Thread: On the subject of Plagiarism....

To password protect or not, that is the question.

I'm pretty generous about people referencing the content on my website, as long as they ask and give me credit, but a friend of mine recently brought this rather egregious case of plagiarism to my attention.

I have on the main page of my website a note saying that none of my website content can be used without permission, and I sent her a notice to pull my content from her website, but now I'm feeling I need to do something more to protect my content. I'm just not sure what just yet. I think I'll have to do some reading up.

I'm very tempted to password protect the homework I give my students. I think I have been somewhat lax in protecting my own hard work and it really is hard work!

Update:

Okay, she emailed me back, apparently I told her she could use some of my content, which I probably did, I have given permission to a few people here and there that have asked. I feel rather sheepish on this point.

But in my defense she should have credited me and linked like I'm certain I asked in return from everyone I've said could use any of my content. She said it was an oversight and I'm going to assume it really was. I took the links down because of my mistake. I had jumped to a conclusion because I couldn't find record of our original conversation.

Seriously though, credit me when I say you can use something and I wont randomly accuse you of plagiarism.

That's your proprietary class material, and you definitely have a right to keep it private! (Though I enjoyed reading all of your suggestions ).

You might want to start a password-protected blog or Yahoo group so students can see your instructional content, without it being out in the open for random people to borrow. I've seen a lot of dancers do this and think it's a great idea. Not to mention, from a marketing and student retention standpoint, it fosters a sense of online community for your students.

Let us know what happens. Sucks that you're going through this.

I don't see anything wrong with a teacher password protecting her class content online. Only students who are paying for those classes should have access to the material, although it's pretty hard to keep information from leaking. (Would you change the password every semester? Give all students access to all content indefinitely, or restrict them only to the classes they are currently registered for?)

It might be meaningless for a stranger from across the country to download someone else's choreography notes or class assignments, but current students can still share with ex-students or friends in town who don't go to class. For that matter, there's nothing to prevent someone from using a YouTube video as a free instructional DVD on your style or choreography. It's really an issue of respect for another person's intellectual property, and that's hard to encourage and police solely on the basis of personal integrity.

I am afraid that there is a certain mentality online that reacts badly to having too much "copyright threat" imposed upon them, and they see it almost like you are defying them to steal or ridicule your work. Of course, these are often the same people who have no qualms about bootlegging media. If someone is unrepentant in their thinking that they have a right to take whatever they want and they laugh at the "suckers" who pay for it or put it online under the honor system, only a stern lawsuit or experiencing the shoe on the other foot will get them to break the habit. If this person doesn't respond to your request to take your material off her site, you could report her to her web service provider. Otherwise, it's probably off to the lawyer's office or resigning yourself to the knowledge that at least she thought your work was worth stealing.

I think a password-protected area for your students is a good idea. Value-added for them.

Who knows, you might want to compile all your GREAT info into a book or workbook format one day and sell it. (I'd probably buy one). Maybe with a teacher's guide.. ooooohhh I'd buy that and make my students buy workbooks!!!

At any rate, when we post pics or text online it's at risk for thievery. The laws are on our side, but they're expensive and difficult to enforce. I say protect yourself.

Originally Posted by Tourbeau

it's pretty hard to keep information from leaking. (Would you change the password every semester? Give all students access to all content indefinitely, or restrict them only to the classes they are currently registered for?)

It might be meaningless for a stranger from across the country to download someone else's choreography notes or class assignments, but current students can still share with ex-students or friends in town who don't go to class.

This is the case with printed notes as well. All students, past or present, have them and could theoretically share them.

I wouldn't worry too much about changing the password often. I'd simplify my life by giving access to all students, past and present. (unless I had a particular former student I suspected of misappropriating content, I suppose).

Even if you have 500 past/present students, and they each share the password with 10 friends, you've still reduced the access to 5,000 people... down from what, a billion?

Another option is a google docs folder. I have a folder in my google docs for my student troupe. It contains choreos, notes, policies, etc. I have it set up to only allow people with certain e-mail addresses to access it. Presumably you have your students' e-mail addresses. I assume it takes about the same amount of work as a login set-up. E-mail me at andalee.oriental at gmail dot com if you want to see it.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

This is the case with printed notes as well. All students, past or present, have them and could theoretically share them.

Actually, we had an incident in my area where someone in an audience recorded another dancer's performance on a cell phone camera, and had the audacity to show up at a later event presenting the exact same performance as her own. Anytime you do anything in public, there is a risk for intellectual property abuse. Still, I think online information has a way of spreading that "real world" info doesn't, because there's the illusion of anonymity. I suspect this person thought she was quite safe in another country taking from Shems, when there was little chance they would ever meet face to face.

Wow, Shems. I'm so sorry you're going through this. These sorts of things ARE such hard work and plagiarism is stealing.
Interesting enough- the Read My Hipz website has this at the bottom of each page:
"Content © 2006-2010 Read My Hipz. All rights reserved".
One would think she would understand intellectual property/copyright protection/plagiarism.
That being said- I think a private Facebook or Yahoo group, or Andalee's suggestion of a Google file sharing thing are all good ideas. I need to start one, too. Finding the time is the tough part.

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

That being said- I think a private Facebook or Yahoo group, or Andalee's suggestion of a Google file sharing thing are all good ideas..

We use a private Facebook page, and we cut off access as soon as a student stops coming to class. These private pages are very specific to the class, and they change constantly.

I've tried password protecting parts of our website, but the password protection doesn't always hold up to Google so stuff shows up in random searches even when password protected.

Any popular page is going to be a double-edged sword; many other people link to it, which pushes your page higher in the search engine rankings, but a few people will steal it.

Deleted by request of OP.

I love using your website as a resource and would be sad to see it go. That being said I would completely understand and her use of your intellectual property is infuriating!!! It's always so frustrating when one ruins it for the many.

Welcome to the club. This has happened to me a lot over the years.

A certain vendor even had the gall to copy my ENTIRE teacher and performer directory and put it on their site.

That "read my hips" person should have linked to your page on your site with comments praising the wonderfulness of your research and your generosity in making it available.

what if you sent a cease letter to her?
if she doesn't remedy this in a timely manner you can send another one c/o the college & cc her dept. head. surely the college doesn't look to kindly on plagiarism ;)

I'm sorry this happened to you, Shems. I had someone swipe my zill notes-tons of hours of work. I was happy to give them for personal use, but not for her to pass them off as her own.

It would be a shame for the BD community to lose info from your site, but I would password protect anything you don't want stolen.

What do they say about imitation and flattery?

Originally Posted by lylagus

I love using your website as a resource and would be sad to see it go. That being said I would completely understand and her use of your intellectual property is infuriating!!! It's always so frustrating when one ruins it for the many.

What lylagus said. I have often sent my students links to the fab content on your website -- but it SO not right for it to be ripped off like that. I would be so mad I would be sputtering.

I didn't see anything on the second website. Did they take the plagiarized information down already?

Originally Posted by Karnak

I didn't see anything on the second website. Did they take the plagiarized information down already?

Looks like it. Hmm, is this the power of Bhuz?? ..g.:

Interesting! I did see it earlier, it was clearly a direct cut and paste copy. More proof that everyone lurks on bhuz, always a good thing to remember. ;)

Shems, your resources and your presentation of materials are really stellar. I think making them available to current students privately is reasonable and can add value to the cost of live classes. That said, it is also a real testament to your teaching style to have some things public. I know I would want to attend your class if I were in your city based on seeing assignments like these.

Me too! You would be my kind of teacher...wanna come to Southern New Mexico? It seems to be cooler here than most other parts of the country right now.

I password protect my classroom materials page. I just think of it as the money the students spend on registration includes all notes and handouts for that session of classes. I am also thinking about putting up short video clips starting this session which would show the combinations taught in class so that students can follow along at home. I wouldn't want these videos being available to everyone since they would just be me in practice gear doing little exercises and I wouldn't want potential gig clients to think that is what a glammed up performance would be like.

Update:

Okay, she emailed me back, apparently I told her she could use some of my content, which I probably did, I have given permission to a few people here and there that have asked. I feel rather sheepish on this point.

But in my defense she should have credited me and linked like I'm certain I asked in return from everyone I've said could use any of my content. She said it was an oversight and I'm going to assume it really was. I took the links down because of my mistake. I had jumped to a conclusion because I couldn't find record of our original conversation.

Credit me when I say you can use something and I wont randomly accuse you of plagiarism.

maurazebra could you please delete the whois info?

Originally Posted by shems

maurazebra could you please delete the whois info?

Yep. Deleted. Shems, it was her obligation to credit the source of the material, not to set it up on her website as though it were her composition. We learn this in elementary school. I hope SHE'S feeling sheepish.

thanks!

I just now discovered yet another plagiarism of my work.

Here is the other person's web page:

The Goddesses of Ancient Egypt

Here is mine:

The Goddesses Of Ancient Egypt

Do you see any similarities?

I used to offer free clipart on my bellydancestuff site. I really liked making it available, and it brought a lot of traffic to my site.

Then someone lifted my ENTIRE clipart collection and offered it on her site as if it were her own work. Didn't even credit me as the artist.

When i confronted her, she argued with me. She said my permission to use the artwork gave her permission to offer it on her site. I told her that I, the artist, was contacting her now to very specifically explain exactly what use I gave permission for, so if it was unclear to her in some way before it should be clear now. She still argued. Finally took the stuff down... I think...

I keep thinking I'd like to offer clipart for dancers again on my site, and keep a page reserved for it, but I get really upset every time I think about it...c::..cr.:,m::

Sorry, using your thread to vent my frustration. ..l;,

Do you see any similarities?

A few! ;-)

Originally Posted by *Shira*

I just now discovered yet another plagiarism of my work.

Here is the other person's web page:

The Goddesses of Ancient Egypt

Here is mine:

The Goddesses Of Ancient Egypt

Do you see any similarities?

Even better, it's an '.edu' site. Someone's uni project maybe? Fail!

The good news is that they sent me email this morning saying they have deleted it.

By the way, I sent my complaint to not only the guy whose email appeared as the page owner, but also to the department head and the vice president of academic affairs.

Originally Posted by NandaDncer

Even better, it's an '.edu' site. Someone's uni project maybe? Fail!

I poked around last night, and found that they had a version of my page with only the text, no formatting at all, and then several additional versions that added incremental formatting. Ie, one that added italics to part of the text, then another that organized it into tables, then another that added the background color, etc. It appeared to be "sample files" for use by a computer lab in teaching professors how to create web pages. My reaction: create your own damned samples, people, don't steal my hard work!

Part of what really p'd me off at finding this particular page stolen was the fact that it's actually THE most popular article on my entire web site. Which means that it brings a lot of traffic to my site, and I don't want its value to be diluted by other people reposting it elsewhere.

I also made my student resources password protected and put it on my blog. It is not as easy as I would like to categorize the info but then my students have the option to comment and ask questions. It's not that my info is so unique or thorough but I encourage the "e-discussions" that take place that way because I don't always have time for it during class.

I am, however, grateful to the sites that have resources available to the public because so many of us have learned from them and they are terrific resources for our students. I hope these plagiarism claims are taken seriously so we can continue to benefit from the high quality of research like Shira and Shems.