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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed someone has lifted some of my work and used it in a presentation without at least asking?

135 replies

Lex345 · 07/09/2024 23:29

Fully prepared to be told I'm a grumpy, joyless shit lol

I have a niche knowledge base that is not common for where I work and I have been working on projects bringing some of my expertise into the field. Part of this was a training suite which has been going on for well over a year.

This week, I was on an unrelated training session and my ACTUAL EXACT work (not changed, exactly the same) was used. I didn't know it had been used in this way and no one has asked. I didn't even know it had been disseminated.

AIBU to be a bit peeved? (I am also a bit flattered, but mainly peeved)?

OP posts:
Original poster
Lex345 · 07/09/2024 23:45

I don' lt mind so much about it being used-with permission though-just a courtesy message here and I would have been fine with it and would not require crediting. Now it will look like I have plagiarised them as my training will be delivered later as it is more complex.

OP posts:
sarahzbaker · 07/09/2024 23:43

Plagiarism. They should have credited you

Original poster
Lex345 · 07/09/2024 23:43

Re questions above-as far as I knew only 4 or 5 people had access to it; it was shared in google drive. What is slightly more worrying is there is a much larger volume of work there and it isn't standalone content to pick and mix from-it is like giving the punchline to a joke without the build up.
It was presented as part of a completely separate training course as if someone else had written it

OP posts:
MrsArcher23 · 07/09/2024 23:42

They might think twice before they steal your work again if they know you're not impressed. Better to be a bit difficult than to be taken advantage of.

Talipesmum · 07/09/2024 23:41

Lex345 · 07/09/2024 23:32

Do you think it is worth doing this? I was a bit shocked at my own work being parroted back to me. It just feels a bit crap to not at least tell me.

I’d contact the person who delivered the training and take the approach of “great course, thanks, learnt a lot. Not sure if you’re aware but the material xxxx that we used is taken from part of a larger training suite that I’ve been creating. I’m glad that this is useful, but it would greatly help me if you could reference me and the associated other material / training / ?? here, as I’m currently rolling this out across the organisation and it’s important that people know to reach out to me for more advice”.

Or something less wordy than that. Basically a “thank you for supporting this delivery, please reference me so people can be fully connected”

Original poster
Lex345 · 07/09/2024 23:40

I mentioned it to my manager who found it funny; should I word it something like, "I am really pleased this has been useful, but in future it would be professionally courteous to ask?" I feel like if I say anything people will just think I am being an arse

OP posts:
BobbyBiscuits · 07/09/2024 23:39

I'd speak to the person who presented it, in a discreet way. Is it published/available across the company for someone to potentially just copy and paste? The original work must be attributed to you? Did they pass it off fully as their own?

I'd be interested to know if it was done by accident, with malice, with direction from someone else etc. once you've got a bit more background by all means go to the senior who you created the work for. If it seems necessary.

It's difficult to know the level of sharing of work etc that takes place in your firm/industry.

But I hope you get to the bottom of it and get commended for the work as your own if that wasn't happening.

JustJoinedRightNow · 07/09/2024 23:34

Absolutely you should tell on them! That's not on. In professional writing and presentations you need to cite your source, not pass it off as your own work.

Original poster
Lex345 · 07/09/2024 23:32

Do you think it is worth doing this? I was a bit shocked at my own work being parroted back to me. It just feels a bit crap to not at least tell me.

OP posts:
Stirmish · 07/09/2024 23:31

Well let their top manager know they've stolen your work