?Chapter 40: Episode 40 Zero Tolerance for Plagiarism 2 Chapter 40: Episode 40 Zero Tolerance for Plagiarism 2 Following the plan for enriching forum content devised by Zhou Xueyin, several people spent nearly half a month living through cycles of street sweeping and content organizing.


    Initially, the idea was to sweep the streets for one day and prepare content for a week.


    However, in practice, they discovered there wasn’t enough content to post even for three days, especially concerning the daily dilemma of what to eat.


    In the end, Zhou Xueyin decided to post three items for “what to eat today”: one for breakfast, one for lunch, and one for dinner. This approach would also ensure some inventory was kept, and after all, the three posts were merely meant to provide a reference.


    After this half-month ordeal, not only was there no obvious increase in traffic, but their painstakingly original posts were also being copied verbatim by some websites?


    These sites even displayed the words “51buy original, reproduction without permission prohibited.”


    Even more absurdly, some claimed these were originally published on their site, generating far more views and responses than 51buy.


    The four of them, unable to contain their anger, confronted these site owners or administrators.


    However, the responses they received were unexpectedly consistent: “All the writings under the heaven are copies. Once you contribute content to the internet, be prepared for it to be taken. We copied from you because we respect you; after all, no one visits your small, insignificant site!”


    This statement really infuriated them. Sёar?h the N?vel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Despite their hard work, exposing themselves to the elements to gather content, their efforts were simply co-opted by those who just lifted their fingers in air-conditioned offices.


    This could not be tolerated. Online plagiarism must not be condoned!


    “Yinyin, do you think this would work…” Kang Siyin pulled Zhou Xueyin to her seat, “The forum has always had the function of ‘reply to view.’ How about we make all our content ‘reply-to-view’?”


    “Hmm…” Zhou Xueyin pondered.


    ‘Reply to view’ might block some people who take content without registering, but once these people register, they could still take posts by simply replying…


    However, if the threshold is set too high, it might really deter some users who just want to view content. Sacrificing viewership to prevent plagiarism would be a losing gambit.


    “Should I ask Curly Cat for her opinion? How about that?” Being the first community member to post, Zhou Xueyin felt her opinion was important too.


    Zhou Xueyin discussed the current forum situation with Curly Cat, who unexpectedly was also eager to discuss the plagiarism issue; it was a perfect match.


    Curly Cat’s suggestion was to make some content ‘reply to view,’ with access to key content either through purchasing with forum points or by reaching a certain amount of points.


    “Actually, I think you shouldn’t worry too much about whether users will be turned off by the high barriers…” Curly Cat advised Zhou Xueyin, “Look at those resource sites, they’re still popular…”


    Zhou Xueyin also deeply understood this point. Many websites focusing on video resources impose many restrictions, but this doesn’t dampen forum members’ enthusiasm.


    On the contrary, it makes users even more eager to post frivolous comments to access resources.


    “Hmm… But the problem is, we’re not a resource site; we’re just a shopping guide website. If there are so many rules and restrictions, users probably won’t accept it…” Zhou Xueyin empathetically pondered, “At least I wouldn’t. If I see too many restrictions, I’d just leave…”


    “You can’t generalize, though… How about trying to put watermarks on text or images?” Curly Cat offered another idea, “Just like those cosplayers watermark their photos!”


    “Eh? Right! I completely forgot about that in the rush! That’s a good option! Even if they take the pictures with our watermark on them, I’m still not worried. It’s also a way of indirect promotion!” Zhou Xueyin was overjoyed.


    “Shanbao, design a watermark. I don’t mind the hassle; plaster every image with it! Let them copy! Even their copying will be promoting us!” Zhou Xueyin immediately assigned Yao Shanshan a new task.


    “What about posting content…” Yao Shanshan nervously asked, worried that designing watermarks would delay content updates.


    “It’s okay, we’ll pause it for a couple of days…” Zhou Xueyin waved her hand dismissively, “Our primary task now is to protect our content!”


    “Speaking of which, the forum has a ‘disable text copying’ function, should I activate that?” Kang Siyin was earnestly checking the forum’s permissions when she discovered this feature while Zhou Xueyin was seeking advice from Curly Cat.


    “Definitely!” Zhou Xueyin eagerly nodded, ready to use any available method to curb plagiarism.


    “By the way, KK, do you see if the forum has the feature to add a paragraph string?” Lee Jixiang suddenly thought of something, “When I referred to other sites’ articles on fashion pairings, I noticed they had mysterious codes after paragraphs, and it turned out that they, too, copied content from someone else…”


    “Yes, yes!” Kang Siyin found and activated it right away.


    The four of them were truly all in when it came to protecting their work.


    However, a week later, although the incidence of copying their content decreased, it was still not completely eradicated.


    Some websites, not deterred by the hassle, either cropped out the watermarks or smeared them. Some even over-imposed their own watermarks over those of 51buy, as if to defy them.


    “Isn’t this… don’t they have any shame? Are they all disabled? Why compulsively copy our content? Can’t they do their own street sweeping?” Zhou Xueyin ranted frantically at home, “Isn’t there any way to punish them?”


    “Hmm… Apparently not… Since the internet is a relatively new industry, there are currently no regulations regarding online plagiarism… so…” Lee Jixiang comforted her by patting her shoulder, “Out of sight, out of mind…”


    “Jixiang, I just can’t accept this! We work so hard to produce content, and they just easily copy it… and then their site gets even more views. Why is that fair!” Zhou Xueyin said, almost in tears.


    She genuinely couldn’t accept it, but felt powerless to change it.


    “Yinyin… there’s some good news, do you want to hear it?” Kang Siyin asked hesitantly.


    “Go on, let’s hear it…” Zhou Xueyin spoke listlessly, doubting that anything could lift her spirits at that moment.


    “A user said she came here after seeing content reposted elsewhere. She found the quality of our posts to be very high and helped promote us!” Kang Siyin said energetically.


    “Oh… really… that’s rare…” However, Zhou Xueyin’s mood still didn’t improve, remaining quite dejected.


    But then again, the internet is so vast; surely, there would be one or two morally upright people around who would eventually find their site. Unless they arrive in the hundreds all at once, perhaps then she might feel a bit better…