Content Chaos: Writer Vs. Plagiarizer

So how exactly did I find a plagiarized copy of my content? CopyScape! Just type in the URL of your article/post, and CopyScape lists the various websites where your article can be found on the whole/in parts. For greater accuracy, CopyScape highlights the text and gives you word count of the ‘inspired’ content.

Now the blog was being hosted by WordPress, and they have a strict policy regarding content. So I emailed WordPress about the issue and was told to follow the following instructions and email Automattic.

The following email was dispatched by me to Automattic,

Amit to Automattic

Date: Thu, Dec 11, 2008

Subject : Plagiarized Content

Electronic signature: http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/1625/7bd836ea1652f2dd9685ac1ns7.png

Type of Copyright Infringement: The Photocopy – The writer copies significant portions of text straight from a single source, without alteration.

Original Source: http://www.healthmad.com/Alternative/Cool-Cannabis-Marijuana-Can-Beat-Alzheimers.359829

Infringing Source: Held back to protect privacy

My contact information,
Amit Goyal
+91-xxxxx-xxxxx/+91-xxxxx-xxxxx
xxxxx xxx, xxxxx xxxxxx, x-x/xxx, xx xxxx,
xxxxx – xxx xxx, xxxxxxxxxxx, xxxxxx

Statement by me,
Yes, I believe in good faith that the use of the content that I claim to infringe my copyright is not authorized by law, or by the copyright owner or such owner’s agent; and under penalty of perjury, that all of the information contained in my Infringement. Notice is accurate, and that I am either the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on their behalf.

After this I left a message on the plagiarizer’s blog, here’s the ensuing email conversation with him. Again, the name has been held back to protect his privacy.

John Doe to Amit Goyal

Date: Thu, Dec 11, 2008         

Subject: Article

I’m sorry for the misunderstanding. I don’t always log on to the blog; therefore I didn’t get to see the comment. The reason I didn’t take it down until just now was because your comment was marked as ’spam’. So there was no way for me to read it. If you wish to contact me in the future, please e-mail me as indicated on the ‘contact’ page. Please do not leave a comment, as it may be not read.

Thank you.

Amit Goyal to John Doe

Date: Thu, Dec 11, 2008         

Subject: Re: Article

I sent a formal request to WordPress Automattic asking for your blog to be taken down, I’d probably need a written statement from your side citing it as a misunderstanding for retraction of the above plagiarizing issue. I’m extremely offended that you blatantly copied my article word-to-word from HealthMad so please convince me as to why I should retract my statement from WordPress.

Regards,
Amit

John Doe to Amit Goyal

Date: Thu, Dec 11, 2008         

Subject: Re: Article

First of all, I thank you for your quick response. The article in question wasn’t posted by myself. A friend of mine was my contributing author, who apparently didn’t take his work seriously. He is no longer writing for me as of yesterday. I know how you must feel having your work carelessly used without your permission, and I sincerely apologize. I assure you this has never happened before nor will it happen again. Thank you understanding.

Regards,

John Doe

The article was taken down within 16 hours of me finding it, who knows what consequences he’ll have to deal with when WordPress goes through his cached pages.

This is probably what Triond would have done or told me do if I approached them for help. This goes to show, that you can protect your work if you just put in a lil’ effort. I understand that content plagiarizing isn’t exactly a joyride for any writer, but blaming the publication house for it is illogical.