They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery. I am not sure about that, but what I am sure of is Plagiarism is a criminal act. Stealing someone else’s properties is a criminal act.
Everything I have written here on my blog is very personal. That is why I always say that I don’t just review, I tell stories. My own stories based on my own personal experiences, based on my own life. Everything on this blog I have worked hard for. I pay my way through the restaurants I have reviewed unless of course, it’s an event coverage or a dining invite. I am not a full time blogger, but I always make it a point to exert effort to maintain this blog. I juggle my time between work and blogging because MY BLOG IS IMPORTANT TO ME.
And then one day, I found out that someone stole 23 of my blog posts. 23 blog posts. Photos and text. Some of the photos were deliberately edited to omit the watermarks, while the text were tweaked a little, but some paragraphs were copied verbatim. No permission asked from me, no proper credits were given.
Annoying. Nauseatingly disgusting.
When I checked my email yesterday, I found a message from one of my readers informing me that a certain “GRACEELICIOUS”, member of OpenRice.ph website has been stealing photos and copying some texts on my blog.
She posted all the 23 posts as her own reviews, edited the photos so that no traces of my watermarks are visible.
Filthy.
She posted all the 23 posts as her own reviews, edited the photos so that no traces of my watermarks are visible.
Filthy.
One of my readers who emailed me regarding this discovery and gave me a link which led me to one of the posts that was stolen from my blog. It was MY post dated way back 2009 and she copied it last June 24 2011. It was my “Breakfast at Café Adriatico” blog post. It isn't the most beautiful photos and not the most enticingly thought-provoking post here on my blog, but the thing is, it’s mine, and someone stole it.
The "Cafe Adriatico" post she copied from my blog last June 24 2011 |
MY original post way back May 16, 2009 |
http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2009/07/breakfast-meal-at-cafe-adriatico.html
I sent OpenRice.ph an email reporting this person and I even posted my concern on their facebook wall ( without dropping the offender’s name). They have replied through the wall post indicating the email address I could send my concern to and told me that they will try to resolve the issue after the holiday. I completely understand that. I respect OpenRice as a separate entity on this issue. I know it is not their fault, but I firmly believe that they should do something about it. If this thing will be tolerated, it’ll definitely stain their credibility. For now, I will just wait for their feedback.
See these photos? |
Notice the resemblance? |
I have also left a message / comment on this member’s OpenRice profile so that she would know that I am aware of what's happening.
Friends tried tracking this member down and found out that she has a blog too. That broke my heart. Majority of the bloggers I know are intelligent people. If you are a blogger, you know for a fact that Plagiarism is a big no no in this community. Respect is important.
It's not just all about the copyright issues, but principle and respect. Doesn't she have respect for herself, claiming someone else's work as her own? Doesn't she trust herself that she can also make food reviews without stealing people's ideas and photos?
It's not just all about the copyright issues, but principle and respect. Doesn't she have respect for herself, claiming someone else's work as her own? Doesn't she trust herself that she can also make food reviews without stealing people's ideas and photos?
One of my blogger friends told me to send a message to the person directly on her Facebook account, so I did. After a couple of hours she replied telling me that her cousin has been using her account and she already asked OpenRice to deactivate it. Clearly she is saying that she's not the one who stole all the blog posts.
I was THIS close to taking a plunge on the proverbial benefit of the doubt, but then I found out that some of the blog posts stolen from me were also posted on her personal blog. Now I wonder, is it still her cousin’s fault?
The same "Cafe Adriatico" she posted on her personal blog |
It will be easier to let this go if only one post was stolen. But we are talking numbers here. And 23 is a big number. 23 blog posts. 23 of the posts I have worked hard for.
Here's the list of the posts that were stolen from me.
EVERYTHING AT STEAK
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2010/04/everything-at-steak-family-steakhouse.html
BREAD AND BEAN
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/05/bread-and-bean-cafe.html
SANDY'S PIZZA
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/02/sandys-pizza.html
BANAPPLE:
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/06/of-new-beginnings-healings-and-sweet.html
KOWLOON
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2008/12/kowloon-house-west.html
PEN-PEN RESTAURANT
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2010/01/crispiest-liempo-and-more-at-penpen.html
SONYA'S GARDEN
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/01/healthy-dining-experience-at-sonyas.html
MISTER KABAB
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2009/08/mister-kabab.html
LITTLE ASIA
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/03/little-asia-symphony-of-flavors.html
DAVID'S TEA HOUSE
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2010/06/shabu-shabu-at-davids-tea-house.html
CALIFORNIABERRY
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/03/healthy-summer-kick-off-treat-by.html
SWIRLS
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2010/06/all-year-round-summer-indulgence-with.html
CASITA XOCOLAT
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2010/06/casita-xocolat.html
TENDEROAST
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2009/09/99pesos-value-steaks-at-tenderoast.html
CHEF DONATELLO
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2009/10/chef-donatello.html
HOUSE OF LASAGNA
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2010/01/blog-post.html
CAFE ADRIATICO
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2009/07/breakfast-meal-at-cafe-adriatico.html
BAR DOLCI
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/03/mushroom-bruschetta-at-bar-dolci.html
SACHI
my post: http://ph.openrice.com/manila/restaurant/commentdetail.htm?commentid=7025
CAFE AGO-GO
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2009/08/caffe-ago-go.html
DOMINO'S PIZZA
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/03/dominos-pizza-has-arrived-hot-and-fresh.html
RECIPES BY CAFE METRO
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/06/recipes.html
GRAMS DINER
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2009/08/feel-good-comfort-food-at-grams-diner.html
EVERYTHING AT STEAK
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2010/04/everything-at-steak-family-steakhouse.html
BREAD AND BEAN
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/05/bread-and-bean-cafe.html
SANDY'S PIZZA
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/02/sandys-pizza.html
BANAPPLE:
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/06/of-new-beginnings-healings-and-sweet.html
KOWLOON
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2008/12/kowloon-house-west.html
PEN-PEN RESTAURANT
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2010/01/crispiest-liempo-and-more-at-penpen.html
SONYA'S GARDEN
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/01/healthy-dining-experience-at-sonyas.html
MISTER KABAB
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2009/08/mister-kabab.html
LITTLE ASIA
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/03/little-asia-symphony-of-flavors.html
DAVID'S TEA HOUSE
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2010/06/shabu-shabu-at-davids-tea-house.html
CALIFORNIABERRY
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/03/healthy-summer-kick-off-treat-by.html
SWIRLS
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2010/06/all-year-round-summer-indulgence-with.html
CASITA XOCOLAT
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2010/06/casita-xocolat.html
TENDEROAST
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2009/09/99pesos-value-steaks-at-tenderoast.html
CHEF DONATELLO
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2009/10/chef-donatello.html
HOUSE OF LASAGNA
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2010/01/blog-post.html
CAFE ADRIATICO
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2009/07/breakfast-meal-at-cafe-adriatico.html
BAR DOLCI
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/03/mushroom-bruschetta-at-bar-dolci.html
SACHI
my post: http://ph.openrice.com/manila/restaurant/commentdetail.htm?commentid=7025
CAFE AGO-GO
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2009/08/caffe-ago-go.html
DOMINO'S PIZZA
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/03/dominos-pizza-has-arrived-hot-and-fresh.html
RECIPES BY CAFE METRO
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2011/06/recipes.html
GRAMS DINER
my post: http://yedylicious.blogspot.com/2009/08/feel-good-comfort-food-at-grams-diner.html
Now the encircled comment I find rather misleading |
I appreciate that the person involve replied to my message to explain. But the fact that some of the stolen posts were also posted on her personal blog is still unclear to me.
This is not a personal attack, rather a learning experience that I want to share to my fellow bloggers so that they may be warned and to my readers because I owe it to them.
I will wait for this issue to be resolved in good faith and will update this post once necessary actions were taken.
May we all learn from this experience.
***UPDATE as of NOVEMBER 1, 2011***
I have not received any reply from "graceelicious" regarding the blog posts that were also posted on her personal blog. Although she deleted the stolen posts, she did not bother to explain her side further.
OpenRice Philippines sent me an email and promised that they will deactivate the reviews in question after the holiday.
I am not sure if only the reviews will be deactivated and not the entire account, because if you check graceelicious OpenRice profile, there are other photos which were taken from other bloggers.
I am still waiting for the complete resolution of this incident.
OpenRice Philippines sent me an email and promised that they will deactivate the reviews in question after the holiday.
I am not sure if only the reviews will be deactivated and not the entire account, because if you check graceelicious OpenRice profile, there are other photos which were taken from other bloggers.
I am still waiting for the complete resolution of this incident.
Plagiarism should not be tolerated, because it can happen again. It can happen to you.
Will post update hopefully soon.
***UPDATE as of DECEMBER 6, 2011***
It's been a little over a month since this incident happened. Openrice.ph group were kind enough to take down SOME of the review posts which were stolen from me by their member Graceelicious. "Some" is the operative word because there are still other posts left on their website. I have sent them the complete lists of the reviews that were taken from me, but I cannot understand why they have not taken down everything yet.
The openrice.ph member, Graceelicious, the one who stole 23 of my blog posts and posted it on her Openrice.ph account and on her own personal blog has sent me an apology message through Facebook.
I am still looking forward that everything that were stolen from me will be taken down from Openrice.ph
For now, I may have to email them for yet another follow up.
It's been a while, I hope for this matter to be resolved soon.
*** update ***
Openrice already deleted 23 of the blog posts plagiarized by Graceelicious.
***UPDATE as of DECEMBER 6, 2011***
It's been a little over a month since this incident happened. Openrice.ph group were kind enough to take down SOME of the review posts which were stolen from me by their member Graceelicious. "Some" is the operative word because there are still other posts left on their website. I have sent them the complete lists of the reviews that were taken from me, but I cannot understand why they have not taken down everything yet.
The openrice.ph member, Graceelicious, the one who stole 23 of my blog posts and posted it on her Openrice.ph account and on her own personal blog has sent me an apology message through Facebook.
I am still looking forward that everything that were stolen from me will be taken down from Openrice.ph
For now, I may have to email them for yet another follow up.
It's been a while, I hope for this matter to be resolved soon.
*** update ***
Openrice already deleted 23 of the blog posts plagiarized by Graceelicious.
I'm so sick and tired of these acts --- plagiarism.
ReplyDelete:(
Aw that's horrible. =(
ReplyDeletenakakabad trip talaga yang mga copy cats na yan. don't they know that there is such a thing as a digital footprint and kakahiya sila.
ReplyDeletehope this gets resolve for you the soonest!
Its normal nowadays. Prepare yourself always for this :(
ReplyDeleteHerbert of Filipino Blog
Aw!!! Hope ma-solve nga yung issue!!
ReplyDelete@Wailing Soul: Even if it happens a lot, we should not let it pass. These copyright thieves should be taught a lesson.
ReplyDeleteLike last last year pa, I found out someone copying my blog post, but I completely ignored it. Sabi ko lang, at least I know I am the original and I have more followers than the copycat.
ReplyDeleteThat's terrible. I didn't think that that's the extent openrices would do just for the prizes openrice offers for their review. Just curious how were you able to find out about this?
ReplyDeletetry to file a dmca complaint at google if the blog has adsense so that that blog will be banned and tell the others who are trying to steal content that behavior like this will not be tolerated.
ReplyDeleteaw! grabe to!!!
ReplyDeleteyou must be very good at what you do that others really are envious of you.
ReplyDeletebut whichever way, what she did is definitely way too much for you to just let it go. ajah!
anyhow, I hope this issue will soon be resolve.
23 posts stolen! wow,that grace must have like your blog posts so much.bakit kaya may mga ganung tao?imposibleng hindi nya alam about plagiarism.sana ma resolve na itong problem mo .
ReplyDeleteThis is so sad
ReplyDeletesome people were so lazy to exert effort, they want to excel in expense of other's hardship.
ReplyDeleteShame on her!
She's just a stupid bitch! If it's her cousin who did all of these, then, how come it is posted also on her personal blog?! File a complaint, para ma flag yung site nya, she also has an AdSense account. I hope she gets what she deserves! Cheer Up!
ReplyDeletePalagi tlgang may ganito. Even film reviews get stolen and recycled. :)
ReplyDeletei checked her blog it seems that she already took down the posts. its good that you kept your cool.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWow! This is serious sh*t. You shouldn't take it lightly. Plagiarists should be taught a lesson.
ReplyDeleteShame on her! Some people are just too lazy to write their own posts. Kainis!
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone for your comments and for voicing out your opinion on this matter. I am still looking forward for the favorable resolution of this incident and then i'll write an update. Again, thank you.
ReplyDeleteIts just plain simple...it ain't right. There is no excuse for doing what is wrong...
ReplyDeleteI feel for you Yedy.
Grrrr! One of the things I hate the most: plagiarism. I've had some bloggers use my photos, but they ask permission and even link back to my blog. I wonder how graceelicious got through school where plagiarism is taught as being punished with a thousand deaths? Perhaps she was absent when it was discussed.
ReplyDeleteShe could have at least apologized and thoroughly explained her side.
She still have the guts to lie about it pa.. She got what she deserves, she's infamous now in the blogosphere! Haha! :)
ReplyDeletehi, don't get discourage by this low lifes...and to plaster her face and claim other peeps work, kapal talaga nang face!... bilib tlaga ako how they can sleep at night na nde na babangungut=P
ReplyDeleteOMg this is so horrible.... Tsk Tsk.. If ever I see any of my photos being used by anyone else Naku Humanda sya!!! Grrrrr... Kapal ng mukha ha...
ReplyDeleteThis is sick. I feel bad that this has to happen to you. Thank goodness you were informed by your readers. Sana hindi na lang maulit. :(
ReplyDeleteYou are right PLAGIARISM can happen to anyone. Just read your post and the nerve of her. How insulting! I am an OpenRicer since May 2011 and been joining their promos so this lady is quite familiar to me though I haven't met her in person. I know it is not easy to let go. Perhaps for now, Let Go and Let GOD. Wish this will be resolved the soonest possible time.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I also hate when people try to steal my post or photos and use it in other website or to their blog. This is embarrassing. We as blogger are intelligent people, keep up the positif writing... And thx a lot for sharing, I've put watermark on every photos in my foodblog, www.myfunfoodiary.com hopefully nothing bad happened like this...
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the stories, we need to be aware with these bad people.
I agree with you. I also hate when people try to steal my post or photos and use it in other website or to their blog. This is embarrassing. We as blogger are intelligent people, keep up the positif writing... And thx a lot for sharing, I've put watermark on every photos in my foodblog, www.myfunfoodiary.com hopefully nothing bad happened like this...
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the stories, we need to be aware with these bad people.
hi Yedylicious! i just saw this post and i am furious with how some people (senators or otherwise) do not respect another's work and be credited accordingly. hindi biro ang mag-blog : the finances to eat out, acquire the right gadget, get internet connection and the time to creatively think what to post and to actually publish each posts... not to mention promoting them in the hope that there would be actual readers to take time in reading what we shared... i was furious when someone copied my travel blog's name SavvySojourns.net and she turned it to savvysojourns.com but 23 posts stolen from you?!!! this is beyond preposterous and outright disrespect! I put double watermarks in my food photos at Eat To Your Heart's Content - logo and violator at the middle of the photo but I still do not know how to stop that "copy-paste" right from my webpage. I hope all bloggers would respect one another. Keep blogging though! you have a fab one, that's why someone copied you hehehe
ReplyDeleteHi, I'm Gracee Bongolan, the owner of the Graceelicious account at Openrice.com. From the last time I wrote to you till now I am deeply sorry for what happen and I have paid the debts for all the trouble that I have done. You all have the right to voice out your opinions about me, I deserve it. I will take full responsibility about it even though I didn't really do it and someone just used my account for the benefit of joining that contest. The blog posts were already deleted and will never do food reviews because it was never my forte, I have already contacted Openrice a couple times till now to blocked out my account and take down all the reviews and it has been inactive since 2011. I hope we can all move on because I have learned from this mistake, truly if God can forgive I hope all of us can too.Please don't judge me for one mistake that I did because I'm paying for the consequences now. I'm not a bad person. I am also against plagiarism because I have experience it recently and I also felt bad about it. I am sorry again for all the hassle and for what happened Ms. Yeddy. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHanggang ngayon hindi mo parin inaamin na ikaw ang nagnakaw nung mga post ni Ms Yeddy ha Graceelicious yucky???
DeleteKung hindi ikaw ang nagpost nun sa openrice account mo, bakit pati sa personal blog mo nakapost yung mga ninakaw mo? PAKI EXPLAIN!!!!
Huling huli ka na, tumatanggi ka pa.
I love the way you right your blogs and I find that you really write them with such passion wholeheartedly, however I get irritated at times because I cannot just right click a post then new tab for me to read your beautiful articles easier, but after reading this I completely understand the reason why there's so much security in your site. Now I blame that graceeeeeeyucky for such inconvenience I'm experiencing with your site now.
ReplyDeleteI hope that you continue to write and post these wonderful food reviews. Consider me a fan. :)
Cheers! Yum! Burp!
PJ Icogo
It's so sad that people just copy from others and call themselves bloggers. They should know that authors of blogs write from the heart. They just don't copy what others feel. I read your posts Ms. Yeddy! Keep it up. You take good photos and write from experience. More power to you! :)
ReplyDeletewww.eatsaillove.blogspot.com