I don't know how many of you are old enough to do writing professionally, but I have started to dabble in it a little myself (see the Associated Content link below). Today I was looking my articles up on google - mostly to get an idea of where my rankings were, and what websites I was mentioned on - when I found this website.. Read the entry at the top called "Decorating Pumpkins Mess Free." It is hardly legible, and some of the phrasing (see the first sentence of the second paragraph) are humorous. Now read This Article, written by me, and compare the two. You will notice that if you change the wording of the first "article," it becomes an exact replica of my article. This is called spinning, and it is plagiarism. I almost feel bad for the guy, because my article is copyrighted.

Currently I am undergoing the process to get it taken off of his site. But beware if you're an author, or if you choose to plagiarize. If you do write articles for AC, eHow, or on your own website, do a web search of your article titles.

Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Oct 20 2009, 12:14 am by Fire_Kame.

I literally just read an article about Shepard Fairey's on-going plagiarism trial and then read this post. What a crazy coincidence!

It's actually really amusing to read the stolen version of your article, as you can basically see the "author's" attempt at taking single words and expanding them with misused synonymous phrases. I'm sure you can send some sort of faux legal letter in a cease-and-desist style if AC can't do anything to help.

It's also very interesting to think that in this age of blogging, millions of unknown blogs exist (like this one) and there aren't really standards in place to prevent this sort of activity from happening.

Good luck with this, really.

It more seems like he put it through some ind of filter and edited it that way, than actually trying to play this off as legit.

KAME'S A GIRL!??

That was actually my reaction as well ;o

Surprising..

I've actually plagiarized, but only for school assignments, and not in the recent past. Middle schoolish era was the last time. I feel bad about doing it now :C

Old news and unrelated to the topic. Nice job.

I'm with ya there, but I think everyone in school pre-college has done that. I have never taken one of those essays online and called it my own, though, mainly just ideas and phrases that are ultimately uncited...

Oh god...I'm having trouble getting past the first paragraph, what is going on?


What? This is terrible writing. Your actual article was so much easier on the eyes, and watching where this person tried substituting words is sad, they really don't have a basic understanding of English. =/

I'm actually a little perturbed that AC hasn't been successful in shutting down those blogs...

It looks like he used the eater of meaning on your article.

The only time I plagiarize is when my guitar teacher makes me write a paper on some nobody. He doesn't even read them, so I'm not going to take the time to do them.

I actually just put that thing through the Eater of Meaning, and it makes more sense now.

can someone link me to the eater of meaning? I'm curious now...

here

Why would AC have the ability to take down an anonymous blog on Blogger?

Because it has been violating copyright.