Hello Spirit Launcher's!! You may be wondering why there hasn't been a new article posted for the past few days. Well, here's the deal. And please let me make this perfectly clear that in no way shape or form is this article directed at any of my social media or local followers. I am thankful for your love and support of my blog. This is more of an FYI to new and even established writers. I am simply writing this to inform you of what has transpired in order to shed some very important light on the protection of our work. This is a very difficult article for me to write. Unfortunately, I have been unable to post new material until I was able to make it abundantly clear on my web page that my material is protected by copyright laws. I have been noticing since posting my very first article that a much larger site would then post verbatim or similar material on their site sometimes the very next day. Either way each incident was within a very short period of time. The gross similarities have been a repeated occurance over the last few weeks. So I knew I had to look into making very serious changes on my site.
This has been incredibly disappointing to me but a great lesson as well. You know me I am always looking for the lessons in everything. I noticed the copy cat problem immediately, but thought maybe it was coincidental at first. However, there is a point where coincidence is no longer a valid excuse. Then a memory came back to me of an interview that was posted months ago before my site even existed, that was created on the other site as if the author had done the interview. And they may have, but the distinct interview questions themselves, were taken verbatim from a popular television show that interviewed the exact same person, and there was no mention of that at all. Strange right? But life went on and I kind of tucked that memory away. That all came back as soon as I started to see giant similarities in wording and topics between my work and the other site's. Now that I am involved in social media I started to notice other people's work being used with no mention or credit to the authors, again strange right? We all acquire signature styles and phrases with our writing. Give credit when you use other people's work. It is out of common courtesy and respect and very simply, it is the law. It is that simple.
This was shocking and appalling all at the same time. I admired this individual. I thought they were the real deal. But as I have learned, some heroes will fall. Sometimes people are granted this status too soon and fall because they were not meant to be there in the first place. We are all deriving our material from the same Source, I genuinely believe that. Yet the material is translated to use with our own unique verbalization and fingerprint. That is why we are given these talents. As I've talked before, it is so very important to use our own talents because we are honoring our creative Source when we do. When we copy other's work without crediting them for it and posing as the originator, we are not being our true selves. We are not tapping into our creative self which is the life that was intended for us to live. Often times when people pose as someone or something they are not, it is due to an overwhelming need to be accepted. They are after the glitz and the glam; remember me talking in an earlier article about working solely for the accolades? It is a desperate call they make. When they become bombarded or feel the pressure is too much, they take the easy way out. They cheat. This should never be a deal put on the table as an option. Nothing good will come of it. As a matter of fact, the Universe is watching which in turn means our greatest Source is watching and they will gift you a giant box of consequence following the act. You may get away with it for awhile, but just because you aren't caught or called out on it, doesn't mean it is acceptable...EVER!
I did not want to write this article because it is so deeply upsetting to me. However, I felt it important to get the word out because I am sure that many writers have had to deal with similar situations. And I am positive that social media although it has its benefits, can be a breeding ground for copy cats. My work has been used by others on social media, yet I have been credited for my work which is a totally different scenario and I encourage that and appreciate that immensely.
I set out to create this blog in order to launch reader's inner spirits and inspiring everyone to inspire each other through living the fullest life possible. I don't look at this as being a set back. I look at it as preparation for a really big future.
So dear bloggers, let us relish in the beauty that is our creative selves. Let us share in the love for what we do and our work that will change the world. Let us be a community of Universal code that as long as we work in harmony, our lives will become as they are intended. Let us not follow down the wrong path and get lost in what is to be a beautiful process. The process of being ourselves.
As always with love,
Jennifer
P.S. Join me tomorrow as I talk more on this issue and share all of the information I have learned. I hope it to be as helpful to you and your journey as a writer as it was to me.
Copyright 2013. Jennifer Fremion. All rights reserved.
Hi Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your thoughts and cautions dealing with this subject matter. Being new to the blogosphere myself, I appreciate hearing about these things, so I can learn how to adequately protect my work in the future. Hope everything is sorted out, and thanks again for your uplifting voice and positive presence!
With gratitude,
Wendy ~ http://www.reinventingwen.com
Thank you Wendy! I'm glad this helped. If you have anymore questions feel free to email me! It definitely has been an eye opener for me in social media and we are still monitoring things. Hopefully now that I am showing my copyright they will think twice about doing anymore of this but time will tell. I always say, find the lesson to be learned in every situation. Love your blog and hope you are doing well!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jennifer, I'm doing great! Hope all is well in your world too, and I'll be sure to reach out to you if I think of any other questions. I'll keep sending good energy your way, and hope that you and your wonderful work stay protected. Also, I'm so happy that you love my blog--that really means a lot to me. I'm actually starting a new blog soon. It'll be housed under my "backyard adventures" category, and will be sort of like a travel-style blog ... except I won't be traveling too far. It'll focus mainly on rediscovering my beautiful home of Maui. Oh, and I hope this doesn't affect you, but I recently switched over from feedburner to feedblitz for my rss feeds. If you subscribed that way initially, then you may need to resubscribe. I personally like to subscribe to blogs by email, so I still don't fully understand how that rss stuff works. I'm just hoping that I set everything up correctly! Thanks so much for your support, and I'm looking forward to your next uplifting post. :)
ReplyDeleteLove,
Wendy
Thank you again Wendy for your support! I can't wait to read about your backyard adventures in Maui! What an awesome idea! Maui is so beautiful!! I will definitely sign up for your new emails :)
ReplyDeleteWith love,
Jennifer
What a bummer!! So, speaking of this then, I was about to post something on your blog but maybe I shouldnt. I was going through my mom's journals and books of poems and found one that made me think of you and your website. I'm pretty sure she wrote it, so I would be totally bummed if it got "stolen". Let me know a safe way on how I can post things for you and your page that can be inspiring for your readers. Love you buddy!
ReplyDelete