Use of forum material by influencers without permission.

[Bigmac]

I want to discuss the use of pictures and text, case results posted on the forum. More so, patient results as they have been personally created, along with any discussion and comments made. The internet is a great resource for research now. But, it can be abused as we all know in many different ways.

I am often approached and asked whether material, be it text, or pictures can be copied and used on other sites. There are a couple of issues to this. Firstly, some users do not want their pictures or story elsewhere. If they did, they would post themselves. They chose a forum to tell their story and it ends there. Secondly, there is the forum credit to the article. The credibility of the forum is built over many years. As a trusted platform to relay your story but also receive independent valued information.

Under the right circumstances I am happy to allow HLE material to be shared on the basis that due credit is given to the original source, HLE forum. More and more I am chasing “influencers” especially it seems, who feel they have a right to basically steal material and take credit for the information. Giving no credit to the original source, as a result trying to take credit themselves for the material and story.

I was recently asked by a youtube influencer if he could use some material on HLE. I agreed he could use on the basis he gives credit. Which of course he declined to do as it does not fit with the business model to claim experience and expertise. I later found, he has been using the material anyway after being told the terms he could use under, declining to agree to the terms and using anyway. Wanting to be seen as an trustworthy individual who has experience and expertise in the field. When ultimately all they are doing is copying and revamping original material to gain notoriety.
Be careful who you look for for advice.

 

[Kevboy]

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, although not exactly imitating but taking what’s not theirs. Spraffing from other people’s hard work. This site has been invaluable to me and plenty of others. Keep up the excellent job you do.

 

[smokeybacon]

I agree with kevboy, bigmac works hard and his site has helped many people for years. You see it all the time now. Take the easy option to make them look more informed than they are. Youtube is full of these type of people, taking the material of others and recycling it as their own. If they ever get big and it happening to them, see how they feel.

 

[sl]

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery", this is very true. It is okay to use others' material but one should show some class and give source credit. I have seen this happen and saw a certain doctor writing on a subject I had written and posted and he pretty much used word for word what I wrote and even my use of "illiteration", which was unique to my post until this point, so it does happen.

We all learn from others and self included but to promote something as your own insight or knowledge, experience is wrong and most of the "influencers" never spent any time in a clinic and certainly not day to day as I and others have....It is more about them than you and that is the motive of their channels. Many have a real need to be seen and heard and probably it can become unhealthy also for them and dangerous for the viewers who make decisions based upon their videos and their non-medically qualified consultations they offer via zoom etc..

I know from experience this forum has helped and continues to help many and with unbiased voices, different views and inputs, this is all good and BM has dedicated a lot of time to assisting patients and giving back and even at personal cost and time and been doing so for well over a decade also and not a newbie springing up to get a name.

 

[smokeybacon]

By the way bigmac, meant to ask, which youtube influencer was it?

 

[Bigmac]

I don’t want to give his name, only gives him credit, but he is from Spain.
There are others who’ve taken without consent and don’t give any credit.

 

[Kevboy]

Just a taker.