Are You An Unintentional Plagiarist? - Page 5 - Writers Forum

Binary_Viper · 09-08-2007, 10:13 AM

I've always worried about this.

Of course, as any respectable author, I'd never intentionally steal someone else's work. But, as my dad always says, there's only so many situations in which one can create - whether it be writing, movies, etc. And after so many years, not only is everything been taken, but has been written about so many times that it's frightening to add to it. With only so many ways to go with something, especially if you're in only one genra, who's to say that anything you do is original? Surely, you could very well have a story that's just a mass of plagerism - this part is like in this book, this part like this - like Eragon, except perhaps with not so famous of mentionings.

Surely everyone is copying someone else in some way. So where's the line?

I heard of a young author a bit ago who published her work - she idolized an author and one time she published a book that was very much like a story by the author she loved. She didn't mean to do it, it was more subconscious, but she still was put on trial for it.

So you don't mean it. That won't stop the law from stamping a large fine on you, right? It's kind of scary. You have to be really careful.

Not only is it hell trying to get your story published and really out there, but you also have to worry about this stuff too.

ultilunafan · 09-12-2007, 12:11 AM

Well, as far as I know, I try to avoid it as much as possible, though i've been caught copying a biology essay when i didn't really (coincidence)
The only stories i've written was hundreds and hundreds of harry potter fanfiction, and some of those stories of course has the same theme as all the others, as there has been already about a million of them out there. my big interest though is to review other people's short stories - i was my school newspaper's editor, and i found out that those stories: some of them was from the news!
but personally, the best way to avoid it is to just write a completely original topic!

sardpete · 09-12-2007, 01:16 AM

Isn't there also the question of acknowlegement? I am sure using "The Dead Poet's Society" doesn't fall into this category because everyone knew what you were doing and you said so. In my two spoof poem's here I clearly said what I was parodying.
On the question of plaigiarism one of the most interesting examples is 1984. The plot has certain similarities to "We" by Zamyatin which Orwell had reviewed.

niftydrumdude · 09-12-2007, 11:48 AM

i try not to be, but sometimes it slips through

Athlynne · 09-15-2007, 01:42 PM

Thank you for that link, Valeca, I've been looking for just such information. I feel a bit more hopeful now.

Xtlk 1 · 09-23-2007, 07:27 PM

Okay, heres my question.

Everyone has heard of 'Dungeons & Dragons' I'm sure. Well I have a book created by the company called a Monster Manual. (And no, I don't actually play the game..). I was given the book a long time ago and I flip through it often because I like to read the descriptions and stories behind the different creatures. I was wondering that if I began writing a book could I use the creatures from this book?

You would think they would have a copyright, but there are very many monsters within the book that can't be copyrighted(I'm guessing). They have descriptions of dinosaurs, elves, sea monsters, titans, dragons, and all that stuff you see in very many fantasy books. I know you can't copyright those things but there are also many inside the book I've never heard of. Is it possible that these certain creatures are copyrighted?

I really don't know much about the copyright process so please, enlighten me.

avesjohn · 09-24-2007, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sardpete

Isn't there also the question of acknowlegement?

I'm wondering this, too.

My first story, which I started in 5th or 6th grade back in 1999-2000, was basically an unabashed steal from the plot and characters of the first season of TV's Digimon. Now, over the years, as I've matured, so has the story. For one, the equivalents of the Digimon are much more like regular animals (the ability to talk and change into similar animals notwithstanding); for another, the characters are slightly older, and not "sugar-coated" as if they were on a TV show, plus they have greatly expanded pasts and futures (my other stories, which are much more realistic, will show these), and some different personality traits (I totally replaced the Mimi character equivalent with a male author surrogate). They're young teens, and they act that way, cursing and all. The plot revolves around a single main villain, rather than several as in the TV series. The story itself is epic in scope, and will be divided into 3 parts a la Lord of the Rings. Basically, I've expanded the concept for an adult audience. (Brutal violence! Cursing! Innuendo! The PG-13 rating's one allowed use of the f-word! It's all there!) At one point, I plan on having the kids exchange in conversation: "Am I the only one who finds our situation suspiciously similar to that Digimon show from a few years back?" (FYI, the story is set in October 2006). Another one then replies, "Yeah. If this was a movie and not real life, they'd probably be suing somebody's ass right now." (or something to that effect). In that sense, my story is a parody/satire, though it is intended to be dramatic, too.

Where is the line drawn?

Mermaid on the breakwater · 10-05-2007, 03:43 PM

Brilliant thread. But there's a simple answer, and I am afraid it's a rather cynical one. Most writers immitate, great authors steal.

Mermaid on the breakwater · 10-05-2007, 03:49 PM

And no, that isn't promoting plagiarism. It's just a fact that all published authors take ideas and make them their own.

bjefn9 · 10-09-2007, 07:46 PM

i'm still kinda confused about the plagerism thing. i know that calling a villan morgoth and giving him three special jewls is plagerism, but if your story has overall story plots are the same, with different details, like the farm boy thing, or if there is a character in a book that you really like and you give him a similar name and personality, but different story line or role in society, is it plagerism.

Mike C · 10-11-2007, 05:14 AM

Basic similarities in plot are not plagiarism, else 90% of fantasy writers would be in court right now defending their decision to send the farm-boy off on a quest armed with a magic sword. As would a lot of writers of thrillers, murder mysteries, etc where plotting necessarily follows certain conventions.

If you're sensible about it you can even lift plots wholesale - Jane Smiley's novel A Thousand Acres is a reworking of King Lear, updated and moved to midwestern USA. Alan Gratz wrote a YA novel, Something Rotten, based on Hamlet (both acknowledge their sources, btw). There are dozens more.

If you do this, the trick is to take the basic premise and make it your own. Don't, for example, write about a writer and his family snowed in in a rural hotel with only ghosts for company and call it The Gleaming. You won't get away with it.

Alex McKee · 10-20-2007, 09:52 PM

Eragon is a Bildungsroman with a grand quest element. So is LotR, The Hobbit, Star Wars and all sorts of other fiction. Even Harry Potter is ultimately derived from the same stock.

Yes, Paolini took excessive inspiration from other books in my opinion but clearly the lawyers do not believe that there is a case for a plagiarism suit.

MerryLlama · 10-26-2007, 11:51 AM

I think the wosrt example of plagiarism is Sword of Shananar and Lord of the Rings- they are almost identical! But i think that it is very hard to come up with a completely unique storyline so some copying is inevertable

snorrie · 10-26-2007, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C
Don't, for example, write about a writer and his family snowed in in a rural hotel with only ghosts for company and call it The Gleaming. You won't get away with it.

How about The Shiny? Does that work? LOL

ChrisBFL · 10-31-2007, 12:24 AM

In a way,if you are a big fan of a particular genre or author,I think it is impossible not to be influenced by what you read and in some cases you tend to mimic a style of writing that you really like. I don't see how anyone can help this of couse, and unless they are a truly unique and creative genius forging a new style of writing.