Ah, this warms the cockles of my black little heart...

[wordinista]

Because I'm a geek like that, I've been following this story for a while. This article makes me a happy Bunneh.

I mean, really.  People bust their fucking asses to write something original, and a plagiarist gets a $500,000 two-novel book deal?  I don't think so.

I think the thing that bugs me most about plagiarists is that they seem to think everyone around them is dumber than a box of rocks.  They insult the intelligence of everyone around them.  I mean, all the way from my students (kids who could barely string together a coherent sentence for in-class writings suddenly compose papers worthy of publication -- riiiiiiiiight) to fanfic plagiarists (copying off other ficcers AND published works -- and they think no one will notice), and now this.

How in the HELL did she think no one would pick up on this?!?!

For that matter -- why hadn't anyone noticed SOONER?

(And, dude, if I were one of her professors, I'd be going through her assignments with a fine-toothed comb.  If you've got balls enough to plagiarize something like The Princess Diaries for a $500,000 book deal, you've got more than enough balls to plagiarize essays and research papers.)

Comments

[hyanan.livejournal.com]

*hehe* You said "cockles." XD

/Beavis n' Butthead moment

[mscongeniality.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I followed this one pretty closely myself.

For that matter -- why hadn't anyone noticed SOONER?

Probably because nobody in the production line at her publishing company had read the material she was ripping off. Given the amount that editors need to read just for work, it doesn't surprise me that they wouldn't be entirely familiar with their competitor's fluffy chick novels.

[somnambulicious.livejournal.com]

You know, I can almost - almost - work up some sympathy for a girl whose mistake at 17 years old will brand her for the rest of her life. Almost.

Well, okay, I'll admit to feeling a tiny bit of sympathy for her. But I hope that English teachers (and ethics teachers? Do those exist?) across America take this as an opportunity to open a discussion about what plagiarism is, to point out that yes, even rephrasing and changing the words is plagiarism, and yes, it can get you in a world of trouble. Because it needs to be emphasized - this isn't an isolated problem.

[miyun.livejournal.com]

Well there goes the rest of your life. -_-

[vespurtine.livejournal.com]

...I hadn't heard about this, but I hope it gets a lot more public -- then maybe all the little fantwits would realise that, yes, plagiarism is a serious issue. -_-'

[queenofthecute.livejournal.com]

Holy goddamn, that's bad. Haha, oh, it makes me kinda laugh a little to imagine what all the people who interviewed her and pumped her up as the next big thing must be thinking right about now.

But, c'mon, the friggin' Princess Diaries? I mean, of all the books to plagiarize, why choose one as well-known as that? Ok, I'll admit that I've been known to give a certain amount of respect to unethical individuals, just because of their brains, talent, or finesse. (Hats off to Jack the Ripper, etc.) But if you're a stupid criminal, I've got nothing for you.

Well, maybe a little pity for this 17-year-old who is now facing a life of, I dunno, housework? Avon sales? Anything but writing, that's for damn sure. =Þ

[emrlddragon.livejournal.com]

I agree, it's good to watch a plagiarist get it so publicly. Lord knows anyone who has slaved over every word of an original piece is happy.

I can't help but wonder about the publishing industry lately though. Between James Fry's "Million Little Pieces," The two suits over the "De Vince Code," and now this, you'd think they would be a little bit more careful about what they put out there.