Let's make this clear shall we. Taking people's stories without permission is theft. Taking people's work without permission is theft. Hot-linking is taking people's bandwidth and - you guessed it - that's theft.
There is nothing wrong with starting up a recommendations/review site (There are a fair number of excellent ones around). There is nothing wrong with starting up an updates site (like this one, or like the UXFFD or similar ones in other fandoms). Because these sites refer you back to the original archives or authors sites. We don't pinch stuff - we just check stuff for you. Like our title says - we do the work so you don't have to. What is not all right is taking somebody else's research and passing it off as your own. It's not quite as bad as plagiarism but it's close.
What brought on this latest grumble?? There's a Xena board I sometimes visit, I'm not a member because it's far too chaotic for me, it's also full of lots of new fans who keep reinventing the wheel. I got tired of some of these arguments ten or more years ago - I really don't want to argue the case all over again. Don't get me wrong - I'm delighted that the show still attracts new fans and I'm more than happy to welcome them into the fandom. And I love their enthusiasm. It's just that it would be nice not to have to deal with the same stuff year-after-year.
Anyway - that's beside the point. What happened on the board was that somebody came up with a new (except it wasn't) idea to start a reference site listing all the fics from around the web that were Conqueror stories (a sub-division of the Xena universe based on a two-minute section of an in-programme AU). And a bunch of posters on the board treated this idea as if they'd found the philosopher's stone and were about to produce gold. Comments about what a brilliant idea it was and how great it would be.
Never mind that there was already an absolutely brilliant site in existence. A site which is still regularly updated. A site that had been around for about twelve bloody years. The Annals of the Conqueror.
Now - most of these newbies probably hadn't seen it (I expect some oldies haven't either) though it's mentioned frequently on Xena sites. But - and here's why I'm grumbling - the person who decided to make this brand-spanking-new site, and lap up all the plaudits as though it was their very own brainwave. And post updates to the board as though they were working hard finding links. And act as though it was all their own work. They certainly knew about it. Because they copied the links from it. And did some nifty hot-linking too. And - not so smart after all - they got caught by the AoC's owner. The person who did do all the hard work.
Did they apologise?? Not really. But at least now they have a (small and somewhat less than brilliant but adequate I guess) note on their front page giving credit where it's due.
Yet again the lesson is learnt - the internet is vast - but it's still a small village. Steal stories, steal actual fics, steal research - it doesn't matter - someone will catch you.
Ze
- BtVS
- Chapter 9 of Sleight of Hand by Electra (Electra's Elsewhere).
- Chapter 9 of Sleight of Hand by Electra (BuffynFaith.Net).
- Chapter 4 of Until Death by Dylan (BuffynFaith.Net).
- Weight of the World by babydykecate (BuffynFaith.Net).
- Chapter 9 of After All This Time by Auly (BuffynFaith.Net).
- Chapter 24 of 100 Photographs by Electra (BuffynFaith.Net).
- Chapters 1 to 5 of You by duchovnik (BuffynFaith.Net).
Criminal Minds - Part 13 of Somebody's Watching, Somebody's Waiting by liberty_stewart (Women in Kevlar).
- Part 3 of Collide by Maggsie (Women in Kevlar).
- Part 3 of Bloodsport by darkbardzero (Women in Kevlar).
- Ten Things Emily Prentiss Learned From Her Mother's Staff by Steppenwolf_20 (Women in Kevlar).
- Chapter 18 of Empty Allegiance by Carly Carter (C M Femslash).
- Chapter 20 of Let Me Prove It To You by wild_angel82 (C M Femslash).
- Nowhere Else I'd Rather Be by amichevole (C M Femslash).
- Mistakes by nonsenseandmaya (C M Femslash).
- Chapter 10 of All or Nothing by acheron02 (C M Femslash).
Criminal Minds/NCIS Crossover - Come in From the Rain by cherokee62 (Women in Kevlar).
- Chocolate Kisses by by cherokee62 (Women in Kevlar).
Criminal Minds/X-Men Crossover - Part 8 of Bicker by Alsike (C M Femslash).
- Part 9 (conclusion) of Bicker by Alsike (C M Femslash).
CSI - Chapter 11 of Show Me by vanillabug (cathandsara).
(Kim Harrison's) The Hollows - Chapter 4 of Open Your Eyes by Janine (ivy-rachel).
- Chapter 5 of In the Leyline of Fire by watch_yer_back (ivy-rachel).
The Hollows/Blade:The Series Crossover - Chapter 1 of Release the Tension by seriousfic (ivy-rachel).
- Chapter 2 (conclusion) of Release the Tension by seriousfic (ivy-rachel).
Legend of the Seeker - The Most Terrible Thing by Ministress (LotS Femslash).
- Feelings Are Such a Nightmare, Aren't They? by greeneyed_gem (LotS Femslash).
Merlin - My Lady, Your Honour by rivers_bend (Ladies of Camelot).
Nikki & Nora - Chapter 2 of White Whale by pprbckwrtr & docwho2100 (J S Odds & Ends).
Original - Chapter 8.3 of Flowers of Edo by Nene Adams (Her website).
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