This forum looks PLAGIARISED - Writers Anonymous Forum

While I can see your point for being mad, I don't think there is anything you can do about it. No offense but "Writers Anonymous" isn't the most creative name on the planet. Search Google and you'll find that name everywhere. Not only that but FanFiction.net is a different site. There are many different books, movies, and stories that use the same name. I hardly think copying the unoriginal title of a forum on a different site can be considered plagiarism.

But to find a happy medium, I suggest the forum be renamed "Writer Anonymous," without the S.

#2 Oct 30th 2006, 7:56pm . Edited Oct 30th 2006, 7:56pm

D L Dzioba

These sites used to be linked as one.

I think I'd be flattered if someone copied one of my forums. It's not like these twin fourms are unusual. They both ask rather commonplace questions.

#3 Oct 30th 2006, 8:17pm

Rhea Silverkeys

No, Writers Anonymous is a common name.

If the title was the same and the topics did not come from my forum I wouldn't care.

But the fact that he obviously knew where the title and topics came from, the fact that this forum very OBVIOUSLY comes from mine, is what gets me.

#4 Oct 30th 2006, 9:26pm

Dude, it's just a forum who cares kid.

#5 Oct 31st 2006, 3:29pm

It's not like this one is as popular as yours, there aren't many people adding to it anyway.

#6 Oct 31st 2006, 3:54pm

Rhea Silverkeys

It's a forum that I worked on to have people post on. And then I find someone who takes what I've done and create something under his own name, without my knowledge.

I'm wondering why the "creater" of this forum hasn't replied, as he's obviously already been on this forum since I've posted this topic AND sent the PM to him.

#7 Nov 03rd 2006, 7:21am

Once again, I'll say that I understand your annoyance. But once again, I'll say that I doubt there is anything you can do about it. Titles cannot be copyrighted, as far as I know. You need to trademark them, something I doubt you did with your forum. I'm sure you have run across unrelated books/stories/movies with the same name.

A similar thing goes for topics. There are certain topics found almost everywhere (last post wins, rate the avatar/signature/title/etc above you, love or hate, hurt or heal, etc). Ideas cannot be copyrighted either, though your exact words for expressing those ideas can. Each post is the property of the person who makes it. Thus, many of the posts on your forum belong to Michael2. As far as I can tell, he is dbz 77. He is copying his own posts across forums; I don't see what the problem is.

If he were copying someone else's posts (not thread ideas) then, yes, that would be a problem. Perhaps you can point out more clearly which threads you think are plagiarized.

#8 Nov 03rd 2006, 12:52pm . Edited Nov 03rd 2006, 12:57pm

Bloodflower

While I too understand your annoyance, really, I don't really see what the big issue is. It's an online forum, not a Ph.D. thesis, and there are definitely no IPR on online forums and topics.

#9 Nov 03rd 2006, 3:58pm

It jus aint cool to steal ppls ideas like that...

Be creative make up ur own stuff...

#10 Nov 04th 2006, 2:17pm

They're not really creative ideas sooner or later someone was going to come up with something generic anyway. Plus this is Fictionpress not Fanfiction.net there's a variety of different people here compared to over there, though I am aware that many people use both including yourself. And I'll say this again. It's just a forum, a very basic one at that. It's not much of a big deal as you're making it out to be.

#11 Nov 04th 2006, 3:53pm

It jus aint cool to steal ppls ideas

And Fanfiction is "stealing" already created characters not your own...

#12 Nov 04th 2006, 3:57pm

What #11 and #12 said. Plus, he's only stealing ideas from himself. I quickly went through both forums and here's what I found.

The below threads are found in both forums but they were posted by the same person:

- Research

- Product Placement

- Choreographing Fight Scenes

- First Person POV

- Story Updates

These were started by Rhea SilverKeys:

- Paper or Computer ("Paper or computer?")

The only thing copied was the idea, not the post itself. See for example: http://www.writingforums.com/showthread.php?t=34597

And these are arguable:

- Self-Plug: Post Your Story Links ("Self-plug: Brand new fanfiction")

- How Many Have YOU Written? ("Writing: How many have you FINISHED?")

Yes, I have a lot of time on my hands. It is clear that you forum inspired his since he knew about your forum and chose to give his the same name. But I think you are overreacting a bit in calling it "plagiarized." Just look at the Inheritance Trilogy—I don't see Chris Paolini being sued, despite being very obviously *cough* /inspired/ by fantasy books such as The Lord of the Rings.

#13 Nov 04th 2006, 4:42pm . Edited Nov 04th 2006, 4:43pm

I know it aint such a big deal...

But...

At least say u did it...

#14 Nov 04th 2006, 5:18pm

There's no reason to say he did it.

#15 Nov 04th 2006, 6:25pm

Bloodflower

I agree with RL, and have only one thing to say to Rhea:

Learn how to pick your battles. :)

Your forum on FFN was a good idea, and there wasn't one like it on FP; michael granted FP users the chance to have a comprehensive forum and, as I said before, this isn't a Ph.D. thesis.

#16 Nov 04th 2006, 10:28pm

Still dude...

It was an obvious copy...

If it was just the tittle it would be nothing...

This dude has posts that are obviously inspired by Rhea's...

At least have the decency to say it...

#17 Nov 05th 2006, 5:42am

This dude has posts that are obviously inspired by Rhea's...

1 - Do point out which ones.

2 - As long as he did not copy any post word-for-word, it's not plagiarism. (And even then, think of the number of people who have said, "Hello, how are you?")

3 - Inspired by does not mean plagiarized. No ideas are 100% original; they are just building on what others have done before.

#18 Nov 05th 2006, 12:38pm

At least have the decency to say it...

You should have the decency to drop this and get over it.

#19 Nov 05th 2006, 3:04pm