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I think this is actually a mixed issue; reuse/remixing of content is essential to culture, especially an internet one. However, the attribution issue is a huge

I think this is actually a mixed issue; reuse/remixing of content is essential to culture, especially an internet one. However, the attribution issue is a huge issue in its own right, and IMO a cultural one. Would we care if someone stole a few words? We definitely would if it was a full-blown parody. You do see people getting called out on it in places like reddit though, and even comedians in real life. In the end it depends how much value a group places on originality and properly sourcing information.

visakanv 12y ago
Yep, you're right. As a writer, marketer, creator and consumer of content, I enjoy thinking about things like this. I've witnessed my work being plagiarized and edited before. I personally accept it as just the way reality is– some people are lazy about attribution, and other people like feeling talented and special when they diliberately share others' content without attribution or remixing. The answer to "Why doesn't anyone care"- it all boils down to incentive structures. "Parody accounts" can steal with impunity. "Casual randos" can steal with impunity. - If you're an artist, and faceless, nameless folks plagiarize your work, going after them actually makes you look insecure or clueless. (Metallica and Napster come to mind.) - If you get plagiarized by someone Bigger, Badder and More Powerful, then that's a news story in itself- you're the underdog, and everybody loves to root for the underdog. The best response to plagiarism, in my opinion, is to make more art. Some artists get very offended by this- they feel that they are entitled to all the attribution to all their work forever and ever. And that would be a beautiful world, I guess, and maybe discussions like these help to educate people. I also can imagine a world where- when you make a joke that's been made before (online), or you post an image that's been posted before, a sort of reverse Google / reverse image search will reveal to readers where the origin of the remix is. For anybody who is curious about this sort of thing, I highly recommend the video Everything Is A Remix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coGpmA4saEk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coGpmA4saEk

visakanv 12y ago

Yep, you're right. As a writer, marketer, creator and consumer of content, I enjoy thinking about things like this. I've witnessed my work being plagiarized and edited before. I personally accept it as just the way reality is– some people are lazy about attribution, and other people like feeling talented and special when they diliberately share others' content without attribution or remixing. The answer to "Why doesn't anyone care"- it all boils down to incentive structures. "Parody accounts" can steal with impunity. "Casual randos" can steal with impunity. - If you're an artist, and faceless, nameless folks plagiarize your work, going after them actually makes you look insecure or clueless. (Metallica and Napster come to mind.) - If you get plagiarized by someone Bigger, Badder and More Powerful, then that's a news story in itself- you're the underdog, and everybody loves to root for the underdog. The best response to plagiarism, in my opinion, is to make more art. Some artists get very offended by this- they feel that they are entitled to all the attribution to all their work forever and ever. And that would be a beautiful world, I guess, and maybe discussions like these help to educate people. I also can imagine a world where- when you make a joke that's been made before (online), or you post an image that's been posted before, a sort of reverse Google / reverse image search will reveal to readers where the origin of the remix is. For anybody who is curious about this sort of thing, I highly recommend the video Everything Is A Remix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coGpmA4saEk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coGpmA4saEk