One of the Internet controversies today is the copying and reuse without permission (i.e. stealing) of an article written by Monica Gaudio on her website Godecookery.com related to the change of apple pie recipes over time. Unfortunately, the editor of another website Cook’s Source, took the original article, edited it and posted without attribution or permission.
We should stop here to discuss something very important.
Content on a website may be available for the public to read (assuming there is no login necessary to read), but it is not available for the public to take and copy, especially verbatim. While we have all seen content on another website that looks interesting, copied portions, edited it and then posted, it is largely for inspiration and not wholesale copying. If it were copying or use of another website’s photographs/images/art, that is theft. We all know that copying a news story from the local newspaper is illegal, whether it’s in print or the web. The same is true for private writer’s and their content. Like this post.
Back to our story.
When she was made aware of the content being posted somewhere else, Monica attempted to contact the site owner. Both by email and telephone call, she made numerous attempts. Eventually, the magazine editor returned her message and promptly informed her of the following:
Yes Monica, I have been doing this for 3 decades, having been an editor at The Voice, Housitonic Home and Connecticut Woman Magazine. I do know about copyright laws. It was “my bad” indeed, and, as the magazine is put together in long sessions, tired eyes and minds somethings forget to do these things.
But honestly Monica, the web is considered “public domain” and you should be happy we just didn’t “lift” your whole article and put someone else’s name on it! It happens a lot, clearly more than you are aware of, especially on college campuses, and the workplace. If you took offence and are unhappy, I am sorry, but you as a professional should know that the article we used written by you was in very bad need of editing, and is much better now than was originally. Now it will work well for your portfolio. For that reason, I have a bit of a difficult time with your requests for monetary gain, albeit for such a fine (and very wealthy!) institution. We put some time into rewrites, you should compensate me! I never charge young writers for advice or rewriting poorly written pieces, and have many who write for me… ALWAYS for free!
I am sure to most experienced web users, this sounds preposterous. If this were true, why would news organizations freely post news on their web pages? Why would anyone put up personal photos? Why would any musician allow downloads of their music? If it’s on the web and free, anyone can take anything. Unfortunately, for the Cook’s Source editor, her position is demonstrably false. Monica posted on her blog a resource available from the University of Maryland University College discussing this very topic.
While this might seem off topic for this blog, in reality, it is relevant to those in ministry. When you are starting out, it is very tempting to copy content from another source, either text or images. In short, don’t do it. It is not only stealing (Ten Commandments anyone?), but it’s also wrong to start off with the mindset that your ministry can be done by taking things without asking. It doesn’t hurt to ask, and, if they say no, look for additional resources. You might not start out with a drop dead gorgeous website the first time out, but you can get there very quickly. Hosting can cost <$10/month and templates for Joomla/Drupal/WordPress can be purchased for <$100. Invest in your ministry and reap the rewards.
Don’t hobble your website for short term gain and have to apologize later.
A few other things related to this story:
- The original article was not copied in it’s entirety, just portions of it.
- The original article was also written in old English, thus the editor’s belief “the article we used written by you was in very bad need of editing”.
- The response to this plagiarism on the Internet is huge.
- Several heavily trafficked websites have taken up the cause
- Someone created fake Facebok page for Cook’s Source
- Someone else created fake Twitter account for Cook’s Source and is responding to commentors as if they are from the magazine
Update: According to NPR, Cook’s Source did credit her with a byline.