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May Palacpac

As a professional writer, I take plagiarism personally.

I take pride in every work I publish, whether online or offline, whether it’s well-received or ignored completely, because I’ve put my time and my heart in every single one.

There are many ways to plagiarise online without seemingly having done so, and it’s easy to make excuses and keep a straight face while at it that confrontations become useless; but really, if you look within yourself, what does that make you?

If you want to grow in your skill, learn to care. Care for your readers and for what they are searching for. Write for them.

Don’t copy. Don’t rearrange someone else’s work then take credit for it. Don’t be a tomato!

Write in such a way that you are speaking to your readers from what you know. So you need to read and you need to read well. Watch the news. Be aware of your surroundings. Be aware of your industry. Be aware of the world your readers belong to.

Listen first.

The more you really know, the better you will write.

Then you don’t have to copy anyone.

45 responses to “On plagiarism: Are you the same tomato?”

Janice

2016-10-06

You know exactly how I feel about this since some people have copied my work too. Some people may not know that plagiarism is what they’re doing but that’s not an excuse. I believe we all have to be aware of what we are doing, regardless of the industry we are in. Some times I just tell myself “at least I know I’m the original” but it’s still irritating.

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Melisa Sanchez

2016-10-06

I agree, there are so many in social media now that when they need a photo on their post even in facebook and IG they use other photos without any abiso sa may ari nagulat ka nalang nandon na ang photo mo, ang pinaka worst pa tinanggal ang water mark.

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Gracie

2016-10-06

I agree, being a designer (clothing) it felt really sad when someone grabbed your style and credit it as if they’re the one who really created it :'( same as in writing pala ano? We all have unique talents & style naman but this is a great reminder Mommy May especially for newbie bloggers like me.

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Neri Ann

2016-10-06

I used watermark for my images before kasi nga I found out na pwede lang icopy from Google images. Now, medyo tinamad na ko, I do hope wala namang kukuha ng mga images ko. And for the writing, I am not a good writer, pero I am trying my best to express myself on my own way.

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mhaan.a-ds

2016-10-05

Diba you can file a case against plagiarism?

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1. May De Jesus-Palacpac
  
  2016-10-05
  
  Yes you can.
  
  Reply
Jen bave

2016-10-05

Oh well, everything is now available in public, specially photos. You can’t really stop someone from doing some but it’s good that the watermark is there to at least help us bloggers to make sure that our photos can’t be used without our permission. Hmm, yeah, seems like hugot na hugot ah.✌

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1. May De Jesus-Palacpac
  
  2016-10-05
  
  “Oh well, everything is now available in public, specially photos. You can’t really stop someone from doing some” –No, you have no control over another person’s character and morals. And yes, I wrote this at the height of my emotion. My writing is my craft. It is what I do so it’s personal to me.
  
  Reply
Maan

2016-10-05

I’ve never had issues with anyone plagiarising my work (or at least, nothing that I know of! I never did a plagiarism check…), but a couple of times my photos were used without my permission. One was a local business owner here in the city. It wasn’t even a picture of his business but he used it. He had the gall to call me out kasi nasa Google naman daw picture ko which means anyone can use it. Um okaaay.

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1. May De Jesus-Palacpac
  
  2016-10-05
  
  (Rolls eyes)
  
  That’s the problem with us Filipinos. We have no sense of law and ethics.
  
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Berlin

2016-10-05

Our professors in college mentioned plagiarism a lot of times on our classes. I find it not just unprofessional copying other’s work but more on showing one’s character. I value respect very much. Copying without due credit is not at all showing respect .

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Lhourdes Mercadero

2016-10-04

Its really unprofessional to copy someone’s else work or to grab photo without any consent or giving credits to the owner.

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1. May De Jesus-Palacpac
  
  2016-10-05
  
  There are images for public use available on the internet, but you need to check if it’s published “for public usage.” Sometimes, images are for public usage but owner requires credits and link back. That’s why there are settings for search in Google photos.
  
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Nini Perez

2016-10-04

True! Even as simple as something I posted in Facebook, I get hurt when a friend posts it (not share, ha) and does not even put credits. I put a lot of heart in my writing.

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Coi

2016-10-04

I agree. That’s why, the way I blog is always the way on how I tell it to my friends.. :)

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Ma.Me.Mi.Mommy

2016-10-04

Hugot na hugot! I do hope that whoever did that will get to read your post para matauhan. I wonder if my work has been copied before. How did you find out?

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Denice Diaz-Faeldonia

2016-10-04

I agree with you! Taking up journalism in college this is really a big deal for me, true it is easy to plagiarize but your dignity and honor will be lost with it, as well as other people’s trust in what you do.

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Celerhina Aubrey

2016-10-04

Ehem! Ehem!! Anong hugot neto? PM! You know my take on plagiarism because honestly!!! I take blogging seriously. Nakakabwiset yung makakapal ang fez na sasabihing “I blogged about…” chuhchuchuc.. Pero pagbasa mo, wow!!! Kinopya lang. Also, alam na alam naman if kinopya eh. I mean, are you even capable of writing those lines?? Diosmio.

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Mommy Queenelizabeth

2016-10-04

I agree! I try my best to write from my own experiences and use photos that are mine. All my personal photos are watermarked, and if im using other photos i always put credit to the owner.. this problema and prevalent and sometimes there’s nothing much we can do about it..we’ll put too much work and we’ll end up being ignored..

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Cheryl F

2016-10-04

It’s no joke. I actually don’t mind getting copied as long as with proper credits and permission rather than para sila ang gumawa at nagpakahirap. I can’t imagine why there are people who are like that. And kahit naman with photos, with watermark or wala, kung gustong kopyahin, kokopyahin.

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Nilyn (Above Precious Rubies)

2016-10-04

I also use watermark on my photos. And I’ll be honest I use other photos online but I always credit it back to the site where I got it from. I agree, plagiarism is a serious thing.

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1. May De Jesus-Palacpac
  
  2016-10-04
  
  If the images you’re using are on “public usage” or if the owner of the image has issued a statement that you can use his photo (w/ credits), that’s alright. But if there are no such permissions published, even with credit, you can still get into trouble.
  
  For my part, I get photos that are marked “free for public use” with no need to credit owner,or those free for use with credits to owner, or those that I have permission granted me by the owners themselves, or stock photos I paid for. :)
  
  Rules in photo use: http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/copyright-fair-use-and-how-it-works-for-online-images/
  
  Reply
Michelle

2016-10-03

Plagiarism is a serious case. I hope everyone takes it seriously rin. SI hope wala namang nagp-plagiarize on your work…? Hmm, kung meron man, God bless him/her na lang. Konsensya na nya yon. :D

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Michi

2016-10-03

I agree with Edel, I always watermark my photos but there are times that I saw my photos on other websites, without linking back to my site. Or sometimes I saw it in IG, nacrop na watermark ko.

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Edel

2016-10-03

I think this also applies to those who uses other peoples photos and claim it as theirs . And no, I am not a tomato ;)

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I’m May

Fifty-something storyteller, award-winning writer, long-time content creator, podcast host, artist, an advocate for alternative learning and a staunch supporter of the arts.

Email me at maypalstories@gmail.com