So recently I've seen a lot of similar sites (that aren't HP or LOR). Some had the same ideas, similar ideas, or totally copied word for word, and it got me thinking... What do people consider to be copying or plagiarism? Please let me know what you think.

Btw I meant that, as a rarely used genre in RPing, so not like Vampires, or the Stand stories.

Can't say I'm overly bothered by the idea of someone copying my ideas/work. I'm putting a heck of a lot of work into my new RP and if someone stole all that exactly I know I'd be annoyed for a bit but in the end it all comes down to the fact that I'm willing to do a pissload of work for my RP and they aren't so their RP is going to fail while mine thrives.

Thats a really good point.

Last option. Sad, insulting yet true. Nothing anyone can do about it.

x.x sad.

Word-for-word, I'd get annoyed. There's something about knowing I sat at the computer, hammering out a million wrong words to find the right ones, for someone to ctrl-c it that really bothers me.

The same ideas, fine. as said above, this IS the internet and there aren't a whole heap of original ideas about anymore. I have a HP RPG set in Australia, and I encourage anyone to make their own. We're one of four that I *know* of.

In fact, the admin of an old one I once loved muchly has referred people on... it's kinda nice.

But word-for-word, then I draw the line and ask for credit.

Actually, with RPGs there are several things you can do, burburza. I'd only suggest this for sites where things are copied with identical words. First, contact them on their shoutbox and ask them to remove the ripped material. Then, contact their host with screenshots (showing dates) with the material on your own site. Next, you can report them to ShinLi if they advertise here, and also include those screenshots. Contact their other affiliates as well, because often sites will back out of affiliating with them, including if they have other ad sites listed.

See with the idea thing, I think it all depends. When it comes to HP, there are so many I don't think taking regular ideas matters that much, but I still feel that the site should give some sort of credit to the one they took the idea from. I dunno like 'inspiration' credit?
Again, depends on the situation. For example, with my site, the entire plot and idea is original written by my co-admin and I. Basically Prince Arthur never dies like he did in history, but becomes king of England, thus Henry VIII never becomes King.(there's much more to the plot). If someone took that idea from us, (and it was obvious) I'd be really angry. I probably would have helped the person if they asked to find a similar but different plot... I dunno I'd just be upset.

It's definitely a very slippery slope, because everyone has a different idea of what plagiarism entails. I think I'm a middle of the road kind of guy; if a few things here or there are similar, it's not a huge deal. After all, it's hard (if not damn near impossible) to be original. But I'd start feeling uneasy if the "similarities" were frequent and great.

The last poll option got me to thinking, and it's really very true. However there is at least a rudimentary way to secure your stuff, and that's simply putting the copyright symbol followed by your name (or moniker) and then the year. If you really want to protect it, putting your first and last name is best, but that's always tricky on the internet. I do it with my artwork, but for my boards I just put my initials. So it'd be like "©SKS, 2008."

This isn't exactly legally binding, but it does have more weight than just saying "This is my stuff." The copyright symbol is a legal symbol, so it might help a little, or just scare copiers off. To actually copyright something you have to send it somewhere and pay some money. Actually, according to one website I read about copyrighting, putting stuff online for the world to see is in and of itself a form of copyright. But putting the © symbol can certainly help.

At the same time, this only really works for original boards. I use it at AirBorne, but don't bother with Fiddler's Green, which is based on Pirates of the Caribbean. You can't say a plot for a Harry Potter board belongs to you because it involves other characters, ideas, even words that belong to someone else.

This page is where I got a lot of my copyright information. It's focused on art, but there's also mention of written work and webpages. It's also an easy to read explanation. Helped me a lot.

I think that copying can be based on a couple of things... you can’t put a copyright© on a Fantasy RP for example. If i make a Forum that is Fantasy based, don’t think that counts as copying. However, if make a Fairy Fantasy, and some one else has one, that also can’t be copying.

I think it's copying if i then go on their site, steal all their original ideas, and place it on my site. If i get that information from some place else, such as Wiki, that's not, since that's a public site, for everyone’s usage...

I guess it depends with some people, but i also think that images hosted on the web are public, UNLESS you add the copyright symbol and your Site on it... Banner and Affiliate stealing is copying, for example, since YOU made that, and it's only for your site...

- Gowd :rice:

Hmm. I recently had an issue where I noticed a site was indelibly similar to mine, similar plot, similar canon list, and basically the whole idea was taken with mine. I knew the owners, they were friends of mine, and were players on my site. At first I was angry, but then I sort of felt complimented. I knew they hadn't done anything 'wrong' when it came to rules and such, but I still felt my original ideas were taken. So I contacted the admin, and we had a long convo about it. I was very nice, and tried to be understanding about how hard it is to create an original rpg, and in turn they were also nice, and understanding. I knew they hadn't intended to copy from my site, so I offered them help to create something original, and they gladly accepted.

Now everything is great between us :). So I really think things depend on the situation and that... I really think the best skill of an admin is to admit when you’re wrong though, it's hard as hell, and I truly respect anyone who can do it.

Taking away rules and the law, I really think admins need to have a common respect for each other, when it comes to original ideas and that. Sure you legally 'can' take things, but that doesn't make it right, and doesn't show any respect for that admin.

If there are any similarities at all.

I hope no one chooses this! But I wouldn't be surprised if some people actually believe that this is copying.

Another site uses the same, but unique genre.

You're either unique or you're not. You can't share a "unique" genre with someone else. Never assume that your site is unique.

A very similar idea is used from another site.

It depends upon how similar. If it's Harry Potter in Hogwarts during the rule of Voldemort in an AU area, then no. That's been done lots of times. However, if Harry just happens to be a three-eyed lawn gnome on both RPs, then it's time to get suspicious.

A whole idea is used from another site.

Once again, it depends. If it's Harry Potter, then no. If it's Harry going to fishermen-training academy, then yes.

One or more things are copied word for word.

Obviously, this is stolen. However, if it's something like you say "Thou shall not godmod," realize that there's a good chance that someone else may use the same wording because it is from a famous text. Besides, if you use that wording, you're copying, too.

Everything is copied word for word.

I would report them right away.

It's the internet, unless it's legally copyrighted, people can do what they want.

There's something called common courtesy. Besides, copying goes against the TOS, no?

I've had people copy my board word for word, and generally I never got mad at them because I saw that they were doing it because they weren't too familiar with RPs and that was what they were familiar with. I let them go and the boards eventually died.

It's the internet, unless it's legally copyrighted, people can do what they want.

In most cases, copyright is automatic upon the creation of whatever it is. Each country has different standards as to what can be copyrighted, but they are generally rather low.

The problem is not obtaining copyright, but proving you are the holder. And enforcing it, of course.

I voted on whole idea..

Because if you are an owner who came up with a very original idea, that no one has even thought of... Until an angry member or a guest comes by, and decide to rip that board off. Then yeah... so ripping the whole idea off. >.<

I'd be more detailed but mind you.. my brain is mush lol

This pretty much sums up where I stand.

whole idea.
this happened to me once and i won't lie to say i was very angry.
they copied the feel of the board (grungy/angst) even the aff button copied the animation. and then i mean the plot wasn't as complex but i could see how they got the idea from mine. not to toot my own horn, but it was pretty obvious.