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To: [log in to unmask]
From: Rob Norton <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Attribution, libel and plagiarism
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 18:54:19 +0000
Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
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Net Style - by Rob Norton
The free weekly newsletter about web writing, editing and design.
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ATTRIBUTION, LIBEL, AND PLAGIARISM
ABOUT ATTRIBUTION:
If any material is repeated word-for-word from a published
source, it should be identified as such. If the source
document is on the Web, the simplest way to identify it is
to include the URL. If the material is general in nature,
it is permissible to rephrase it in your own words. What
must be avoided is copying someone else's writing word for
word.
Suppose a writer is mentioning the North American Free
Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in an article, and has copied the
following passage from brittanica.com into their notes
NAFTA's main provisions called for the gradual reduction
of tariffs, customs duties, and other trade barriers
between the three members, with some tariffs being removed
immediately and others over periods of as long as 15 years.
There's nothing wrong with writing something like: "NAFTA
was designed to gradually reduce trade barriers over a 15-
year period," and no need to attribute it. There's also
nothing wrong with repeating the entire description is it's
preceded by a statement such as: ''As described by
brittanica.com.'' Offline sources must be described fully
enough so that a reader can find them, and might include
the names of the author, title of the work, the publisher,
and date.
LIBEL LIABILITY
Libel is a false and malicious statement that damages the
reputation of a person or organization. Libel law varies
widely from one nation to another. A statement that's
clearly permissible in the US, for instance, may be
clearly libelous in Great Britain. Within the US, libel
law varies widely from state to state. Libel law is
highly complex, and is sometimes arcane.
Every publication, online or off, should have an awareness
of libel issues and a policy regarding them, and all
writers and editors must be familiar with it. Any negative
statements about individuals of organizations should be
carefully examined to see if they are potentially libelous,
and reviewed by an attorney if there are any questions.
It is customary at many publishing companies to have an
attorney or paralegal read everything before it's published.
On the Web, the Libel Resource Defense Center http://www.
ldrc.com/ldrcinfo.html, a nonprofit organization of
publishers from different media, provides information on
Libel issues. Offline, ''The Associated Press Stylebook
and Briefing on Media Law'' is a standard reference for
journalists, and there are many handbooks and guides
dealing with libel issues from national and international
perspectives.
THE PROBLEM OF PLAGIARISM
To plagiarize is to use and represent the writings of
another person or organization as one's own. The ability
to ''cut and paste'' content makes plagiarism seductively
easy on the Web, and it is emerging as an area of serious
concern. Every publishing organization needs to have
policies and procedures in place regarding plagiarism.
There are two different levels of concern:
The first is intentional plagiarism. Policy here should be
unambiguous: Plagiarism is unethical, and in some cases
illegal. In a knowledge-based organizations and in the
information economy in general, few types of misconduct
are more worrisome. Managers of a website must make sure
that all editors, writers and other members of the
publishing team understand this.
Any libel offenses should be treated seriously, at the
least by formal reprimand, and possibly by termination.
Any accusations of plagiarism by readers should be
reviewed at the most senior levels, and a formal policy
should be in place for dealing with them. Don't assume
that ''it can't happen here.'' There have been many
notorious instances of intentional plagiarism at some of
the world's most highly-regarded publishing organizations.
The second concern is unintentional plagiarism. In
researching, writing and editing content, it is all too
easy to incorporate someone else's writing inadvertently.
There's nothing wrong with using the ideas and opinions
of others in an article or other written work. Writers
must simply make sure that the sources of opinions and
ideas are noted and attributed correctly, and that they
have not merely cut and pasted someone else's writing
into there own. The best way to avoid unintentional
plagiarism is to insist on a rigorous and formal fact-
checking process.
--Rob Norton, August 15, 2001
(This issue of ''Netstyle'' is adapted from ''The Web
Content Style Guide,'' by Gerry McGovern, Rob Norton,
and Catherine O'Dowd, which will be published in
October by the Financial Times Prentice Hall.)
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Net Style is published every Wednesday. Rob Norton is a freelance writer,
editor and consultant, and former executive editor of FORTUNE magazine.
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