That's because once Arcane Mysteries became aware that the spread he posted on his Tumblr was Metafizzypop's, he took down MFP's and replaced it with his own (on Tumblr) and also posted it here (at the link magicjack shared, above).
Prior to that, the spread on AM's Tumblr was the same as MFP's. However, AM was given permission to use it, by someone who didn't own it (a third party - details further back in the thread, I don't feel like digging them out). AM explained, apologized for the confusion, and rectified the situation.
Thanks LB!
Yes, that's exactly what happened. There's no problem with infringement on the AM site now because the issue has already been fixed.
Anyway, if that spread in the Spreads forum here (that magicjack linked to) had been a problem, I think I would have said something about it already.
While I'm here I wanted to touch on the topic of ideas. I see the term being used here a lot.
I have no problem if others come up with the same idea that I do and put it to use. In fact, I expect it. I don't care if a billion trillion other people come up with the idea of a Haunted House spread, and if they create HH spreads of their own. What bothered me was that my exact spread, word for word, was used. People keep saying that an idea can't be copyrighted. That is totally true, but also irrelevant. What bothered me was not that my idea had been used, but that my spread, which was phrased in a specific and colorful way, was used exactly as is, word for word, even down to the fussy punctuation. Countless other people may come up with the idea of creating a spread based on a Haunted House. But what are the odds that someone would use the exact same words that I did to create it?
I never had issue with anyone using the "idea." I was complaining about someone using what was effectively a small piece of my writing, the equivalent of a small poem, for example. I don't care if someone else gets the idea of writing a poem about a Haunted House, and if they write their own poem about a Haunted House. But if they use my exact poem, exactly as is, word for word, without permission, that's another story.
An idea is up for grabs because it only represents potential for what can be created. But an executed idea, that is, one that has been written, given form, and turned into something that others can use or appreciate, is no longer an idea, but a finished work. And works can be copyrighted even if ideas and titles can't.
(Unfortunately my "work" is still all over Pinterest, and several other sites, too. At least it gets a lot of "Likes.")
