Protect Writing from Plagiarism Like a Pro
First things first—is it really plagiarism?
We want to protect writing from plagiarism as much as anyone, but reality check: Sometimes people are overly precious with our ideas, leading to delusions of grandeur. Drumroll…you may not be as original as you think. That’s not necessarily a bad thing though! Every artist aspires to be innovative and revolutionary. But keep in mind, especially when you’re a teenage author, that you’re up against centuries of storytelling. What you’re doing had probably been done before. A fresh perspective is what makes a work of art yours, despite similarities in content. With that said, plagiarism is an unfortunately common reality, especially in the digital age. To those who rightly disagree with the notion that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, here’s how to protect your work from plagiarism:
Share Sparingly with Sneak Peeks
If you’re on social media, a top preventive measure from plagiarism is the practice of posting previews only. Give away too much and you risk spoiling the experience—honestly, who would pay full price for a book they already have free access to? Excerpts build enough hype on their own, so be mysterious!
Use the Tools of the Trade
Let’s begin with the basics: Do a Google search! Encoding a sentence onto the search bar can already yield results. Other similar resources at your disposal are Copyscape and Plagiarism.org. For something a little more direct, plugins link back to your website when a section of your work is copied.
Another comprehensive yet controversial option is Digital Rights Management. DRM technology protects writing from plagiarism by preventing the unauthorized sharing and spreading of online content. DRM would typically set a time period for access or limit the number of devices allowed to read your book. Publishing heavyweights Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo have their own DRM systems in place. For readers averse to DRM, it is perceived as inconvenient and paranoid. Authors themselves have opted out of DRM as well, citing its restrictions on distribution and ineffectiveness against hackers as reasons.
Exercise Your Right to Copyright
Still itching to know how to protect your book from plagiarism? You can register for copyright. Actually, the minute you write something, it belongs to you. A copyright differs from a patent, which covers inventions or scientific discoveries and a trademark, for the logos and slogans of goods and services. A copyright protects original works of authorship. It ensures your book has a public record and entitles you the right to sue for copyright infringement.
So how does one begin? The process is not as daunting as you think. You go to the online portal, fill out the form, pay the fees, and that’s it! You are officially registered.
Take It to Court
What do you do when you catch a thief red-handed? There are a couple of ways to engage in a counterattack. Lifting parts or a whole book and passing it off as one’s own is a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. A website host who has plagiarized material can avoid legal trouble by simply taking down the said content. If they refuse to honor a takedown notice, that’s when things may escalate to a lawsuit.
Do note that this will be costly and time-consuming, as well as emotionally taxing. Ask yourself: are you willing to put yourself through it? Is it worth it? Actual courts aren’t the only way, though. To speed up the delivery of justice for less time and effort, you may turn to social media. Getting people on your side can put pressure on the offender until they move to make things right.
Bottom-line? No matter where you are in your publishing career, idea pirates are always on the prowl for a piece of your intellectual property. To protect writing from plagiarism, be a smart author! You can never be too careful.
