Thhis sounds bad, but its my sister. I wrote this poem and entered it into the contest that goes nationally and I got some ratings and they say it is pretty good. But, my sister is copying not only my topic, but the same alliteration at the end of each stanza. I have brought it up with her and she doesn't seem to care. Alsom she is entereing the same contest and I don't want to lose because of her or be accused of plagiarizm. It is too late to withdraw mine, but she sends hers in soon. Help!
2007-03-13 06:06:05 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Talk to your parents about this.
2007-03-13 06:14:26 · answer #1 · answered by prekinpdx 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In North America, as soon as you write something, it is legally yours. Plagiarism happens a lot. Think about that! We mostly copy someone when we write, even not knowing it.
Basically, most topics have been dealt with, especially in poetry. As far as alliterations are concerned, this is not plagiarism. As someone said, you can't copyright an idea.
Don't take it to court with your sister! You may win but you will lose money and time and energy.
And juries are not stupid. They will see the date your sister entered the poem, and since you probably have the same name, they will know for sure something is fishy. You can also try to contact them and explain what happened.
Don't worry, everything will be fine!
2007-03-13 07:25:48 · answer #2 · answered by amepoesie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. You cannot copyright an idea. Only the finished form of the idea. There is nothing to stop your sister from writing about the same topic.
2. Alliteration is a poetic form. There is nothing to stop your sister from using alliteration in her poem.
Unless she has copied your poem verbatim, there is no copyright infringement.
3. If this "national" contest is poetry.com, RUN. RUN LONG. AND RUN. They are a well-known scam company. They tell everybody that their poems are good and publishable, and then expect you to buy a copy of the book. If fact, your sister could submit the IDENTICAL poem as yours and she will get the IDENTICAL positive response back.
2007-03-13 08:29:54 · answer #3 · answered by bardsandsages 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
same topic? THAT's hardly stealing (otherwise, Richard MArx could sue everyone who writes sappy love songs).
And the same alliteration at the end of each stanza, if EVERYTHING ELSE is different, is probably okay.
There was a court case where some guy had photographed his feet, standing on the edge of a building looking down. An ad company used that same concept - different picture - in their ad. Guy #1 sues. Court rules in favor of AD agency, since you cannot copyright an IDEA.
--same analysis for written works.--
You're SOL, dude. Just make sure sure your poem is BETTER than your sister's, and FIRST.
2007-03-13 06:21:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It may sound mean, but the best thing you can do is to steal her poem and get rid of it. It's the only thing you can really do to stop her from entering the contest. If you had more time, then you could do something less drastic. Next time, you should keep your poem secret from other people because plagiarism is possible when others see it.
2007-03-13 06:14:14 · answer #5 · answered by Safety Third 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell your parents about it and say that what your sister is doing is illegal and they should talk to her.
Put the copyright symbol ((c) 2007)on your work (if you have not done so) and tell your sister and parents your sister has stolen your copyrighted work and you will sue her and and will contact the company sponsoring the contest that your material was stolen and they should not publishing it!
2007-03-13 06:31:40 · answer #6 · answered by newyorkgal71 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm sure you won't want to take a court order out on her would you ?
If she doesn't listen to reason there is little else you can do. If yours is already entered, surely the judges will have date-stamped your entry - in which case a later submission is more likely to be judged as plagiarism rather than yours.
2007-03-13 06:10:48 · answer #7 · answered by the_lipsiot 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unless you've copyrighted the work, and by that I mean that you've written down exactly the format you're using for that poem, then there's not much you can do except not let your sister see your work in future...
2007-03-13 06:11:40 · answer #8 · answered by duncan m 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Flattered? possibly to extra cutting-edge posters right here, they are going to fail to correctly known that account as a pretend Michardav. although, to others this is of course pretend and not probably attempting. i will provide plenty extra credit that what he can provide. particular, if somebody have been attempting to defame me, i might realize it as a attractiveness of my skill. yet whilst that's a lame attempt, then i might view it as an insult to my intelligence, and probably to every person else in touch.
2016-11-25 00:38:50 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let her send it. Her nasty methodology will catch up with her.
Your sister seems like she could present problems in your future. Buy a trunk with a lock and hide stuff from her in your anti-sister chamber.
2007-03-13 07:11:21 · answer #10 · answered by murkglider 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i know it sounds mean, but steal your sisters "poem", and any other traces of it, burn it, and bury the ashes. then tell her straight up, "If you steal another poem of mine or any body else, i will take it to court you playerizing pest". it is mean and all, but it will work. GOOD LUCK
2007-03-13 06:17:02 · answer #11 · answered by Stephen'sGirl 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋