You’ve worked hard to build your business up from the ground. From a simple idea, you’ve managed to turn a dream into a thriving and flourishing career and not just for yourself; if you’re now employing others, then you’re providing them with a reliable source of income too. With all this in mind, the last thing you want is to jeopardize your business reputation with a simple mistake.
I’m talking of course, about plagiarism. Plagiarism is defined as – the practice of taking someone else’s work or ideas and passing them off as one’s own. It could be something as simple as forgetting to add a citation to your work or something serious like copying someone else’s words directly and not crediting them at all. If you or an employee gets caught out, then there could be serious implications to your personal character, business standing and even legal repercussions.
The most successful way of preventing plagiarism is to invest in a plagiarism checker. That way you can rest assured that any work your business is producing is original and not copied. There are many plagiarism checker providers on the market so there is no shortage of options for those looking to invest in buying this kind of software.
Read on for 3 ways plagiarism can ruin your business reputation.
Your personal reputation
There are many different scenarios where plagiarism could occur in the workplace. However, they all have the same consequences. If you have an employee who has plagiarised someone else’s work then their actions – even if they aren’t condoned by you – reflect your business’s ethos and will quickly tarnish your reputation as a business owner. Your business appears dishonest, lacking in order and it looks as though you care very little for your clients.
If you yourself, have been plagiarising someone else’s work then you could potentially lose your job, you could be suspended without pay and you could jeopardise any future employment.
Legal issues
Familiar with the term copyright infringement? You might have heard it banded about the workplace or even on TV, but copyright infringement is simply the legal term for plagiarism. Copying someone else’s work, can land you and your business in hot water and also in court. You could pay a fine or you could even spend time in jail. Either option will leave your business reputation in tatters, so it’s really not worth the risk.
Monetary repercussions
If you are brought to court for plagiarism, then the monetary repercussions could be severe and financially devastating. If you’re a fledgling business, it’s highly unlikely that you’d be able to cope with the financial pressure of a monetary penalty.
Conclusion
If you’re embarking on a writing career, you’ve been tasked with heading the companies blog, or you have been given a writing project, it’s important to understand the repercussions of plagiarism as well as the legal and ethical implications. Do some research before you begin, and make sure you have the tools needed to write original and engaging content independently.
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