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"Have you ever taught this time management program for another of our divisions?" the man asked during the break.
"No, I haven't," I replied.
He pulled out a workbook and said, "I just took our company's internal time management program and here's the workbook we used."
I thumbed through it, stunned. The pages were mine with illustrations I'd commissioned an artist to draw. All the material was there-except my logo, address and copyright at the bottom of each page. Obviously, someone had cut off my logo and copyright and was now using this material as their own. This kind of theft is not only prevalent with internal trainers, but with external consultants as well.
Recently I was consulting with a colleague on a program he was presenting for a sizable fee. When reviewing the workbook, I noticed pages set in different type style, as well as some I knew were from another consultant. When asked about this, he admitted he hadn't even thought about giving the author credit or getting permission.
Sometimes this thievery is not intentional-people just don't think. Unconscious or not, it's still stealing. I had one trainer tell me how effective my program was. So effective, in fact, that she asked, "Would you send me copies of all your overheads and cartoons?"
I was flabbergasted. I make my living by giving unique presentations-part of which are my original handouts. And she nonchalantly asked if she could have part of that package-free!
What can you do to protect yourself against rip-offs as well as honor other people's work?
First, if you are an external consultant copyright everything, on every page. One person related to me how her department loved one of the handouts I had produced so much that they were going to reproduce it for the whole company. Only one thing stopped them: "Oh, she's copyrighted it." Some pages I want my participants and clients to be able to reproduce. There are no copyrights on those pages, and I tell them verbally to go ahead and copy.
Avoid fraud: Never put your copyright on someone else's material. Always get permission from an originator to use the material. When I include copies of magazine articles, I get written permission from the authors. This holds true for cartoons too. These artists made a living by their wit and pen. Don't rip them off. Often the use fee is very small-$10-$15. And some still grant you permission to use their cartoons on an overhead for free because overheads are not considered publications.
Yes, it does take time to research and get permission from the authors. Yes, it is much easier to use their material without asking. "After all, who'll know?" you may be thinking. Very few, probably. But is your professional integrity worth risking over such a "small" thing? You may never know how these "small" things can tarnish your image. I think much less of that first company mentioned because that one trainer represents the company in my eyes. Not fair to condemn a whole company for the actions of one? Perhaps not. But almost everyone does.
If you are interviewing a consultant and notice a number of cartoons, or differently typeset materials in his/her workbook,ask if s/he got permission. If you feel uncomfortable with the response, ask to see the written permission. You could be as liable for copyright infringement and possible fraud as they are. And do you really want to work with someone who is dishonest? This may seem like a small thing to you, but if they are dishonest in this area, in what other areas might they be dishonest?
Give credit verbally for borrowed ideas and stories. I coined a term "Silencing Visual Noise" to describe office clutter. I was at another presentation when the presenter, who had attended my program, used the term as if it was her own. I felt ripped off. She could have just as easily said, "As Rebecca Morgan says, Visual Noise..." Again, more work, but I would have respected her more. Some of the others knew it was my term and her status dropped a notch with them too.
And no, these references do not clutter up your presentation. In fact, they add credibility because you are showing you've done research. I heard one speaker tell a famous Denis Waitley story as if it were his own. If he had said, "Denis Waitley had an experience which illustrates this point...," he would have added to his integrity.
We each must take responsibility for our own integrity, every day, in every action, large or small. Just as you would not lie to your colleagues or steal money from other training professionals.
I urge you to be more conscious of the material you use. Get permission to use material you borrow from others. If it is so good you couldn't possibly duplicate the points in your own version, offer to pay for the right to use it. They spent many hours perfecting it.
© 1987 Morgan Seminar Group
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Rebecca L. Morgan, CSP, is a dynamic speaker and seminarist. She is the author of four books, TurboTime: Maximizing Your Results Through Technology, Calming Upset Customers, Life's Lessons: Insights and Information for a Richer Life, and Professional Selling. For information on her speaking services, books, and tapes contact her at 1440 Newport Ave., San Jose, CA 95125, 408/998-7977, 800/247-9662, fax: 408/998-1742, rebecca@RebeccaMorgan.com, www.RebeccaMorgan.com. Please contact Rebecca for permission to reprint or repost this item.
Personal Productivity/Time Management | TurboTime | Customer Service | Professional Selling | Management/Communication | Training | Motivational
Morgan Seminar Group | 1440 Newport Ave. | San
Josˇ, CA 95125-3329
(800) 247-9662 | (408) 998-7977 | Fax (408) 998-1742 |
rebecca@RebeccaMorgan.com