Writers Can Also Get “Copy-Pasted” Like NFT Artists
But we can recognize our arts.
When I was a digital artist back in the Deviantart days, when Patreon wasn’t around yet, there were issues about copying and pasting and then posting elsewhere without crediting.
Artists can recognize their own arts, even when they're somewhat ‘rebranded’. Different artists have their own styles. In my experience, I can tell my art is traced to another piece when I recognize the anatomy and colourings of my own styles.
It’s sad, but it happens.
The community back then were very nice though, we would remind each other to credit the artists. Even my followers would gladly remind other artists when they recognize that it was my art, so it was really nice of them.
To solve this, what we did was put watermarks on our arts and placed a disclaimer of NO COPYING or CREDIT ME. It probably won’t solve everything, but at least it would reduce the art-theft and encourage artists to search for originality.
Copy-pastes happen
Some of us may have done this before for our work. Copy and pasting are not exactly uncommon too.
When something works, we tend to copy it. It’s not easy to find new ideas, musicians know this and they face legal courts for it. Ed Sheeran was recently sued for a song that he unintentionally copied, thankfully, he won the court case.
When I listened to Maroon 5’s song, Memories, there was a hunch in me that I knew this melody. It took me a while to realize that the tune was similar to the classic song Canon in D.
I was wondering if someone would sue them since that too is in a way, copying. Critics were even pointing out the similarities between the song and Canon in D.
I don’t really understand how the laws in music work, but seeing how positive the responses were about how the song talks about past friendships, perhaps it’s why we decided to let it go. Plus, Adam made the lyrics himself and the tunes were not 100% copied. He didn’t look like he copied it intentionally.
Some of us would put the effort into making it as original as possible, and I really appreciate it when they try to be honest.
Artists recognize their prints.
You know how NFT artists were so mad that their arts were being right-clicked and saved, and then posted elsewhere?
Writers get those too.
Except that they were paraphrased with little to no effort or translated to another language so that the original authors won’t recognize them. And then, got no credits at all, claiming that it's their ideas.
It’s kind of upsetting, to be honest.
I recently found out one of my articles was being plagiarized and translated into another language, and then posted elsewhere. My words were also barely paraphrased.
That’s nearly every writers’ problem too. We get copied and pasted like NFT artist victims of right-clicking and saved and then posted elsewhere.
Now before you call me a whiner….
I know, I know.
Finding ideas is hard, and we too sometimes copy. I won’t deny that, though I still try to be as honest and original as possible when I write. And when I do find ideas from other authors, I always remember to credit the authors.
Writing takes a lot of effort too. Brainstorming ideas takes a while, it can even be days for some of us, writing the introduction may also be iffy, and structuring it also takes a lot of time. Not to mention, the words we must pick as well.
If writing articles takes a lot of effort, imagine what it’s like for novelists or book authors.
I read that JRR Tolkien nearly did not publish his Lord of the Rings books thinking that it sucked. If it weren’t for CS Lewis who encouraged him to finish it, we would never get Lord of the Rings.
CS Lewis himself threw his first draft of The Chronicles of Narnia when JRR Tolkien criticized it too much. If it weren’t for his other friend, Roger Lancelin, who said he wanted to read it, Lewis would probably not dig into the trash again to recover it.
And there are probably more authors out there who are struggling to write their first chapter of books. I wonder what GRR Martin is feeling right now as he’s pressured to finish Winds of Winter and trying to make it as original as possible.
But it’s all the more reason that these kinds of things are hard to copy.
Copying may still happen
When I say copying may still happen, that doesn’t mean that I’m encouraging this behaviour. According to this platform itself, plagiarizing is illegal.
Most of us writers can’t keep track of how many people have posted our articles elsewhere and not credited us. Heck, maybe my articles could be on a Chinese website somewhere, and I won’t know about it.
I’ve called out people before for not crediting me, and it’s hard for me to keep up.
So, what’s the plan?
Okay, here’s what I can say.
PLEASE DON’T STEAL OUR ARTICLES.
Most writers and bloggers are upset when their hard work is posted elsewhere with no credits. Heck, some don’t even want them posted elsewhere even if you credit them unless you ask permission.
This platform has strict policies on plagiarism, please respect them. I’m certain other writing platforms would have the same policies too.
Write your own articles.
