'Apparently' Plagiarism
Okay, some background. I am a low-ranked fanfiction mod on Mediaminer.org. I don't do much beyond help decide on featured fanfiction, but I do have access to the admin forum. So I got first row seats for a plagiarism wank.


Meet Aeryn the Demon. She's a 'writer' in the Inuyasha fandom. For whatever reason, she decides to copy a novel's text (the novel in question happens to be The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn), change the names to Inu-yasha characters, slap an AU label on it, and upload it to mm.org and ff.net. But it's okay, because she says she didn't write the text and credits Julia Quinn.

Yeah. Right.

Not only did ff.net ban her ass once, but the the Admin mailbox for mm.org gets a rather terse email from Ms. Quinn's publisher. Apparently, they are Not Amused by Aeryn's antics and are taking it up with the site admins.

Needless to say, the publishers get an apologetic email back, and Aeryn gets a rather PO'd email from the admins about how 'Plagiarism is bad, mmmkay?' and a banned account. I would offer quotes, but all of this happened in private forums, and that would be rude. I am told the publishers also contacted her.

Of course, I am boggling at the wank, but I can't post it here because it all happened behind locked forums. About all the general site sees is a reminder on the front page that plagiarism is not tolerated.

Well, Aeryn posted an 'apology' that I was pointed to today. I quote here in case it is deleted.

I regret to inform you all loyal readers, that due to the fact that The Hanyou Who Loved Me is supposedly plaigerism, it will not be shown anymore. I do believe, however, that I had warned people that I was re-writing the novel to include Inu Yasha characters as stated below.

"I don't own Inu Yasha, nor did I write this piece of literature from whence this story comes. (Thanks Julia Quinn) This novel, by said Julia Quinn is actually called The Viscount Who Loved Me."

My apologies, readers, but This fic will no longer be up on mediaminer.org. Perhaps I should put it elsewhere. Farewell readers.

AerynTheDemon


Even better are the reviews. Again, quoted in case of deletion, and reversed so that they will be in chronological order...

 Title: DIE!
Reviewed By: Kagome_The_Little_Ally_Of_Justice [MediaMiner Member]  On: May 29, 2004 14:08 EDT
Comment/Review:
I wish to personally inform the self-righteous WORM who whined to MM.org about this fic that I HATE YOU. You are a whiny little prick that doesn't deserve to be allowed on this site. Please kick yourself in the butt for me. Death&Daggers, Moi

Title: Throughly Annoyed
Reviewed By: Wolf_Demon_Ayame [MediaMiner Member]  On: May 30, 2004 21:57 EDT
Comment/Review:
I'd like to second Kagome's statements. If she said that she was re-writing the fic/novel with the anmes substituted...SHE"S NOT IN THE WRONG! I was really looking forward to the next and subsequent chappies. I would like to say that I am disappointed in the snitchlike behaviour of the rat who told. YOU'RE on my list buddy...and it's not the good/birthday kind either. *shakes her fist* Damn you!

Title: awwww
Reviewed By: Sirius The Dark Angel [MediaMiner Member]  On: June 04, 2004 01:29 EDT
Comment/Review:
I wanted to read it V_V' Dran you This internet site!!!!!!


 Title: Gasp!!!
Reviewed By: Sirius The Dark Angel [MediaMiner Member]  On: June 04, 2004 01:32 EDT
Comment/Review:
You mean someone removed this from the site.* face begans to burn with fury!!!!* I will kill them!! I really wated to read this really baddly!!!!!!!! I agree with the other two.

 Title: Fanilia, Administrator, Mediaminer.org
Reviewed By: Fanilia [MediaMiner Member]  On: July 27, 2004 01:39 EDT
Comment/Review:
To AerynTheDemon: 'If you're old enough to write fan fiction, you are old enough to know what Plagiarism is'. You need to understand that it's not just words that are copyrighted, it's the thoughts and ideas the orginal author spent months working on. Those things came from her/his mind and imagination. To copy it, changing only the names, is NOT OK even if you give credit to the orginal author. It is still stealing and is illegal in the United States, Canada and most other countries. Publishing books is a business and the copyright owners can be very serious in dealing with plagiarism no matter who or how old the author is (and yes, your parents are also reposnsible for your actions, both legally and financially). If we leave works of this nature, we could and would have to face possible legal ramifications up to and including the closing down of the entire site. That would leave over 2,000 forum members without a forum, and well over 1,000 members in each the Fiction site and the Art galleries without a place to archive and display the works THEY actually created themselves without having to steal someone else's work and change the names. You're not welcome on this site, and if you have any comments feel free to direct them to me. There is a link to my profile and email in my name, but then there is one for all our members in yours too.

Title: Lady Macbeth, Moderator, MediaMiner.org
Reviewed By: Lady Macbeth [MediaMiner Member]  On: July 27, 2004 01:49 EDT
Comment/Review:
I would also like to point out to the parties below that as much as you may "hate" us, death threats are also illegal, even if you "don't mean it" when confronted with it. Posting abusive messages for the Administration and Moderation teams (the ones who follow up on and remove documents from the site) is a good way to make a permanent record of your intent and thinly veiled threats. Please keep that in mind, and remember to use the Contact links in the future.

The stupidity, it burns. Seriously.