Reading about the recent discovery of a major newspaper in India ripping off the photo of a Blogger has reignited my anger and paranoia about web plagiarism, and at the same time, has at last fanned my desire to keep blogging anyway. (see the whole expose at: Wide Angle View of India A major Indian newspaper steals a blogger’s photograph!! )
This incident has struck a nerve with me. Nearly two months ago, I was shocked, concerned and disgusted (okay, okay! freaaaked out!) to see my entire essay (Cake Not Bombs) and photograph splogged! I did everything a frantic new blogger could hope to do. I wrote cease and desist letters, contacted the evil-doer’s web host (with no reply).
Worst of all, it threw a huge wet blanket on my blogger spirit. The euphoria of finding an outlet for my writing, my thoughts, my point of view…well, just evaporated. I guess I just always secretly hoped that in my bloggy life such things would never happen to me, the way someone might think accidents or diseases will never happen to them.
Now I guess I have gotten to the point where I have accepted that regardless of whatever precautions I could take, there is no real way to prevent some jerk from ripping off some of my pictures, or art, or writings. This awareness does affect my inner censor more than before, and definitely makes me rethink posting any of my art here. Sigh…
So, while I’m still left with the question, “are such audacious acts of plagiarism preventable?” and “what is the most one can hope to accomplish by hounding the perpetrators?” I’ve finally decided not let the threat of it prevent me from putting my thoughts into black and white. In fact, I am approaching my writing, and participation in cyber reality, with more of a warrior’s spirit. Ready to rumble. Go ahead, make my day.
Still, I continue to hope for answers to nagging blogging thievery questions by staying informed of any headway bloggers such as Sherma (hi!) and Nita may make in their battles in the belly of this media beast. Perhaps, as many bloggers say, the best recourse is in blogging itself.
May ethical blogging prevail! wohooo!!
