Site Policy on Plagiarism:
Plagiarize: to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own.
In the context of fan fiction, it can mean one story copying the words, non-canon plot points, or dialogue of another. Whether that's from another Caryl story or even another fandom, it won't be tolerated here.
What plagiarism is NOT: Using canon events or dialogue. Using fandom tropes. Writing a story that involves events/knowledge/information that is available at large to the public. In those cases, it is plagiarism only if the words used are identical to those of another writer.
If you encounter a situation where a story reminds you too closely of another story you’ve read, please report it privately to one of the admins. We will review the situation, reading both works. All concerns will be dealt with seriously and with compassion and understanding, up to a point. We recognize that it's all too easy to be influenced by reading someone else's story and unintentionally use their part of their work in yours. There are some writers who don't read others' work in the fandom specifically to avoid that kind of influence on their own stories.
If the claim is verified, the plagiarist will be contacted and asked to take their story down, with the opportunity to revise it and resubmit. If the story is not taken down within a reasonable period, the story will be deleted and the user’s account may be terminated. So if you do make this claim, as incredibly serious as it is, please make sure you have the details to back it up.
What to do if you believe all or part of a story has been plagiarized:
- Contact one of the Admins via PM (profile links below)
- Provide links to both works, specifically the chapters or text you think were plagiarized. This is necessary in order to confirm publication timeframes, in addition to comparing the content.
- Give us specific examples of what you believe has been stolen: list ideas and plot points, or provide copied text from both fics.
If anyone has a question about any of this, please PM ikkleosu, tarascarol, or subversivegrrl.
(Modified May 2025 from the original policy written by Peta2/Ravenesque.)