It happens more often than I’d like.  A prospect contacts me with a project that involves “re-purposing” someone else’s content. They may be so bold as to attach articles or they may actually point you to a specific website.  If this happens to you, and it’s likely that it will, WRITER BEWARE!

This is plagiarism and depending on the degree is also copyright infringement. Now I’m not a lawyer but if you write an article for a client and it infringes on a copyright the client can plead ignorance, after all they didn’t write it.  So there’s the potential for legal trouble.

NOTE:  PLR articles are free of any rights and re-purposing them to create new content is okay.  It is however important to make sure the PLR content you’re asked to rewrite is free and clear of any copyrights before you agree to the project.

Beyond that very uncomfortable issue, as a writer (and I’m placing a very heavy burden on you) it’s up to you to elevate the world of freelance writing, particularly if you write online.  Due to the abundance of content available online, and the ability for anyone to enter the industry, there is a perception that freelance writers are just a bunch of lazy minded individuals sitting on their duffs writing drivel, or worse copying someone else’s drivel.

Of course that’s largely untrue however those folks do linger out there and it’s up to you to not be one of them.  I know in the beginning it’s difficult to say no to a job however you’ll feel better about yourself and your business if you take the highground and decline.

What you can do:

• Tell the client that you create original content and you’re not a good match.

• Tell the client that you are happy to use the content they’ve provided as research but you’ll also be sourcing several other articles and information.  Also be sure to let them know you’ll supply the sources.  (it’s important to make a practice of this anyway, even if the client doesn’t request it.  Keep it for your own records in case anything comes back to you.)

• Steer clear of lecturing a prospect on the legalities and moral implications of plagiarism and copyright infringement.  They’re adults.  In fact, I don’t even mention the word plagiarism – I stick to the two options above and let it be.  There are an abundance of clients out there and most of them are appreciative of quality original content. The kind you write!

If anyone has any questions about what plagiarism is or what it means check out plagiarism.org.

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