I was robbed.
No, not "doors knocked down, tvs missing, glass smashed" kinda robbed.
I was stolen from, on here. My blog. My precious words were taken from me and used as someone's own. And I feel violated.
Here's what happened: Y'all know I have another blog where I feature Friday Daydreams right??
ATTENTION BLOG STEALER: I am the writer behind R We There Yet Mom? (& the Friday Daydreams)
I like to visit all who link up. So I had a late link today and went to see her "daydream" - it was a lovely one about her honeymoon - I really loved it - and typed up a great comment about it, thanking her. As I hit to save my comment, Blogger must have known I needed to see a little more of her blog, because it didn't save my comment but instead re-routed me to a post on her blog titled "Ugh Facebook".
I started reading it and thought to myself - "that's weird, that sounds a lot like the one I wrote in July about The Facebook. THAT'S CAUSE IT WAS Y'ALL. my post. mostly word for word. Right down to the Jake Ryan & HEB reference. At least she took the references to my kids out if it.
So what's the first thing I do?? IM all my IRL blogging buddies - they convince me to ask her to remove it. Which I politely do:
And cause they all have nothing better to do on a Saturday night, they all left AWESOME comments telling her their opinions of stealing someone's hard written words too.
Oh how I love these girls!!!!!!!!!
Now I am not naive enough to think this never happens. I am sure MANY unethical bloggers out there steal other's posts. I just never thought anyone would want to take mine. (ha ha). Am I flattered? Not.At.All.
I worked hard on that post - put the time in to make it witty - and to top it off, it was a meaningful post - I have seen some relationships ruined by Facebook - as silly as it is, writing about The Facebook was rather cathartic for me. And to have someone take my words from me feels just as violating as if they broke into my house and took my tv.
And after a little googling and some advice from some friends, I learned that I have a copyright on anything I publish here on my blog. In fact, did you know:
1. You DO NOT have to put notice that your material is "copyright protected" on your blog. YOU AUTOMATICALLY have copyright protection.
2. Even if you credit the author (but have not asked permission to use their materials, photos, etc), you are still in danger of copyright infringement.
3. If you do feel like you have infringed on someone's copyright, just because you take it down off of your blog, you are not out of danger. That person can still go after you in court.
(BTW, I found this information on Copyright Law: 12 Dos & Don'ts. I did not plagiarize their material to post it on here. If you would like to hear their version (which sounds much more technical), you can do so by clicking here. )
No, I'm not going to go after someone in court over my family blog. It was a mistake that she got caught in and received a good flaming.
I know I put myself out there by posting my life on the web....that anyone can read..... I have done what I can to protect my family (I don't use their real names - come on, Sissy & Bubba? ). I have started putting watermarks on my photos so they won't show up on bus advertisement in Europe (true story y'all). But it's a gamble.
She didn't knock down my doors. She didn't steal my tv. It's just a blog. I really do have it all in perspective.
Just don't do it again, ok lady?
BTW - My sweet friend, Vivienne, came up with this title. I asked her permission to use it.
