Okay, so I have recently decided to set up a Beauxbatons RPG. For some general ideas, I've been looking around at other Hogwarts sites (or similar) for some ideas of what to include on the site. My question is: what do you consider copying?

I'll give an example: Envious Magic has "Ministry Files", "Character Plots", and "Diaries". So, let's say that I saw these on the site, and wanted to use one of these ideas. Would it be considered stealing to just take the idea, or would it be okay, considering other sites also have Ministry Files too? Or would the best course of action be to contact the staff, and find out if they mind my "taking" the idea?

This was just an example, but I'm sure it could apply to any RPG. You're looking around at similar sites, and spot a really good idea - do you take it without a second thought, or contact the staff to see if they mind? Giving your own opinions would be great :lol:

That's a fuzzy topic, and lot's of people have their own interpretation on where the line should be drawn.

I've never really given it much thought.. but then again I've never really browsed other RPG's for ideas on layouts and such. I figure, If I come up with everything on my own, I have nothing to worry about, even if by coincidence it appears similar to someone elses. (because honestly, there are only so many combinations out there, and it's all been done before)

To me, motivation is also a factor. Also laziness.
If you're browsing RPsites thinking, 'hmm, what can I copy today?", then I'd waggle my finger at you.
But If you do stumble across something on someone's site that you love, and it fits your site, I don't see the problem with taking the time and adapting it. That is, ADAPTING it, to your site. Not Copying it directly, a quick and easy and somewhat lazy fix. Be unique, tweak it and make it your own thing. Take it in a new and different direction. There's nothing wrong with that.

And, if you want to be positive that you're not going to be blamed for copying the person, just shoot them a pm and ask. Let them know you're impressed with that aspect of their site, that you think you want to take your own site in a similar direction, and ask if you could use that idea. Then, maybe offer to be affliates; make it a friendly relationship rather than a rival one.

Not to mention the said example "Minstery Files" was something mentioned in both the movies and books...

Honestly, any RP based off of someone else's work is a form of copying, isn't it?

What I would do (have done) is have a credit blurb in the forum and a list of the poster's names for "inspireing work" or some such.

Heh, I guess my example isn't very good o.O

But you understand what I mean, right? Anyways, I like the idea for an "inspired" section, so I might do that.

I do understand, and your welcome. :D

Then, if they come by your site they can't say you didn't give them credit, because you had! :D

As Kyle3i said, it is a fuzzy topic. What's worse is if it's in regard to Harry Potter. Everything is carbon-copied from board to board so much that it's hard to break out because roleplayers become accustomed to certain things.

I look at other boards for inspiration, and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. If you use the same concept, just try to change as much as possible and if you feel guilty, you can't go wrong with crediting the site and/or person in which the idea was used from. Chances are, they got it from another board. This kind of "copyright" on ideas is so, so hard to determine.

The rule of thumb I use is that if it's something I haven't seen on other forums, I leave it alone. But if it's something that I've seen on different forums, character diaries for instance, it's fair game. As Kyle3i said, always try to adapt in to fit your forum.

That's our rule of thumb too. If it's on more then ten forums (something like a journal/dairy or inventory forum for instance) then its fair game and no one 'owns' that idea.

This is a hard one to call. I am very against copying or plagarism but as Kyle 3i said earlier in this thread, there is something to be said for "adapting". I feel that it's a vicious circle sometimes. An admin can try hard to be original and have a very simple forum and then get criticised for not being like the other rpg forums out there in web universe. Believe it or not, I had one new member who hadn't even written an application but began telling us in the c-box that she'd stay if we got a sidebox! LOL! Since I still havent figured out how to get a sidebox, I couldn't oblige her sadly!


In the HP universe, a lot of the things are the same anyway so I am slightly bemused as to how some of it could "belong per se" to any one person. For example, refering to Mirandas' reply above, every HP site that I have come across has character plots and a lot have diaries so I wouldn't feel the need to ask permission for them.

However, I've never seen "Ministry Files" in a forum. With something like that, I wouldn't feel comfortable just adding it to mine without at least asking for permission. In face, knowing myself the way I do, I would only add something new if I had thought of it myself because I would get overconcerned about plagarism *rolls eyes*. Sometimes as an admin, you do worry about these things I guess! Though Ministry files come from the books and the movies so it's not an original thought of an admin is it?



Last point: On the other hand, if we take the philosophical route - is there anything out there anymore that is truly original?? I could think of something on my own as an intelligent adult and place it in my forum and someone else could have the same somewhere else!

That's a very good point. the oldest love story in the world is where the man goes away to make himself worthy of marriage, the woman waits and he never returns, but sent her a letter blah blah blah. Who came up with it, we don't know. How many times has that formula been used, well, look at ancient mythology, 16th century plays, victorian literature and modern movies, its an old concept made new by a fresh voice. Anyone who tries to claim an original idea on the net these days are idiots. There will always be someone in the world who thought of it first. :p That's not to say its alright to rip off an entire board, character or concept, I'd like to think NR was original because the people who made it are individuals with different perspectives.

The line between copying and using a tried and tested formula (be it story or forum set up) is a fine one, but there is no way to enforce these things online. Plus some people are quite hypocritical and claim authenticity when they themselves are using things they saw elsewhere.

FYI, there was a book series written when I was a child in the 80's called the Worst Witch. When I read Harry Potter I thought JK had ripped it off. True story.

I dont know if you want my 2 cents or not but i figured i would put them in anywhoo.


In my opinion i believe that if it was emntioned in the book in the movies tv show or what ever then its fiar game to be used in play or in creation.

my example is

PotC Board A: Tortuga board, Tortuga port Board, and the salty dog (a pirate bar in tortuga)

PotC Board B: Tortuga board, Tortuga Port Board (becasue common sence would let you know that tortuga has a port if they didnt then obviously no one would be able to dock there.) but do not add the Salty dog becasue that was not mentioned anyplace except for t he PotC Board A meaning it is SL specific...

Maybe it seems reduntant but it is my opinion that i would like to share with you on this topic =)

PS

I totally read that book and i see some similarities :p

Well if it is a forum like a harry potter one then people cant really complain unless the thing copied is an idea that isnt based from the story, but things like ministry files, they dont own them so I say go ahead. On original forums however, well once you see a really good idea it is hard to use a bad one just to avoid copying, so whatever you want to copying, contact the admin or person who wrote the thing and ask, simple as that really.

If it's something taken from a book or movie (like with Harry Potter stuff), then I think that's definitely fair game.

If you see it on a bunch of 'sites . . . enh. That could mean that someone came up with it on their own, and then a bunch of other people saw it, liked it, and copied it, and the person who came up with it originally may not know other people are using it, or may be trying to get them to stop (probably unsuccessfully, because what are we going to do, sue?).

If in doubt, I'd say give credit, somewhere on your 'site, for where you found it.

I say this as someone who is unsuccessfully trying to get another game to remove blatantly copied original material. :rawr:

If it's a phrase or concept directly taken from the book, then I think it's fine. It certainly sounds like you have the right intentions.

As long as you don't directly copy anyone's canon list, and have your own plot and such, you should be fine. I've seen "ministry files" or similar board titles everywhere. With such specific genre boards, all of the forums are pretty much the same. It's the content that really matters.