Hmm - I wanted to get your guy's opinion on something. I was a co admin on a site with someone and towards the end of the site, things got a little rocky. Kind of one of those things that just didn't work out. There were some things I'd contributed to the previous site - never got credit for it; the owner claimed all ownership at the time but I didn't want to be petty so I let it be. When the site closed, all the other admin's sites got advertised on the board offline page which - again, didn't really bother me enough to worry about. It was kind of rude, but it's fine. It really didn't bother me until I was told that documents from the site I'd contributed had turned up on the new site - without any credits or acknowledgment they were my work. Again, I don't want to make an issue out of something but I guess I'm also offended and hurt that thing were stolen without my knowledge and without my consent and with no acknowledgment that they were my work, not the person claiming them. Again, I don't want to make a big deal out of nothing, but I do feel somewhat like plagerism is a big thing.

Any recommendations? Should I just ignore it or say something, even if it will only cause trouble? I don't know how many other sites my stuff's being used on without my consent and I put a lot of work into my stuff.

It would only be a bad idea if it wasn't your work - but if it is without question your documentation, then you should definitely say something. Don't make a scene and don't act rudely; just be firm and say that you would appreciate proper credit on every documentation now and in the future, and if they refuse, tell them you would like them to not use your work - now or any time in the future.

EDITS: Make sure to make screen caps that clearly show your work and the lack of credit. :]

I've had to ask people about copying things that ranged from small (like hotlinking a background image and taking the format for my advertisement) to large (someone who copied my forum descriptions, application template, and FAQ verbatim, as well as my canon list and plot from two of my separate sites), and I've learned that the best way to approach it is to be diplomatic and contact the admin(s) privately. Yeah, it would definitely be sweet if you could embarrass them, but that tactic never works; it only puts the admins on the defensive.

Now, I tend to say something like "Hello, this is So and So from So and So, and it's come to my attention that you are using my content without permission or credit. Etc. Etc. We both know that this is a problem for both of us, so please either a) Take all my content down immediately and didn't use it in the future; or b) Give credit on all of my content immediately, now and in the future. Blah blah. I don't want to make a big deal about this and I don't want to leave any hard feelings between us, I just want my work to be respected. Blah blah. Please reply so I know you received this, and please don't delete this account until I have read. Thanks."

Obviously you should write what you think, but that's basically how I go around it. I think it's important that you sound like you aren't giving them an alternative but that you are assuming they're going to do it. Also, its good (IMO) to sound like you're being understanding, not blaming it all on them but saying something it's a problem for both of you so they don't feel like they're really being attacked.

I hope this helps. =) Good luck!

I agree with Sunday. Be polite and diplomatic, but demand they credit you. You worked hard on the documentations, so stand tall and let these sticky-fingered admin know you will NOT tolerate theivery. That's fair, and it should make everyone happy because a) You either get credited or your work is not there. and b) You won't *ahem* take this publicly to their CBox. That can get messy, so I would leave that to a last resort. The resort that happens after the admin doesn't listen to you, deletes your many accounts that you made one by one so that you could talk to this admin, and basically tells you to F*** off.....(I speak from experience here...I was jipped by another site, and the admin ignored me and deleted my accounts :rawr: , so I was forced to speak to said admin thru the CBox....which actually got me results)

All in all, be persistant and stand firm. Your stuff is your stuff. Don't let others steal it... :lol:

If you want to make it sound like they've really screwed up, make a list of what they copied. But, make it as long as possible.

You copied this.
This.
And this.
This too.
This rewritten.
This is just copied and pasted.
Wow, you must be retarded.
Wow, this is getting pathetic.
And more.
Even more.
Look at all this.
This is copied, despite clashing with this rule of yours.
Do your own work next time.
Look at all you've copied.
Imagine how pathetic you look to me.
Imagine how pathetic you would look to your members if I showed them this.
This list sure is getting long.
Man, don't you have your own brain?
And more copied.
Still more.
The list of your screw ups is getting longer.
The list of your screw ups is making you look really bad.
Such a long list.
Imagine what'd happen if I presented this list of copied material to your provider.
And the list goes on.
More. And more.


See my point? Overwhelm them with what they copied, and they'll shrink up in their leather, spinny chairs, and they'll implode and scramble to get everything fixed and ensure that you're happy with them.

Especially if the thought of forum deletion is looming over their heads. ;)

Plagiarizing is a big problem on sites, and you have to make a big deal of it I'm afraid. Keep all messages acknowledging that it is your idea. I'm afraid sometimes you have to go to the point ofd rudeness. I've recently proposed an idea to a bigger forum, and I had to write two paragraphs stating that they may not use my idea on their site unless it includes my forum. It may seem rude, but I get the credit, and I get the members (:

Maybe this time you can't do much about it, but in future, like I said, keep records of what you have said, and make sure people credit you. Only propose ideas as long as you have in the same sentence that it is your idea and should be credited to you. Insist on credit, otherwise they could be reported to Invision.