Thursday, November 4, 2010

This is just wrong

As a college professor of writing and research, I am very sensitive to issues of plagiarism and research. As someone who writes, produces course materials, and develops class presentations I am very sensitive to issues of fair use.

So when someone being paid to be a professional in the publishing of documents does something as egregious as publishing, without permission, something found elsewhere on the web, I have some problem with it. When that action is discovered by the original author, and the author contacts the publication, you would expect, at the very least, a sincere apology. Not this. The fact that the author is actually a friend of mine just makes it worse.

But, at least now we have a new word to add to the language.

[Edit added material]

And now, from our friends at The Washington Post.