My analysis as beta - not plagiarized

[danceswithgary]

ETA 12/13/07: I've opened this to the public at hils request so it is available for the stop_plagiarism investigation.


I stand by what I stated on justforspite's journal. I beta'ed hils's fic and I absolutely do NOT believe it was theft or plagarism in any way. I take my beta work seriously and would have pointed out any conflicts.

Following are my synopses of the two fics with the sections that could be claimed to be similar highlighted.

Similar ideas - nothing matches.



Fic: I Believe
Title: I Believe
Author: Hils

Lana finds Clark in barn and discusses lack of sex

Clark leaves upset

Lana complains to Kara who thinks Clark's problem has to do with Lex

Kara explains crystal which can modify Kryptonian body to allow sex with others (crystal called Shea) No discussion on how it worked.

Lana remembers seeing one on a plaque ironically congratulating Lex on post-Zod work

Upset Clark sits outside mansion to calm down and has surprisingly pleasant conversation with Lex

Lana hires maid to steal

Lex confronts Lana in barn post-theft and Clark interrupts

Lana's lying exposed and Clark takes crystal from her

Clark pricks finger on crystal (Sleeping Beauty tie-in) and disappears

Lex goes looking for Kara for answers

Clark is transported to Fortress and talks to Jor-El, informed he will be modified and then unconscious

Kara at first aggressive towards Lex then informs him only true love can save Clark - no indication who that is.

Lex forces Lana to go with him to Fortress, convinced Lana is Clark's true love

They arrive and Jor-El confirms Kara's info and points them to Clark lying on bed in glowing robes and true love must wake him (Sleeping Beauty's kiss)

Lana tries and fails, Lex accidentally succeeds and finally understands it's him – Lana is pissed and hits Lex and then runs away before Clark wakes
Lex kisses, Clark wakes, they want to leave and can't because of Jor-El until they consummate

Clark is distressed over location not special for first time (BTW – same element in my story 'Just A Matter of Time' and I really had no issue with it – reasonable reaction on 'virgin's' part, oh, and convenient lube, too.)

Sex.

Lex talks Clark down from floating and reveals Lana was there
Clark willing to forgive Lana despite her abandoning them in Arctic

Love declared and Clark flies them back

==============================================================

Clover
By JayneFaire
This is being written as an entry to P.L. Nunn’s Clex doujinshi contest .
Clex
NC-17
Season 7
Cover #4/5

Lana uses cameras to sketch objects including female Buddha – no reference to arguments with Clark on sex

Kara sees sketch and asks where Lana found, explains about Clover who is given to couples on wedding night to enhance mutual affection – exchange of perfect knowledge between two so they knew exactly how to please partner. Had to be activated by parents or another dangerous option.

Kara suspicious about sketch

Lana arranges for theft

Clark delivers produce and interrupts theft – Lex had already figured out who based on what was being stolen

Taser activates Clover while Clark and Lex holding (robbery went bad while Lana watched remotely)

Lex almost dies and Clark takes to hospital and stays with him (Lana section where she decides it would be okay if Lex was dead)

Mutual attraction discovered in hospital – Lana upset – Lex thinks it will wear off – Clark takes Lana home telling Lex won't be back

Clark drawn back to hospital – Lex accepts

Kara figures out lovesick and until death and tells Lana it's Lex

Lana picks up on death caveat

Lionel concerned about Clark

Kara fixated on Niagara Falls and explains bonding to Clark and that heart will get worse until they consummate. Kara makes point that Lana and Clark would never work because Lana tried to force it.

Clark rejects Lana – she tells him to find out full truth about Lexana from Lex

Clark rejects Lex because he's a bad guy – full disclosure time

Lana uses Isis residents to try to kill Lex

Lex tells about Lana clone as effort to make sure he'd have body parts if needed

Lex attacked by meteor mutant and learns Clark's secret

Kara and Lionel discussion about being Jor-El's vessel

Lionel tries to intervene with Lana and Lana orders him put out of commission so she can try again

Lana watches Clark and Lex on cameras having sex

Lana sends assassin with Kryptonite to disable Clark so Lex can be killed – calls it off when realizes Clark will die from being shot

Lex threatens Lana's life via camera and Lana disappears and opens new foundation for meteor mutants

01/07/08 ETA: This has been resolved as not plagarized here.

Comments

[hils.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sticking by me. I'd almost certainly have convinced myself I was in the wrong if it wasn't for you.

[danceswithgary]

Easy choice,sweetheart. The facts speak for themselves. *hugs*

[hils.livejournal.com]

*hugs back*

[jakrar.livejournal.com]

I hadn't realized there was any trouble over this; I'm sorry if anyone upset you. I enjoyed "Clover," and I enjoyed "I Believe," and I have no problem with what similarities there were between the two. A lot of wonderful stories have tackled similar themes, and fandom would be far poorer if only one author were allowed to explore any one idea.

[danceswithgary]

A lot of wonderful stories have tackled similar themes, and fandom would be far poorer if only one author were allowed to explore any one idea.

Exactly.

It's unfortunate that the accusation was made and hils has had a tough couple of days as a result. It's not something to take lightly or just ignore considering the size of the flists/communities involved.

I'm distressed because as I noted, I take my beta work seriously. I'm not going to let it stop me from writing or encouraging others in their writing. I just hope it gets resolved soon, for everyone's sake. I hate the thought of the fandom getting dragged down by something like this.

[herohunter.livejournal.com]

fandom would be far poorer if only one author were allowed to explore any one idea.

So much word.

[danceswithgary]

I hate this. You know I stay strictly away from this sort of thing, but I can't back down. *unhappy sigh*

[selinamoonfire.livejournal.com]

A lot of wonderful stories have tackled similar themes, and fandom would be far poorer if only one author were allowed to explore any one idea.

I completely agree.

[hils.livejournal.com]

In retrospect I'd wish I'd just ignored the comments that had been made about me but I was upset and angry that someone thought I would deliberately steal from them. I have enough plot bunnies in my head that I really don't need to copy from other people.

I just want it to get resolved quickly now so I can crack on with my next fic

Thanks though :)

[mama-terra.livejournal.com]

I thought I'd comment here since I know you slightly better than hils.

I've read both. Today. To see what this was all about. Besides the "Kryptonian red crystal/object" (they're not even the same thing) that helps Clark and Lex "realize and act" on their true feelings for each other and Lana messing things up one way or another, the fics are different. Lana being bitchy and trying to mess things up between Clark and Lex is a MAJOR theme in Clex. It's like a staple. Like Buffy hating that Willow and Angel and/or Spike are together. It's just fanon.

The "Kryptonain red crystal/object" thing is common as well. Or common enough. If I were to ever search for these fics the red crystal thing would be the only thing that would confuse me as to which fic I was looking for. And that can be said for lots of fics. Where it's one item or plot point thats the same and confuses people to which fic is which. We've seen it often enough on sv_inquiry

This is not plagiarism. It's simply two authors with a few similar plot points. Which, as I can't stress enough, happens like... all the time. Especially when a fandom base is so big and has quite a few authors.

[danceswithgary]

Similarities/themes happens to be something I've focused on in my rec lists so no argument that we see the same thing explored amny different ways - and that's great. I'm sure it will be resolved soon. *crosses fingers and hopes for reasonable mods*

[selinamoonfire.livejournal.com]

I think that this whole situation is so sad. I don't want to take sides. But other than a few plot points/themes, I don't see that much in common.

This could cause some seriously nasty snarls in fandom. I hope it doesn't, but my inner cynic is having a field day with this.

[danceswithgary]

I agree, it is sad that it had to get this far. I'm here to write, and help others to write, and to appreciate what's out there to read. The last thing I wanted was to get involved, but I am even if just as the beta.