DL Plagiarism - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

DL Plagiarism

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Jun 17, 2004 19:25:30 This is a strange story, but as real as you and me.
In Portugal, a few years back there was released a book, of a series of 7 (only 3 are published to date) "Cronias de Allaryia". Since it was made by young writter I said "what the heck" and bought it. And I loved it. It was different from every thing I've ever read; until two weeks after I bought Dragonlance Chronicles (in Portuguese Cronicas, see the pattern?). After only the first few pages it was obvious: Plagiarism.
The twist: All names are different... Is this legal?
When confronted with it, in his own web site he said that he was only inspired by Dragonlance... But since every thing from the gods, the races (yep, Kender), some characters, the situations, the relations between characters, etc. are the same, is there any thing that can be done to stop this?
#2
Dragonhelm
Jun 17, 2004 19:30:54 The best thing to do would be to report this to WotC legal. I believe the e-mail addy is [email]legal@wizards.com[/email] .
#3
zombiegleemax
Jun 17, 2004 20:59:20 I guess... But I'm not to sure about what can be done about it. I was expecting that somebody would know a bit more about to what we can really call plagiarism.
For example: The character "Taislin" is a "burrik" who likes to light the load of his fellow party members, and so he borrows thing. The physical description is simples: small, looks like a human child, doesn't know fear, is wreak less and so on. The relation he has with the party "thuragar" named "Worick" is simple, the old “thurangar” keeps yelling at him, calling him funny names has he carves a chunk of rock, sometimes they run around a bit. But deep down the old “thuragar” really likes the crazy “burrik”
He could say that that is just like Tas and Flint, a crazy Kender and an old woodcarving dwarf... but can we really? The names don't match...
This above is just a very small example. If anybody knows Portuguese I can post the web addresses of the publisher, of the author and of the bulletin board for more details.

E-mailing WotC... it's something to think about...
#4
zombiegleemax
Jun 17, 2004 21:15:00 Let the legal department decide if it is or not. They'll know how to handle it.
#5
rath_the_ranger
Jun 22, 2004 8:23:50
Originally posted by Barong
E-mailing WotC... it's something to think about...

It's not something to think about, it's something you should do. If indeed the similarities are too close to DL and the storyline is so much the same, they're the people who will take action. You really should let them know, especially since you're the one who witnessed it first hand.
#6
Dragonhelm
Jun 22, 2004 9:08:43 And really, all you're doing is informing them. Let WotC legal decide for themselves if it is plagiarism or not. If it is, then the person shouldn't have used the materials in the first place.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Jun 17, 2004 19:25:30	This is a strange story, but as real as you and me. In Portugal, a few years back there was released a book, of a series of 7 (only 3 are published to date) "Cronias de Allaryia". Since it was made by young writter I said "what the heck" and bought it. And I loved it. It was different from every thing I've ever read; until two weeks after I bought Dragonlance Chronicles (in Portuguese Cronicas, see the pattern?). After only the first few pages it was obvious: Plagiarism. The twist: All names are different... Is this legal? When confronted with it, in his own web site he said that he was only inspired by Dragonlance... But since every thing from the gods, the races (yep, Kender), some characters, the situations, the relations between characters, etc. are the same, is there any thing that can be done to stop this?
#2 Dragonhelm Jun 17, 2004 19:30:54	The best thing to do would be to report this to WotC legal. I believe the e-mail addy is [email]legal@wizards.com[/email] .
#3 zombiegleemax Jun 17, 2004 20:59:20	I guess... But I'm not to sure about what can be done about it. I was expecting that somebody would know a bit more about to what we can really call plagiarism. For example: The character "Taislin" is a "burrik" who likes to light the load of his fellow party members, and so he borrows thing. The physical description is simples: small, looks like a human child, doesn't know fear, is wreak less and so on. The relation he has with the party "thuragar" named "Worick" is simple, the old “thurangar” keeps yelling at him, calling him funny names has he carves a chunk of rock, sometimes they run around a bit. But deep down the old “thuragar” really likes the crazy “burrik” He could say that that is just like Tas and Flint, a crazy Kender and an old woodcarving dwarf... but can we really? The names don't match... This above is just a very small example. If anybody knows Portuguese I can post the web addresses of the publisher, of the author and of the bulletin board for more details. E-mailing WotC... it's something to think about...
#4 zombiegleemax Jun 17, 2004 21:15:00	Let the legal department decide if it is or not. They'll know how to handle it.
#5 rath_the_ranger Jun 22, 2004 8:23:50	Originally posted by Barong E-mailing WotC... it's something to think about... It's not something to think about, it's something you should do. If indeed the similarities are too close to DL and the storyline is so much the same, they're the people who will take action. You really should let them know, especially since you're the one who witnessed it first hand.
#6 Dragonhelm Jun 22, 2004 9:08:43	And really, all you're doing is informing them. Let WotC legal decide for themselves if it is plagiarism or not. If it is, then the person shouldn't have used the materials in the first place.