Plagiarism- is it such a crime? - Page 8

Originally posted by: shadyhtown

Many times the copy is better than the original - as in Ya Ali. Many times you don't understand the original, but understand the copied version as it is in your language.

That's like telling grade 4 kids - why read abridged Shakespeare novels when you can read the original complex version.

I, for one, started off reading abridged, simple English versions (written by different authors) - and then I could understand the story behind Macbeth and move on to the original work. If I had started with the original work without knowing the story behind Macbeth, I wouldn't have made heads or tails of it.

I think you are confusing the issue Shady. Abridged versions of a book for children or translated versions of a book (into other languages) are not copies! These books carry a statement that they are abridged from such and such book.

Originally posted by: punjini

I think you are confusing the issue Shady. Abridged versions of a book for children or translated versions of a book (into other languages) are not copies! These books carry a statement that they are abridged from such and such book.

I'm only responding to the comment 'Why not hear the original, when you can. Why listen to a copy.'

Just wanted to make the point that even if we know something is a copy, we might still want to listen to it rather than the original. As regards crediting or taking permission from the original party, I agree.

Originally posted by: shadyhtown

I'm only responding to the comment 'Why not hear the original, when you can. Why listen to a copy.'

Just wanted to make the point that even if we know something is a copy, we might still want to listen to it rather than the original. As regards crediting or taking permission from the original party, I agree.

Shady, I dont think that a sentence should ever be read in isolation. My comment was in relation to the topic, in relation to the music which is being copied.

I do agree with myth and others and you, of course, that sometimes, we do not know or do not hear of these foreign tracks, till someone copies it, adapts it, makes it sucessful, which in turn impresses our mind.

To that extent, maybe I will give credit that the otherwise hidden talent are being exposed to the crowd, giving the song or creation, its rightful due.

But in doing so, if only a small line giving an acknowledgement to the original or a small note to the author seeking permission will go a long way in not just propogating all kinds of music, but will pave way for the public to hear and be exposed to more variety of music.

iam looking at a book I bought for my daughter"how opel mehta got kissed got wild and got a life"..it seems the author kaavya viswanathan lifted ideas word to word from 3 different sources..my daughter read the book in one sitting...but now(after the truth came out) when someone asks her she says 'oh it its just okay!!'
the same thing happens in every field..the respect is lost..

Originally posted by: ankita31

the same thing happens in every field..the respect is lost..

Well put.

And this respect is lost not because you suddenly dont feel connected to the book or the song or the person, but a feel of distrust takes over your subconcious mind that here comes a person who has blindly copied the work of another and passed it off as his/ her own. And therefore you dont know if the next one is going to be another copy or something else. And when you see a copied idea, you will always know that there is someone else who is more creative to have come up with something original and the quest to find that original will prompt us to look more.

Originally posted by: s.priya

Well put.

And this respect is lost not because you suddenly dont feel connected to the book or the song or the person, but a feel of distrust takes over your subconcious mind that here comes a person who has blindly copied the work of another and passed it off as his/ her own. And therefore you dont know if the next one is going to be another copy or something else. And when you see a copied idea, you will always know that there is someone else who is more creative to have come up with something original and the quest to find that original will prompt us to look more.

true unless one happens to be a poor guy and cannot afford certain life-saving drugs. after all, the big pharma companies that make these drugs often price-gouge consumers, monopolistically speaking free to do so armed with the patents they have and all in the name of recovering their initial investment. one wld hop with joy if someone could only beg/ borrow/ steal the formula and bring a cheap generic version to market. ethics wld be damned then. we'd learn about the merits of copying real fast then.

Originally posted by: s.priya

Well put.

And this respect is lost not because you suddenly dont feel connected to the book or the song or the person, but a feel of distrust takes over your subconcious mind that here comes a person who has blindly copied the work of another and passed it off as his/ her own. And therefore you dont know if the next one is going to be another copy or something else. And when you see a copied idea, you will always know that there is someone else who is more creative to have come up with something original and the quest to find that original will prompt us to look more.

Well somehow - I didn't really begin to distrust Pritam. I just began to look at him as a compiler rather than a composer. In fact, after listening to all the songs of Gangster, I was glad to see him compile songs from all different sources and present them to me in one album, in a better format - maybe I'm from the Kazaa generation who wants it easy.

I was awaiting his next album, Woh Lamhe. I read the review as soon as it came out, and it said that a couple of the songs were expected inspired copies, while a couple were his original work. I wait more for the copies he gets from obscure places and presents to us, rather than the ones he has composed himself, because I know the copies will have better music - I was disappointed that he didn't have more of them.

Let's take an analogy. I wait for Qwest da's articles on this forum. I know he hasn't written them himself, and he says so. Even though I know those aren't his work, I am still grateful to Qwest da for gathering and presenting those articles to us. They are better work than some of the 'original' rants and raves of members of this forum. Same for Pritam. I prefer to listen to his compiled work that he has gathered and presented to me. Whether he has credited them or not, taken permission or not - that goes on to the back burner. First I would listen to and enjoy the song, regardless of where it came from. Later, if I have free time and I am bored, I will begin to worry about the legalities behind it.

Originally posted by: shadyhtown

Well somehow - I didn't really begin to distrust Pritam. I just began to look at him as a compiler rather than a composer. In fact, after listening to all the songs of Gangster, I was glad to see him compile songs from all different sources and present them to me in one album, in a better format - maybe I'm from the Kazaa generation who wants it easy.

I was awaiting his next album, Woh Lamhe. I read the review as soon as it came out, and it said that a couple of the songs were expected inspired copies, while a couple were his original work. I wait more for the copies he gets from obscure places and presents to us, rather than the ones he has composed himself, because I know the copies will have better music - I was disappointed that he didn't have more of them.

Let's take an analogy. I wait for Qwest da's articles on this forum. I know he hasn't written them himself, and he says so. Even though I know those aren't his work, I am still grateful to Qwest da for gathering and presenting those articles to us. They are better work than some of the 'original' rants and raves of members of this forum. Same for Pritam. I prefer to listen to his compiled work that he has gathered and presented to me. Whether he has credited them or not, taken permission or not - that goes on to the back burner. First I would listen to and enjoy the song, regardless of where it came from. Later, if I have free time and I am bored, I will begin to worry about the legalities behind it.

well let us look at this way, you went to reputed store, bought a ipod, paid top dollar, went home listened to it excellent quality, a month goes by, a friend tells you if the ipod has a sign of "Made by USA" rather than "Made in USA" it means it is a dupe

then do you feel cheated?

Originally posted by: charades

I have read the similar example earlier too in another thread also Posted you Rahul....

Who is at loss if you don't copy Music...So Let's not compare art with Science...they are 2 different fields and their purpose is different.

For some reason I am comfortable comparing Art with Science.

my example was in response to others opening up the discussion to other fields and to the general rant about copying.

the consumer could potentially be at a loss if music is not copied. just because something is original does not mean it cannot be improved upon or presented in a better light. that is in fact microsoft's forte- taking ideas which are there, improving on them, repackaging them and using it's marketing and monopolistic clout to push their products through. sorry for this example now, but again someone else brought up Softie before..

another point- there are multiple versions of the same song often floating around when it comes to western music. doesn't hurt listeners, does it?

I wonder what everyone feels looking at songs listed below and realizing that they were plagiarized
On one end you think ah if these were not plagiarized we would not be listening to these songs
On the other end you think you know some of the cornerstone songs of Hindi film music are plagiarized and some of the great celebrated music directors of Hindi Film music are nothing but higher grade's of chore than Pritam

look at the list below, if you google the original's you would find the original compiler of this list


R.D. Burman (like father like son)
Aao Twist Karein (Bhoot bangla) - Original - Let's twist again
Mehbooba (Sholay) - Original - Say you love me
Tumse Milke (Parinda ) - Original - When I need you

Laxmikant Pyarelal
Om shanti Om (Karz) -Original - Shanti om
Anand Milind
Akele Hain (Qayamay Se Qayamat Tak) - Original - Return to the alamo
S.D. Burman (like father, like son, can I repeat myself?)
Hum The Woh Thi (Chalti ka Naam Gaadi) Original - The Watermelon song

Shankar Jaikishen
Kaun hai jo sapnon mein aaya (Jhook gaya aasmaan) - Original - Marguerita

Salil Chowdhury (this was a real shocker)
Dil Tadap tadap ke (Madhumati) - Original - Szla dzieweczka do gajeczka

I saw this on someone's blog and verified the original songs(two times, 😉 what can I say slow day today),
since I did not beleive it at first