The Cooks Source Blow-Up

[Margo]

This incredible example of plagarism has popped up on a couple of the blogs I frequent. As I'm not sure everyone here has seen it, and it's just so danged offensive, I thought I'd spread it about a little more:

http://storify.com/kegill/cooks-source- ... -firestorm

There's a ton more links covering this story, but I like this one because it has the text of email response from the 'editor'.

[stephmcgee]

This whole fiasco is so...ugh! That's why I've got a little copyright notice on the bottom of my blogs. It showed up on Twitter yesterday and because I was away at school all morning, I came in on it late. But I really hope this all shakes out for the benefit of authors everywhere.

[Margo]

It's also a really fascinating study on how something spreads through the internet. Within hours people were actively investigating the other articles, turning up more articles the magazine had copied, and informing the people who had been ripped off. I suspect Disney Corp will not take kindly to the 'you should thank me for editing what I stole from you' angle she's working.

[stephmcgee]

Definitely on all counts, Margo. It's been interesting to watch in the last year and a half now that I've been actively blogging to see how much can change when something hits the internet. From book cover outrage to this.

[Mira]

Oh, this is awesome. The possiblities.

I'm going to copy everything written on the blogs of Neil Gaiman, Stephen King and J.K. Rowling (I'll throw in Suzanne Collins) onto my own blog and then copyright the whole thing. Bwah, ha, ha, ha. I will OWN THEM.

They should be grateful, I'm giving them exposure.

I sure hope they don't change the copyright laws to protect people before I've had a chance to exploit them. Mama needs a new Corvette.

(p.s. for those who don't know me, jk)

[sierramcconnell]

That. Is. Hilarious.

I have a PB Pie Recipe that's been told to me is good enough to slap people's mamma's. But I got it out of a magazine, it's not mine! I wonder if I posted it on the internet and claimed copyright if I could be rich, too. XD

It's why all my stuff is posted under friend's filters. >.<

And why I cook without writing anything down. XD

I wonder how long it will take before they go bankrupt from lack of sponsorship?

[stephmcgee]

If you change 3 ingredients in a recipe, the original owner has no legal claim over yours.

[sierramcconnell]

If you change 3 ingredients in a recipe, the original owner has no legal claim over yours.

I don't drizzle the sauce at the end and I use butter instead of margerine...? XD

It's delicious! It's got cream cheese and peanut butter in it. Anything with that much richness is. XD And a choco-cookie crust. :d

[Netti]

If you change 3 ingredients in a recipe, the original owner has no legal claim over yours.

I don't drizzle the sauce at the end and I use butter instead of margerine...? XD

It's delicious! It's got cream cheese and peanut butter in it. Anything with that much richness is. XD And a choco-cookie crust. :d

*drools all over keyboard* I want! I want!

[Margo]

Actually, the recipes aren't the problem, as a list of ingredients can't be copywritten. However, the magazine was taking people's articles. The instance that blew everything up was the theft of an article on the history of apple pie.

[Margo]

Oh, this is awesome. The possiblities.

Pretty much! So...since Jim Butcher's first chapter of STORM FRONT is online, I think I'll be claiming that, editing it a bit, and calling it mine.

But seriously, the laws don't need to be changed, because this kind of cut and paste theft wasn't legal in the first place! The 'editor' is full of it!

[stephmcgee]

RE: the recipe, sounds amazing! Change one more ingredient and you can call it your own!

As for Cooks Source, apparently now the Facebook fan page has been hacked with an even more ridiculous "apology" from the editor.

[Margo]

The Facebook page -- the real one -- was pretty freaking funny when I checked it out yesterday. 4000 'friends' telling Griggs what they thought of her (in a humorous way).

[Sommer Leigh]

Argh! I think the worst part is when people try to "excuse" plagerism. I get into heated arguments about it all the time that seem to be worse with people who are quite a bit older than me (though age doesn't really have anything to do with it other than maybe I've been aware of internet plagerism longer?) People at work, people I know, family, friends...there seems to be a big plagerism shaped hole in people's brains where they come up with statements like, "How will they ever find out I used their graphic on my church newsletter?" "It's fine because they'll never know." "It's a drawing of the human anatomy, you can't copyright a drawing of that since everyone has one." "It's not plagerism because I put 'no copyright infringement intended' under my video."

If you have to say "no copyright infringement intended" you're infringing on someone's copyright AND you know you're doing it.

What kills me is that there are plenty of ways to go about getting material for free and remain completely legal. Like, contacting bloggers and asking permission and then giving them credit. Or using sites that offer creative commons licenses that usually just require attributions to be listed. But that is way too much work. Or like my husband's sophomore students like to say, "That's too much doin'."

[Margo]

I think the worst part is when people try to "excuse" plagerism.

OMG, do NOT get me started... Too late.

A couple of years ago I did some writing for a friend, a listing for a website, about 6 paragraphs, I'd say. A few months later I noticed one of his competitors also had a listing, so I checked it out. IT WAS MY WORK with the names changed to those in his organization! I was livid, but the person I wrote it for didn't seem to care. Now keep in mind that I live in a city of about 500,000 people, but certain social and professional circles are pretty darn small. TWICE I have ended up unknowingly sitting next to the people who ripped off my writing. The second time, at a party, I started to tell this story and the hostess stopped me and took me into the kitchen and explained to me that I was sitting next to one of the people from that organization and she didn't want ME to offend the THIEF by telling the story in front of her. Let's just say I don't consider the hostess my friend anymore.