Project Copying

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Project copying on Scratch occurs when a user remixes a project or downloads it and uploads the exact thing with no changes whatsoever, and claims it as an original creation. Project copying is not allowed, because the project cannot be counted as a remix as nothing has been modified. This is stated in the Scratch FAQ and is punishable by the Scratch Team.

If any of the project has been changed in any noticeable way, then it is considered a remix and not a copy. In addition, some users, such as newer Scratchers, are less likely to understand how remixing works on Scratch, and may accidentally copy a project while usually only intending to save data or to learn from it.

Project copying is a form of plagiarising, which is the act of taking someone else's work and claiming it as one's own. Plagiarism is illegal in most countries.

Difficulties

Main article: Project Downloading#Locking Downloads

Because there is no way to prevent a user from stealing another user's project, users have to be aware of the remixes made of their projects. This was made easier by remix notifications. Another difficulty is when someone creates a project, but other users copy it and say it is theirs and the original creator copied them. Most of the time, the release dates solve this issue, but it is possible to make and share a blank project and then later fill it with the contents of a project in order to copy it and show an earlier release date. Backpacking code or sprites from someone else's project without proper credits is also considered a violation of the Community Guidelines.

Reporting

Once a user finds a stolen project, the user has to first check to see if the project is not just a remix. If the project is confirmed as a copy, the user can then report it — it pays to be descriptive in the reason given for reporting, because the Scratch Team may mistake the project theft for cases of remix disapproval. Be sure to also include the link to the original project in your report.

Disabling Remixes

Because of this problem, there have been many suggestions for an option to disable downloading and remixing a project. The Scratch Team disapproves of this solution:

“	Copytheft is indeed a problem, but on a website where remixing is one of the core principles, disabling remixing is definitely not the answer to the problem.	”
– cheddargirl, Scratch Team[citation needed]

See Also

• Scratch License
• Plagiarism on Wikipedia