 |
Plagiarism and copyright infringement has become an important liability for any writer, website owner or business with publications to consider in the modern world of media. Never before have ordinary people, citizens of the world or well educated members of a society had more freedom of speech then we do today. Personal websites, journals and Blogs have made it possible for anyone to say what they think, feel or believe. The freedom of the Internet, and home publication tools we have today, make it possible to get our ideas and words into the hands, and eyes of nearly any target audience we choose to associate with.
Plagiarism has always been a problem with students from grade school through some of the most prestigious University’s in the Nation. There have always been a percentage of students who skirted the rules as much as they possibly could. Since pen went on page, and schools have taught students many have attempted to pass off another students words as their own, or turn the same written work in for grades for two different classes. Most academic institutions have established internal reviews, consequences and procedures to deal with students found violating plagiarism and copyright laws.
 |
As a writer, website owner, or contributor of words to the public a person needs to understand the implications of the words they choose to share. When thinking of the “Words” shared publicly the writer, editor and publisher of the words must remember that in some areas plagiarism and copyright have yet to be tested with the rule of law. Writing and publishing has always held legal principals and standards certain rules that apply with television, radio and newspapers may eventually apply to the publisher of websites. We just haven’t had long enough to find out what standards should be met.
It’s logical that publishers, editors and writers on the Internet will be held to the same standards in many areas of the law. Including liable, slander, plagiarism, and copyright violations. It’s also logical that the more reputable a website publisher becomes the more burden of responsibility will be part of the risk taken to publish words with the public.
Most media outlets have huge overhead for avoiding this kind of risk. When someone writes paid or not, for another media outlet the risk is taken by the publishers and ultimately the writer.
With any kind of risk taken, Insurance will eventually, find ways of offering protection, and claims coverage for a wider definition of named losses. Eventually, publishers who fail to respect the long history of standards, policies and laws of the media will be held accountable and liable. Media outlets including those wanting to maintain a strong reputation will eventually find themselves spending some specified amount of money specifically to protect them from this kind of liability. And writers will find it more difficult to sell their work to publishers…meaning there will become a day when even the Internet is difficult to find an audience for the words writers want to share.
In a nutshell, Publishers including Internet website owners will be forced to purchase insurance products to avoid lawsuits and copyright violations. This will cost a publisher much more money, especially if they are ever actually involved in some kind of legal process. That publisher will be forced to raise their standard for hiring, and over view. The publisher will be inclined to look for the best writers there can be found. It will be much more difficult for new writers to see their words published, without self-publishing and those writers who are paid to contribute will be paid less as a whole due to the additional insurance reputable website publishers may eventually need to cover their legal costs, and insurance bills.
I personally, don’t want to see this happen. It will however, as all new media has eventually be tested within the laws of the United States constitution, and most civilized countries with their own laws to enforce. It has always been exciting when New forms of media have come into the hands of the common person. There have always been the renegade years with all forms of publication, dating back to ancient history.
It will happen on the Internet too. The reputable, reliable and dependable websites will be pushed to the top and those with wreck-less, careless, and/or Lawless behaviors will be pushed to the bottom, off the list, or only accessible to the underground.
You might ask how this can possibly happen to something like the Internet. It already is happening. In many countries, filters have been added, and some citizens of the world can’t freely read writing from websites found to violate the laws of their land. Other ways, that the words of value are being separated from the unrepeatable websites, are by use of search engine algorithms and indexing. Eventually, it will become the case that Not every Joe Blow will see their website listed with a key word search on a search engine, and only those with commonly viewed values and standards will be offered for people in various parts of the world to view.
The Internet also makes plagiarism simple to find. The bottom line to remember when writing on the Internet is that where words have published first–they belong, and only there. If a writer wishes to expand on the same idea, add more to the idea, or reproduce the same information, new words are required each time. This is a writer’s most important protection for their own words. No publication wants to continue employment with writers who cross the lines. These standards of conduct is the only way writers, editors and publishers are able to insure their risk against whatever the Internet laws eventually become.
Related Blogs:
- What is “Risk?”
- Personal Liability Umbrella Insurance
- Mitigating Claims Damages–What Does That Mean?
Photo credits for this blog entry: 
(no use restrictions for these photos)
Glossary of Insurance Terms:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J-K | L | M | N | O | P | Q-R | S | T | U-V | W-Z
Families.com Blogs are for informational purposes only. Families.com assumes no responsibility for consumer choices. Consumers are reminded that it is their responsibility to research their choices properly and speak to a certified insurance professional prior to making any decision as important as an insurance purchase.