Rewriting a few paragraphs in ones own words

How close a copy can you get before infringing?

[chrisandsarah]

Ive searched the internet (and this site) but cant find much help on rewriting content. E.g if i wanted to do a write-up about a certain species of snake found in England and my only source of knowledge on it is from a book I have.
(I know nothing about grass snakes. this is just hypothetical, and please excuse the spealing!)
From Book:
The grass snake is indiginous to England. It can grow up to a staggering 6 feet in length and its emerald green color camouflages it well against the backdrop of ferns and foliage in which it makes its habitat. When it is chased by a predator, it will often 'play dead' in which it goes limp, tongue lolling from its mouth, eyes glazing over with a milky mist.
My dodgy version:
The English Grass snake can grow up to a staggering 6ft in length. It is emerald green in color which camouflages it well in the tangle of ferns and foliage in which it lives. When a predator approaches, the grass snake is often known to 'play dead'. It will go limp, tongue lolling from its mouth and its eyes glaze over with a thin milky film.

I would change it much more than this, and get other sources for my information. This is just an example of what i think would be dodgy. How dodgy?. I wanted to ask using this example, is this within the laws and acceptable?

I cant find much info on rewriting stuff, the rules with examples etc. It's just someone has done some work for me and I need to be clear with them whats safe and whats not if they are using books as a source of info for their write-ups. I mean, how about three paragraphs are there own words (same facts as book though because straight facts arent copyright) but within those 3 paragraphs i find they have copied one or maybe two complete descriptive sentence from the book?

many thanks

[contentmaster]

Hi chrisandsarah

I faced with a similar situation where in I was supposed to write on a particular topic and my only help was the internet and the sites that I could find on that particular topic....I was faced with the same problems and questions : to what level can you use material from a book and the net...

I was of the opinion that certain specialised topics can be written about by taking a basic idea from already existing material and reproducing it in a manner that is different, innovative...and has your writing touch to it....
However, I must specify that I did'nt get any answers to these questions....what is the best strategy to use?

Any ideas!

[rogerd]

In my non-expert opinion, chrisandsarah, your dodgy version is clearly lifted from the original. Entire phrases have been copied, and uncommon adjectives like "staggering" (quite ironic when describing a legless creature ;)) used. The order of thoughts is the same.

The more text like this you publish, the more obvious it will be that it's taken from that source.

I think if you used several sources, combined some points and eliminated others, avoided copying phrasing and unusual wording, etc., you'll be fine - most textbooks, for example, make use of work that has already been published.

[varya]

Couple of suggestions.

Use more than source.

Make notes of the key details:

native to England
emerald green color
live in the grass and bushes
plays dead, tongue hangs out, eyes glaze over

Then set it aside, and research something else. After a couple of days, when your mind has been filled with lots of other info, come back to your notes and write your copy from your notes.

This should work unless you have a photographic memory.

[Robert Charlton]

If the information you're using is essentially common knowledge, then the previous suggestions suffice.

Be aware, though, that your concern should be with more than just not copying language. You also have to avoid copying proprietary information and ideas.

If you're taking material that is unique to a source, then they can nail you. Some sources even introduce factual errors to leave a trail in case their material is "borrowed."

So yes, definitely use more than one source, and try to understand the material enough that the writing really is in your "own words."

[zulufox]

Some sources even introduce factual errors to leave a trail in case their material is "borrowed."

Interesting idea, but seriously doubt that newspapers and major sites are telling people to "turn left" instead of "turn right" just so they can see who steals their directions...

[yump]

My wife has been stealing quite a lot of directions then.

[Robert Charlton]

Interesting idea, but seriously doubt that newspapers and major sites are telling people to "turn left" instead of "turn right" just so they can see who steals their directions...

zulufox - you don't think I made this up myself. ;)

This is a well known technique, used in research-based books and articles... not traffic directions... where the author will inject some numbers or a name that's skewed or unique enough that it will be obvious if anybody copies the info.

[PatrickDeese]

> This is a well known technique

Commercial map makers are well known for doing this, for example.

[Leosghost]

to answer the original question ..what you have done ..particularly in the UK will get you the losers prize in a court case....

( there is of course the school of thought that says "don't write about what you dont know about" ..because even rehashing others work you will merely compound their deliberate or accidental mistakes and look both dishonest and dumb! )

<<Commercial map makers are well known for doing this, for example. >>

In France only the tourists buy them ...same thing in Ireland ...therefore to find your way you have to go into the nearest bar and ask ....very good for small rural economies .... : ))

[Leosghost]

Ps ..'dont want to be too picky "chrisandsarah" but your grammar is very "dodgy" anyway...even without the copying ....is this a "homework" project....?

[EileenC]

If you can only find a limited amount of written sources, I suggest you track down an expert (or two or three) and interview him or her. This should give you plenty of fresh material and new angles on the subject matter.

[258cib]

Quoting from one source is plagiarism. Using two sources and offering credit to the source (according to the Snake Bible, the grass snake...) is journalism.

[MatthewHSE]

Using only one source is also kind of risky; how do you know their information is correct?

Verification is always a good idea, and a necessary part of good researching and journaling practice.

[Gmorgan]

I read somewhere that you should read a paragraph and then look away to write yours. Your brain will automatically change certain words to those of a personal preference and your paragraph will read differently to the original even though concentrating on the same topic.

This was deemed to be a reasonalbe approach to copying content without infringing copywrite.

[ukgimp]

This is an age old technique from my school and university days. As said a variety of sources and logic flow order should do the job. Clearly worked examples needs totaly reworking with new figures/examples.

Not sure about the factual errors, suppose in times gone by I have been in a position to know enough about the general subject not to get caught out.

Plagiarism is a skill :)

[Leosghost]

Oh and BTW ...there are serious inaccuracies in what you have there about Grass Snakes in the UK ...What you are describing is more like an escaped "gabon viper".....Google "natrix" and see what you can find ..or sticky mail "Hissing Sid" here at WebmasterWorld ..: ))

[zulufox]

I find the best way is to read 2-3 articles on the topic.

Then put them away and write the article from what I remember about the 2-3 articles.

This makes sure that I am doing the 2 important things, multiple sources and not paraphrasing.