting to hear back from six others...

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 1/22/2016 5:24:00 AM

Seeker.. I tell you this because I see that you are a new member. You have only been here one month, so you do not know me and I do not know you. Unless, of course, you are a former member who has reopened your account with a new name. Which is possible and totally allowed, and should even be encouraged, depending on the circumstances.

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 1/22/2016 5:19:00 AM

Seeker? I DO write poetry. And I submit that poetry to journals. And I have been paid for my poetry, and I am working on a poetry manuscript. In Canada, that means they should not be deemed as published, self or otherwise. I have been a Soup member since 2011, and I'm currently a lifetime member, because I believe in the community.

Cyndi
Macmillan

Date: 1/21/2016 8:01:00 PM

Ah. I get it. Soupers post a poem, here, under one name & then they post the same poem at another poetry site. A souper chances upon the poem off Soup, & tada, the assumption is that the poem has been plagiarized, when, in fact, it was simply reposted under a pseudonym. Yes, I can see that getting legally messy (even if the intention was to warn the souper that one of their poems was being used without permission.) I take plagiarism seriously, as I know you do, TPS, or it would not be included in your terms and conditions. It's a code of honour thing for most poets and writers. It's like seeing someone break into your NEIGHBOUR'S Home... & doing nothing. I will respect your request..

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 1/21/2016 8:04:00 PM

... with the hope you respect that I feel that intellectual property should never be compromised, whether the writer is just a person enjoying self-expression, an established poet or a long dead artist. It is wrong to steal art. But, I know it is done, everyday... sadly.

John
Lawless

Date: 1/21/2016 6:33:00 PM

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!!Somehow I missed that one in my "management seminar"

Team Poetrysoup
Date: 1/21/2016 6:53:00 PM

It is for the protection of the person making the claim. They can be sued if publically making wrong claims.

Cyndi
Macmillan

Date: 1/21/2016 6:14:00 PM

Thanks for helping, TPS. The poem has disappeared from my contest. I don't think, however, that Edna St Vincent Millay is posting poetry anywhere. Neither is Carl Sandburg. But I would love to thank Mr. Sandburg for "Poetry is the synthesis of hyacinths and biscuits," one of the most beautiful and unique descriptions of poetry I have ever heard. I will next time allow you to address "it," plagiarism. May I suggest that we add a plagiarism detector to the site, or perhaps somehow include one on the contest management page? Some may find it handy.

Team Poetrysoup
Date: 1/21/2016 6:51:00 PM

Identifying a famous poem that's been plagiarized is obvious. That's not what we are referring to.

Team Poetrysoup
Date: 1/21/2016 6:25:00 PM

There are many free plagiarism checkers on the web. http://smallseotools.com/plagiarism-checker/

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