[TIPS] to avoid plagiarism

[tbct_mt2]

Today, I updated the OP with this part. Please feel free to correct me if I wrote something incorrect or you have additional things to contribute.

Plagiarism Classification
I will classify types of plagiarism into two main categories:
1. Unintentionally plagiarsim
It does not mean that people who plagiarise in any type of plagiarism listed here mean that they plagiarise unintentionally. It means they can not plagiarise, then use my topic, and the part of plagiarism classification in order to prove that they violate the rule on plagiarism unintentionally.
1.1. Copy & Paste without source link
1.2. Copye & Paste part of Whitepaper, Roadmap, Specifications, announcements from projects' documents, websites, other forums that totally managed by teams of projects without source link. This type is only for developer team, who post announcements on progresses of their projects in the forum, and sometimes they unintentionally plagiarise their own documents. In fact, they don't plagiarise based on theymos' opinion on plagiarsim, but when they get bans due to this, they have to prove their ownership of original documents and their roles in such projects. So, it's better to always leave source links, even you are developers, and owners of those documents.
1.3. Translating topics of others into your local languages without ask for permission
Personally, I think that it will be fine if translators translate topics of other members into whatever languages they want, with source link.
However, it will be better if they ask for permission of authors and actually get acceptance to translate. It is better for two reasons:
- In moral aspect: By asking for permission, they will show their respect to authors.
- In potential conflicts of interests: When such conflicts occurs, it takes time to solve, and I don't think anyone of us want to face with such problems, especially we start with good purposes.

2. Intentionally plagiarism
2.1. Fake Paraphrasing
It is a lowest level of plagiarism when people usually change just a few words from original texts/ posts.
2.2. Text Spinning
They intentionally use posts of others, and over paraphrase them using softwares.
Text spinning/disguised plagiarism
2.3. Translation Abusement
They intentionally use posts or part of posts of other members, such as from English, then using Google Translate in order to automatically translate those texts into local language, such as Russian or any local language they want; and vice versa.
New sort of plagiarism

[tbct_mt2]

I found this topic, and added as should-read documents in the OP. It's time to read and enjoy.
[GUIDE] Plagiarism and how to avoid it. (by DireWolfM14)

[agentx44]

I translated this thread into Filipino language which you may find here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5137268

I'm supporting this topic to make awareness in order to help people to avoid being banned in this forum.

[tbct_mt2]

I translated this thread into Filipino language

Sorry for late response. Thank you so much for your Filipinio Translation.
By the way, today I updated the OP with another statement of theymos on plagiarsim, which I found for weeks because I don't remember where it is.
This statement explains why some Legendary users suddenly were permanent banned for their mistakes (plagiarisms) years ago.

• Plagiarism: If you copy some text from somewhere, then you should have a good reason for it, and you must link to the source. Doing otherwise is plagiarism. Changing a few words around doesn't matter. If we find that you plagiarized, then you absolutely will be permanently banned, even if we find it years after you did it.

[sncc]

1.1. Leaving the source link behind the content (definition of plagiarism, in this example)
"Plagiarism is the "wrongful appropriation" and "stealing and publication" of another author's "language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions" and the representation of them as one's own original work.[1][2]"
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plagiarism

Sometimes I see this type of quotation after a long content without "".  In such a case readers cannot understand that it is a quoted content until they reach at the bottom of the content.  Although one could still claim that s/he gave a credit and could avoid plagiarism, I recommend to make the quotation as clear as possible, by putting it at the beginning of the content or simply using the forum quote code as written in 1.2 and 1.3 in OP.

[tbct_mt2]

Updated with things happen next after proof of plagiarism found by mods, or forum members. Mods can not be able to do perma-bans, only admin and global mods can do perma-bans; and perma-bans will be handled manually, carefully.
Someone whom translated my topic into your local languages, please update OP with this part:

What's next after reports of plagiarsims?

Posts are reported to moderators who check out the report. If the poster needs to be banned, the moderator sends a ban report up to a global mod or admin. The global mod or admin handles all of the ban reports they get at around the same time. Either the admins or global mods don't need to check every account because they trust the moderators to have already done so, or they check quickly because every such report contains references and links to the plagiarism post and to the source text so checking takes little time.

[tbct_mt2]

Some newest collected posts relate to plagiarsiml, OP updated.

Global mods were given the ability to ban signatures only yesterday. Do you think we can get through all the appeals in one day? Be patient.

You can't plagiarise yourself. Copying the same post into another or multiple threads would at worst get you a temp ban if it was deemed spam.

Globals can now issue sig bans so it'll happen more often but isn't going to be a let off for everyone (so if half your posts are copy and pastes then forget about it but people who are getting banned for one or two posts from years ago will likely be shown some mercy).

[tbct_mt2]

Update on unbanned users (from latest permanent banned users). OP already updated. Users can learn from those unbanned users from their past contributions before got perma-banned and why they did get temporary ban + signature ban (usually one or two years).

1.lovesmayfamilis
2.hacker1001101001
3.shasan
4.cellard
5.thejaytiesto
6.zazarb

[DdmrDdmr]

People are not aware of just how far back a check for plagiarism can go. Answer: currently, all your posting history, from whatever time in the past.

That means that plagiarism on any single historical post can spin back at any point and be reported, leading to a likely ban (normally permanent, exceptionally temporal plus over a year of signature ban). Lately, there seem to be semi-automated systems around that scout people’s history on the forum to search for plagiarism. As a result, there has been an increase in the number of banned accounts. Banned accounts belong to all sorts of ranks, some of them even being stakeholders of a certain reputation on the forum.

See for example:
http://Topic: A wave of bans: 400 yesterday, 300 the day before. What changed?.
Total list + Unban progress]https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5144410.0 .

Note that unban possibilities for plagiarism are rather remote (and rather new), and are related to accounts that are considered net positive for the forum (past posting contributions) and have no recurrent plagiarism habits.

[tbct_mt2]

Readers of the topic can check the following topic to see how serious consequences of plagiarism.
✅[BAN APPEAL] Total list + Unban process (Need feedback from Global mods). Most of ban appeals end with failures, and most of proofs shown with plagiarism.
Please remember don't copy and paste without source links.
Please remember don't steal other ideas for any kind of purposes.
Please remember that from now on, you won't have rights to say sorry if you plagiarise (because it is not same as years ago, when forum rule on plagiarism was not applied).

[tbct_mt2]

Reserve for the history of rule on plagiarism. I will search it, but if anyone see the post, and know this information, please give me a hand. I guess I read it from @iasenko's post.

Reminder:
Since early of April 2019, a highly powerful plagiabot started to run and massively dig deeper in past posts to find plagiarisms. Please be careful anytime you use Control C & Control P on your devices. With plagiabot, it does not make sense to say "I am sorry, bot"

So someone created a working bot to detect them?

I have no idea how he spots them but he does a good job.

[DdmrDdmr]

Reserve for the history of rule on plagiarism. I will search it, but if anyone see the post, and know this information, please give me a hand. <…>
 

I’m not sure exactly what you mean by the history of the rule of plagiarism. If you mean the moment it was introduced, then I took a look at it not long ago as I posted here:

<...>
I had the curiosity at some point last year as to how far back in people’s history did the rules apply (see A couple of quick questions related to forum rules). The answer was that there is no delimited timeframe for rules to apply.

If I recall correctly, my curiosity was aroused when I checked the forum rules to see when rule 33 had been written:

- It was present at round November 2016 (rule number 33): https://web.archive.org/web/20161121133329/https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=703657.0
- But not in May 2016: https://web.archive.org/web/20160506061123/https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=703657.0

Of course, these rules are basically a privately applied based guideline, and obviously can apply to whatever timeframe the Forum wishes, with disregard to the fact that the rule infringement may have been committed prior to the rule being stated.

The fact that the rule on plagiarism (for example) seems not to have been introduced until somewhere between May and November 2016 could be controversial with regards people being banned for plagiarism committed before that period. On the other hand, we could understand that all rules are fully retroactive and that’s it. I personally would prefer a 3 year timeframe or so, but that’s all it is, a personal preference. 

Rule seems to be retroactive, since people with reported plagiarism prior to May/June 2016 have been banned for it. Since there is no legal status for these rules, I guess no one is going to challenge a ban based upon the above apparent date of introduction.

[tbct_mt2]

If I recall correctly, my curiosity was aroused when I checked the forum rules to see when rule 33 had been written:

- It was present at round November 2016 (rule number 33): https://web.archive.org/web/20161121133329/https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=703657.0
- But not in May 2016: https://web.archive.org/web/20160506061123/https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=703657.0

Of course, these rules are basically a privately applied based guideline, and obviously can apply to whatever timeframe the Forum wishes, with disregard to the fact that the rule infringement may have been committed prior to the rule being stated.

The fact that the rule on plagiarism (for example) seems not to have been introduced until somewhere between May and November 2016 could be controversial with regards people being banned for plagiarism committed before that period. On the other hand, we could understand that all rules are fully retroactive and that’s it. I personally would prefer a 3 year timeframe or so, but that’s all it is, a personal preference.  

Thank you for your help, DdmrDdmr. I will add it into OP. The exact day on which rule on plagiarism introduced might be confirmed later by mods when they see the topic.
Plagiarism before 2016 does not mean that users won't get bans; but somehow it is a reduced factors for them. However, there are other factors around result in final punishments for each user.

You actually can take your second chance with temporary ban and signature ban for one or two years. You can get it or not, depends on your past activities (things presented below are not mine, I describe perspectives of global mods that I read during the banwave in many appeals). There are some factors:
- Total posts that you plagiarised.
- Percentage of plagiarised posts / your total posts (more than half - 50% - will wipe out your second chance, surely)
- Time points of your plagiarism (before or after the rule on plagiarism applied in the forum)
- Your past contributions.
~snip~
Everyone whom got permanent ban will feel happy with a reduced sentence for sure. However, whenever you are back from vacation, you can make the appeal better (that somehow increase your chance) by collecting and presenting posts or threads that you thought are most constructives from your past (before your ban day).

[Lafu]

The most New users that join the forum i guess dont know about things like copy and paste and Realy dont care as long they dosnt readed the rules. A lot of Accounts that was buyed from others dont look also in there Post history for some kind of things like copy and paste and all. Maybe it would help for New users that we get or have some colored Text "copy and paste is not allowed" near the Post and preview Button when you make an reply or an topic. Dont know if this was already posted here and if so, im sry. But something like that would helping for some users and nobody can say they havnt know that. That is just an Suggestion and idea! And should be easy to implemented in the System.

[Harlot]

Maybe it would help for New users that we get or have some colored Text "copy and paste is not allowed" near the Post and preview Button when you make an reply or an topic. Dont know if this was already posted here and if so, im sry. But something like that would helping for some users and nobody can say they havnt know that. That is just an Suggestion and idea! And should be easy to implemented in the System.

This would be really helpful and possible as BCT has done it with our pms regarding newbies and a warning through the trust system. If this reminder is done then I think the plagiarizers who are doing plagiarism purposely will only be left and there is really no hard decision on lifting their permabans by that time. Nevertheless I still think the topic about plagiarism should be explained more further rather than just reminding members that copying and pasting post isn't allowed, this will make make it more effective IMO.

[Lafu]

But reminding users or just show them everytime when they start a reply or creating a new thread will get a few or some users maybe to check there things what they Post or at least the insert the source link for. I know that there are some users they dont care about that and they just Post some kind of things or create topics and expect some merits or would just keep a thread on top of the others. The most users on the forum know what rules are here (hopefuly they do). Anyway there are few simple things that can be done to get the users an Info before they hit the Post Button, but thats on theymos if he want to implement this things.

[tbct_mt2]

It is I hope that soon theymos will add this topic's link into Welcome message for new registered accounts.
Welcome message, that is only a draft for now.

The most New users that join the forum i guess dont know about things like copy and paste and Realy dont care as long they dosnt readed the rules.

It is good when official version launched and attached to Welcome message, but basically it is not a responsibility of admin to do this, users have to read rules themselves, for their interests. Most of plagiarisms made by spammers, but I don't deny fact that there are real users whom plagiarised because don't read forum rules before the days they got perm-bans. 

Anyway there are few simple things that can be done to get the users an Info before they hit the Post Button, but thats on theymos if he want to implement this things.

[tbct_mt2]

To help readers better imagine how terrible plagiarism's consequences are, especially with a power plagiabot, I share the topic for you all.
A wave of bans: 400 yesterday, 300 the day before. What changed?. The banwave originated from that unknown plagiabot. Since the banwave (likely started on 10th of May 2019), there are 4238 users (above Newbie rank), in total, got permanent bans

 4238. Jr. Member Joran_crypto Banned! (Trust: neutral) (1 Merit earned (history)) (BPIP)

[tbct_mt2]

There is a discussion on potential issues that might result in personal assasination by copying post of users you hate, and edit your past post with the same content with intention to make original post look like a plagiarism. However, as far as I know, it is likely not a real issue because plagiarism reports will be manually check by mods, global mods or admins before using their ban-hammers.
there is an issue which i brought up and was brought again today

[DdmrDdmr]

There is a discussion on potential issues that might result in personal assasination by copying post of users you hate, and edit your past post with the same content with intention to make original post look like a plagiarism. However, as far as I know, it is likely not a real issue because plagiarism reports will be manually check by mods, global mods or admins before using their ban-hammers. <…>

I recall a case (see vulnerability of the forum. slander in plagiarism) where a user from the Russian local board was framed for plagiarism (using both posts on Bitcointalk and on an external blog). @Theymos looked into matters and concluded that the person was indeed framed and reverted the ban.

There’s another case of a currently banned for plagiarism users who does not really seem like plagiarism should be applied due to the context exposed in the thread (he posted the same content as another user, but both were campaign thread comunication managers, and both seemed to have reposted official information that they relayed on their respective threads in their role of communication managers (see BAN APPEAL: looking for a solution).   

Those cases are rather exceptional though, as the vast majority of ban appeals result in people playing dumb, or that they had committed plagiarism some time ago (even years ago) and has completely forgotten about it.