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Damon Botticelli, Realtor - Las Vegas Real Estate (Silver State Realty & Investments)

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Rainer
150,416
Michael Thacker - Re/Max Real Estate Center - Louisville
Re/Max Real Estate Center - The Thacker Group - Louisville, KY
Your best friend who just happens to be a Realtor

Lazy, yes. Plagiarism, yes. Copyright violation, most likely. Ethical, not at all! I would check with my local MLS and find out what the rules say.

Jan 30, 2016 11:10 AM
Rainer
97,816
Carol Wilson
Your $imple Home - Toronto, ON

First of all, you must be a great writer!  Yay!

Second, aside from the lead on copyright violations to Lenn Harley, I have heard people in publishing talk about copyright.  I heard that in Canada everything we write is copyrighted and we don't even have to mark it so, although it can be a useful reminder on our material.  If you can't reach LH, you might turn to contacts in publishing or a lawyer in that area for some brief printed material that outlines the protection in copyright law.  Getting several facts can be very helpful to you and doesn't need to cost a lot.

What about letting the agent know you are delighted that your description is useful to them, and that in view of copyright laws (make sure you are accurate--i.e., you researched the law), you expect to be paid up front next time they want to use your material, and your fee is ____.  That will make them think, plus it shows you as someone to respect.  Which is quite true, of course.  And it might make you money, as well.

Jan 30, 2016 12:41 PM
Rainer
223,831
LUXURYSOCALREALTY COMPASS La Jolla
Compass - La Jolla, CA
San Diego Partner - The Private Client Network

all of the above Damon, very weak!  I however am too busy to get in fights with my collegues so I don't say anything.

Jan 30, 2016 11:59 AM
Rainmaker
506,530
Ellen Caruso
Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty - Glen Head, NY

Just like stealing your photos, it's cheating and illegal. Report them!

Jan 30, 2016 11:51 AM
Ambassador
2,684,009
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

 

     You can sue them in court.  ActiveRain member Lenn Harley (who is on a break right now) is an expert on Copyright; she has prevailed several times when people used her Images.  Maybe send her an email, or give her a call.  Lenn Harley 

Jan 30, 2016 11:45 AM
Rainmaker
2,224,473
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

Contact your local MLS and report this. This isn't ethical and it is plagiarism. 

Jan 30, 2016 11:14 AM
Rainmaker
4,571,806
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

When it happened to me, I wrote a blog post.  

Jan 30, 2016 09:03 PM
Rainmaker
911,228
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

Plagiarism is not good in any form. One thing that might help is, when you are finished with a listing, delete the remarks and some of the photos from the MLS.

Jan 30, 2016 08:43 PM
Ambassador
2,435,774
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I would want to tell them to change it although I'm not sure how I would handle this. Perhaps we should remove our descriptions when listings expire or sell.

Jan 30, 2016 07:59 PM
Rainmaker
2,538,633
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Damon. I am much to busy to spend any time battling with others in my industry, I would let it go.

Jan 30, 2016 05:45 PM
Ambassador
6,392,899
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

First of all it probably is, but do you really want to be nasty to one of your colleagues.

Be the bigger person, accept it as a compliment and let it go.

Jan 30, 2016 01:54 PM
Rainmaker
864,658
Les & Sarah Oswald
Realty One Group - Eastvale, CA
Broker, Realtor and Investor

Plagiarism and lazy. I would report it MLS and also give him a call requesting that he stop copying your hard work.

Jan 30, 2016 12:53 PM
Ambassador
3,727,873
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

I would do nothing at all.  Going after a colleague for this kind of thing doesn't help you list and sell other properties.

Jan 30, 2016 12:52 PM
Rainmaker
140,768
Joan Dickie
Keller Williams Premier Realty - La Crosse, WI
Keller Williams Premier Realty

I wouldn't like it either.  I work hard to create an image in the readers mind and create an emotion.  I think I would have a word with them.

Jan 30, 2016 11:42 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Definitely lazy

Jan 30, 2016 10:54 AM
Rainmaker
2,443,250
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Plagiarism...

Jan 30, 2016 10:51 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,868
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Yes it is plagiarism, laziness and being just a crap agent all around.  You have to copyright it for it to be copyright violation.

Out here, you can take the agent to the board on an ethics charge (and I would).

And congrats on being a great writer that people want to steal your words.

Jan 31, 2016 07:03 AM
Rainer
321,564
Melissa Jackson REALTOR
Trinity Premier Properties - Azle, TX
Helping You Make The Right Move

Happens all the time.  I also put thought in my descriptions and notice agents copy and paste word for word.  Had this discussion with another agent recently.  One agent in our area does this. I think it's tacky and shows they probably don't do much for themselves. 

Jan 31, 2016 02:52 AM
Rainmaker
5,005,333
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

I like Fred Griffin's answer..contact Lenn Harley she is the queen of snuffing out plagiarism and unethical behavior.

Jan 30, 2016 11:37 PM
Rainmaker
1,052,056
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

See it alllll the time. There's one out right now that the next agent after me copied my words verbatim. I just shake my head that they are so weak, lazy and unoriginal. The listing won't sell anyway, or I'd still have it. IDC. Words are hard to fight. Steal my photos and yer dead, though.

Jan 30, 2016 11:12 PM
Rainmaker
2,781,013
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

There is nothing new under the sun... just lots of items being recycled. Go from there

Jan 30, 2016 11:10 PM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Damon,

Of course it is. 

Jan 30, 2016 10:09 PM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

It probably is plagiarism. Did those agents also steal your pictures? I would first call them and ask them to not use my work product. I get less excited about description plagiarrism than stolen pictures. Those I would report to the Board if they didn't take them down.

Jan 30, 2016 08:50 PM
Rainmaker
5,216,213
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Lazy and dangerous come to mind!

Jan 30, 2016 08:25 PM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

I would call it lazy and something that is rare. Normally I see the directions copied.

Jan 30, 2016 10:57 AM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

A few words is not considered copying however if you do several paragraphs you will be in trouble.

Oct 17, 2016 01:58 AM
Rainmaker
979,496
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Damon - I have had the same thing done to me as well. I didn't realize it until the other listing agent had already sold the property using my description.

I am pretty sure this would be frowned upon, but the question is, is it worth the effort to try and discover first, and then file a complaint about it.

Feb 01, 2016 12:58 AM
Rainmaker
763,783
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

I don't think anyone cares, at least not enough to make a federal case of it.

Jan 31, 2016 04:28 AM
Ambassador
3,344,906
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

All of the above.  Lazy, crappy, unethical agent.  Report the agent.

Jan 31, 2016 02:47 AM
Rainmaker
4,882,349
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Lazy for sure, and possibly some of the others you mentioned.

Jan 31, 2016 01:32 AM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

parked and reading

Jan 30, 2016 10:35 PM
Rainmaker
556,536
Greg Cremia
Shore Realty of the Outer Banks - Nags Head, NC

If this was school it would be plagerism, in the world of making money it is called copyright infringement.

Jan 30, 2016 10:08 PM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I do not mind it.

Jan 30, 2016 09:56 PM
Rainmaker
1,844,171
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Not plagiarism unfortunately. Pretty damn lazy though .....

Check with your MLS & you'll see. 

Jan 30, 2016 09:08 PM
Rainmaker
2,759,812
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

 Good morning Damon. It probably is.

Jan 30, 2016 05:10 PM
Rainmaker
1,525,616
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

It must be a bored seller who has the time to check to see if it is word for word, right?

Jan 30, 2016 11:28 AM