Board Thread:Clean up Concerns/@comment-2175012-20170418154849/@comment-366087-20170421133816

[Plagiarism] is a bit more involved than simply "word for word". You can be plagiarizing even if you change the wording but not the sentence structure. It can even extend to ideas, etc. Check the link on the first word of this post.

The main component of plagiarism is ''not providing credit, source, or attribution", which, BTW, is not the interchangeable as gaining permission. The second main component is presenting something as your own property, even if only through omission of a source.

Here is where things get a bit tricky. Built into the Wikia/Fandom's Terms of Use is that anything on Fandom/Wikia is open for all to access, edit, or use Provided proper attribution is provided. It is only when bringing in some things from off-wikia, such as art and video, does things like permission and copyright licenses come into play. Staffer Brandon Rhea is most versed in this, so perusing some of his blogs on Central may help.

Now, for example, as an Admin of select other wikias, such as Kim Possible Wiki, I can make a statement of permission to copy a page from the KPW to copy and post here, and there would be no plagiarism.

HOWEVER, what should really be done is for pages from other wikias to be EXPORTED—which any user can do—then files uploaded and IMPORTED here—which only Admins can do. This method—most often used for merging one or more wikias—copies over complete page histories which keeps attribution and crediting satisfied and avoids any claims of plagiarism. Even complaints of "we didn't give you permission to use it" become undercut because ToU says that so long as proper attribution is provided it is allowable.

Now, Staff does say that permissions should be sought for the sake of inter-wikia "peace" and good relations, but my understanding is that is mainly a courtesy, not a necessity. Brandon Rhea could be consulted if there are any questions.

I believe Queen Misery is a stickler on this because Staff has come in a few times and summarily deleted pages for plagiarism. Which is not something we want them doing on a regular basis. Makes us look bad.