Credit, A Question

[Mac2]

If one "lifts" a post from another board and puts it on this board, shouldn't the originator of the post be credited with providing the information?, or is that just a moot point...... I realize once posted, the info provided is up for grabs, that is to say there is no copyright, but I am simply admitting it does bother me somewhat when it occurs. Thanks, MUDDY.

[Ebbetsguy]

Removed until I hear from PM, this should have gone that way. I am trying fellas, really trying to stay out of the mix. Thanks BB

[BigBassin144]

Now, I may not be right on this, but I think Mac2 remembers that you had called people out on this before. I don't think he is accusing you, but actually thanking you for calling people out on it. (But again, I could be wrong)

Back to the original question. If you "lift" a post from another site that is not yours and don't say it isn't yours, it is plagiarism. But I'm talking about copying and pasting someone else's writings word for word, or changing a few words.

BB

[Ebbetsguy]

Got you , if that is the case I have misread this then I apologize, good point, I am taking that post down and will take care of this via PM. I thank you BB

[HarveysMinnow]

I don't know about the 'legality' of this, but it seems to me that anything posted here, or on any other Internet forum, becomes a part of the "public domain". After all, this forum has no restrictions on who reads these posts, and I don't know if other forums do or not.

However, as a matter of courtesy or 'common decency', it would be a nice gesture to at least put quotes around something you are lifting from another forum and posting here, or vice-versa. There is also some responsibility for the original poster, i.e. I personally would not post anything here or anywhere on the Internet that I felt I or someone else had copyrights on.

Perhaps we have forum member(s) who are attorneys who could clarify the legal issues, if there are any.


.

[nofearengineer]

Generally speaking, the person who posts to a forum such as this is the "copyright owner". I say this in quotes, because the copyright owner has also sort of thrown his creation out there for everyone to see. It's not exactly public domain, but in the practical world, it's pretty close. And exactly how valuable, in a real property sense, is a bass fishing website post?

Heck, every time one of us posts a picture of a lure, reel, etc. without a citation of where it came from, technically, we're infringing a copyright. I'm going to take of my strict conservative hat for a second and say "who cares?" Nobody is hurt by me posting a picture of an Ardent Fishouflage reel, are they?

However, in that case, I don't think anyone believed I took the picture, or that it was my reel. While someone might not be "hurt" by lifting a post from another website or forum, if you try to pass it off as your own work, yes, that is plagiarism, and should be frowned on at the very least.

Bottom line, though I think it is a bit silly to worry about it, if you step on someone else's toes, you're on your own. It's really sort of a "fair use" policy...keep it fair and don't abuse it.

[plugsandaxes]

Anyone that worries about someone "lifting" a post and being credited with it simply has too much time on their hands, sorry to say. It's a forum.

[1/4 stick]

From the way I've understood it and been told through my reseach for my websites. Anything a person posts on a forum or anywhere else is automaticly covered by copyright. There is no public domain on anything anyone puts into text and posts to the net unless that person expressly says anyone can use it. However, on forum posts, it's one of those things that has a lot of grey area. ©


Here's a couple links.
http://www.free-legal-document.com/c...-internet.html

http://mason.gmu.edu/~montecin/copyright-internet.htm

[Bassboss]

Originally Posted by plugsandaxes

Anyone that worries about someone "lifting" a post and being credited with it simply has too much time on their hands, sorry to say. It's a forum.

Could not agree more!

[BigBassin144]

Originally Posted by plugsandaxes

Anyone that worries about someone "lifting" a post and being credited with it simply has too much time on their hands, sorry to say. It's a forum.

I have to disagree with you on this one. While I'm not going to spend time searching out people who are plagiarizing other's information, it should be and normally is frowned upon.

People who steal others works, yes it is stealing, are pathetic. For one thing, it shows that that person is not capable of expressing their own knowledge on a subject, if they even have any knowledge on that subject.

It poses a couple problems on a forum as well. For one thing, new people who don't know your degree of expertise in something, will think you know a lot more than you really do if you steal others' work and pass it off as your own. This will inevitably lead to them listening to you when you give bad advice or false information.

Think of it from the point of view of the original writer of say a fishing article. Personally, I know I'd be mad if someone plagiarized one of the articles I've written. Wouldn't you? You wouldn't copy an article out of Bass Master Magazine and put it up on your website or blog would you? So why is ok to do just because it's on a fishing forum?

Lastly, like others have said, when you post something on a forum, it is copyrighted. Aside from legality, theft and plagiarism is morally wrong. So unless you have no morals, I'd love to hear you how justify plagiarism other than "It's a forum."

BB

[bcklash]

Mountian


molehill

[1/4 stick]

I feel guilty now. Fellas, I must confess. Some of you have posted jokes, and funny odd ball lists. I have on. occasion, c&p'ed them to other non-fishing related forums, and emails. (this is the only fishing forum I got to) Please forgive me my sins.

That said, I agree with BB. And ad to it that it also causes bad and false info to spread. Because they will copy and paste it, and others will... etc.. etc... and soon you have thousands of misinformed people trying to texas rig crankbaits or something.