[Cloud USA notice] Give everyone credit where credit is due.
PLEASE:
If you share any of our ORIGINAL content, including articles that WE HAVE WRITTEN or images that WE HAVE CREATED, we would appreciate it if you would credit us and not remove our names when you put it up on another site. As freelance writers, our original writing is how we build professional relationships with organizations, employers, and other writers. Writing and the research that comes along with it is hard work, and it is wrong to lift that hard work and claim it as your own. (It also makes you look really bad when you’re caught.) Please credit us and credit other fans when you share their work from here.
Thank you.
Stephe ^@@^ and Terri :-}, Cloud USA Co-Founders
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[ORIGINAL POST]
We don’t mind anyone sharing our work.
We really don’t mind. Everyone is welcome to do that. We WANT people to cut and paste. We WANT people to talk about Rain, particularly here in the U.S. Spreading Rain’s name and helping fans find him is what every Cloud should be doing.
Rain’s career, and worldwide and English-speaking fan base, will only continue to grow and solidify if Rain fans on every Rain fan site network together to help him get where he’s going.
BUT PLEASE:
If you share any of our ORIGINAL content, including articles that WE HAVE WRITTEN or images that WE HAVE CREATED, we would appreciate it if you would credit us and not remove our names when you put it up on another site. As freelance writers, our original writing is how we build professional relationships with organizations, employers, and other writers. Writing and the research that comes along with it is hard work, and it is wrong to lift that hard work and claim it as your own. (It also makes you look really bad when you’re caught.) Please credit us and credit other fans when you share their work from here.
We try very hard to properly credit everyone for every article, account, translation, video, and picture (that isn’t part of the public domain) that we post on Cloud USA, and we are asking for the same respect in return.
This has become more and more of an issue on our Media Blog as time has gone by, and we’ve decided that now is the time when something needs to be said about it, having just yesterday tracked several Cloud USA original articles—our Influential Rain Series: Rain, Chris Colfer, and other young people shouted-out by MTV Act being one of them—to a rather large site. MTV Act’s article was fair game, yes, but all of Stephe’s researched writing in front of and behind it was reposted as well along with her tagged screenshots, and the three credits to her and Cloud USA throughout the piece were all removed. (Yes, we had all the articles taken down with a quickness. We won’t name the site or the person—this time.)
Again—we don’t mind our writing and original images being shared at all. But please post them in their entirety with our credits intact.
We should all be in this thing together. We should be helping each other for Rain’s sake, not hurting each other for our own glory. No matter where you are across the Rain Blogosphere, please credit where credit is due. A great majority of you out there are already doing this very well, and we commend you for it. Keep up the good work!
Thank you.
— Stephe ^@@^ and Terri :-}, Cloud USA Co-founders
Cloud USA 
it’s good to see this being pointed out ladies…i respect and totally understand what you are saying. hope others will take your concern to heart.
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The first thing that I do the moment I wake up is check fb, then check on your blogsite Cloud USA. The reason why I’m always late like now is because since I stopped working, I stay awake at nights and sleep during the day. So I didn’t know until now that you’ve been having this problems about copyrights and related matters. It’s a shame and a disgusting thing, copying and claiming it their own. I wonder if these people know the internet etiquettes. I think even if you don’t tell me who they are, I’ll have a hunch who the guilty ones are, basing on the history of their articles, the way they talk, and all that since I’ve known you to being really good writers which I’ve always told you time and again. I hate it, should that happened to me. I would have secretly sent them an email just to tell them what I think about them and to show them that I have proofs to give that they are our original works. This is to teach them a lesson and also to warn them of the legal issues here. If you guys don’t do this, they will not understand and they will continue to do it. If they do, they will not even bother to do it again. But since these people are mindless and ignorant, they do not know left from right, they just copy without thinking. Stephe and Terri, you two are the best in the business as far as our idol Rain is concerned. You two are the best things that happen to Rain here in the USA. I think Rain knows about that. Cheer up guys. For me, you are # 1.
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*chin is up*
*V-sign*
😀
^@@^
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And thanks, felisshi, for your kind words. They mean a LOT.
Stephe ^@@^
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Thank you felisshi, for your kind words. As Stephe said, they DO mean a lot.
Terri :-}
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I know I’ve talked to you guys about this same issue before and I think it’s just ridiculous. Anyone can tell your articles are written by professionals and I think that’s what the “issue” is. Many fan sites don’t have that option and it shows. It’s one thing to be jealous of that but it’s another to steal your work. I find that unconscionable and just plain rude. Why don’t people just give credit where credit is due?
To tell you the truth, I’ve not noticed most of this stuff because I really only go to one other site to check out Rain stuff. That other site USUALLY cites their sources, just not always in an obvious manner. I don’t really interact on there much… I tend to just check it out then come over here to do my flailing and freaking out. I’ve found my Cloud fam and I’m sticking with ya, whether you like it or not… lol.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… you guys are awesome and that’s why I continue to come here daily. For others… Karma is a b@#%h!
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Well Terri and Stephe i know i have said this before. i really appreciate your hard work and professionalism. I’m sure it wasn’t just causality that i ended up in this site. And you do such a great job that i don’t even feel the necessity to go to other Rain’s site to check because i know yours is fast, truthful and reliable. And you don’t post anything without doing your own research first. So i’m it makes me sad that your hard work is not being recognize by other’s site. I’m very grateful that i have found all of you thanks to Terri and Stephe. And please keep the good work don’t dismay in your efforts.
AJA AJA Fightingggggg Cloud USA.
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@stephe and Terri
ask u said and speak i know u ladies have put so much effort toward all the detail and credit everbody pict vid and post from ect… u site is one of the most sharing and detail that i envy u both hard work and thank for all the detail if i have a republic whihes i do but it UNFORTUNALLY it not a visit it just an something i do to keep me and rain ALIVE but once again if i took all your infor i would credit your writ-up
like MTV Influinctial Rain serie i have no clues either what ever going or who ever that they should credit u as well i respect u site at alway and i very love u ladies but me here visit and read all the infor COZ your ladies FEED us about rain update ect… u work so hard and everday
and most infor i visit the site it Memo i normally got infor her i am just saying !!
but again i respect all the matter and issue and i know u guy did a hardworker i hope am and rest of here make u mad i and rest of us don’t get upset u for any this issue either
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Kongsao, you’ve done very well with how you share our stuff and other people’s stuff too. We’ve noticed that you always credit everybody, and you’re A-okay. Thumbs UP. 🙂
Stephe ^@@^
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Thank you, everyone, for your kind and supportive words. We really appreciate them.
Stephe and I talked for a long time about whether or not we should say anything at all here, because we want Cloud USA to remain a positive place and any attention we bring to issues like this is negative. However, the issue of people copying and pasting our original material (both in part and as a whole) and posting it as their own has gone on for so long and has become so blatant and so rampant that we finally decided we needed to speak out about it.
Like Stephe said, the work we do here on Cloud USA is free for all to share as long as the proper credits remain in place. The reason Cloud USA was started in the first place was because we really think Rain is extremely talented and we believed that we could do a good job promoting him well and properly here in the U.S.A. We work very hard to do the best job we can with that mission.
Because we are all about promoting Rain widely and well, it would be really stupid for us not to want to share our work with the world. The problem is not the sharing. The problem is the lack of proper credit.
As some of you may know, Stephe and I are actually freelance writers outside of Cloud USA. Sometimes, we are actually paid real money for writing gigs outside of Cloud USA. To get those paying jobs, however, we often have to provide editors and other potential employers with samples of our work (clips). So, we sometimes refer potential employers to articles we’ve written on Cloud USA, as proof that we can write and write well.
However, when an editor approaches one of us because they’ve seen one of our articles posted on another site (without credit) and then asks us if we are sure it is really ours, that is not only embarrassing, but also infuriating. It also wastes our precious time and resources to have to investigate and put a stop to it. Not crediting us with our original work has the same effect as if someone were to produce one of Rain’s songs and then present it as their own. Not only is it hurtful, it is stealing, plain and simple.
I have asked Stephe to put a gentle reminder at the top of the blog about this issue. I will also post it in other places, to remind people to credit Cloud USA properly. We really wish this wasn’t necessary, but at this point, it is best that we make our stance perfectly clear.
All we are asking is that everyone please give credit where credit is due. Conversely, if Cloud USA ever does not credit someone properly, please let us know and we will correct the error. Everyone everywhere should receive the proper credit for their hard work.
As for the issue of other sites not including Cloud USA in their listings, we have no idea what that is all about. Does it hurt our feelings? A little. Can we do anything about it? No. Just like Cloud USA, it is up to the owner of each site to do whatever they want. They promote the sites they want to promote and present the material they want to present, just like it is my and Stephe’s decision as to who and what we promote here on Cloud USA.
Terri :-}
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Im sorry this is happening to you ladies. You both work very hard on this site and all the content. I wonder how these people thought they would just get away with it.
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I too apprecieate all that Stephe and Terri does. You work your butt off to provide us with information on Rain. I am so happy I found this site. Shame on the other people who donot give you credit where credit is due. Thank you for everything you do!!!!!!
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WOW……..this is something that would anger me greatly. It’s obvious these individuals “recognize” great work, but to blatantly steal it. This is what unnerves me about the World Wide Web. Keeping what’s yours….yours. Especially when it comes out of Your Brain!
Stephe/Terri I know you ladies do great work, you both are diligent, vigilent, meticulous, forthright and try your best to be open, honest and precise in how you present EVERYTHING on this site. FOR SHAME to whoever did the “thieving” and I hope you both gave them a resounding…….BUTT SPANKING!!
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Gosh, I am really sorry for you guys, it must be horrible to find your stuff in other places and without your name in it. Ugh!!! BTW I only copy picts so if by any chance I have done something wrong please tell me. Thank you for all your hard work!! 😀
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I think that crap sucks! sorry ladies it happened, This is my home and I love Stephe and Terri and all involved with cloudusa. I do have a question, On other sites they never mention cloudusa but credit is always given to other sites. However cloudusa always gives credit to the others. Is there a reason for this? its always bugged me! Or is it just cloudusa is the bigger at giving props? Cause here on this site you have ALL of the other sites listed, where the same is NOT given to you. LOVE YA’LL. BRAVO!!!!
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You are right lotus. I noticed the same thing. I dont know why we all cant just be supporters of Rain without the competition and bulls**t. I do know one thing…I am very proud to be a member of this site and happy that you are all like a family to me.
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Some folks simply don’t like or accept us. Though we’ve always tried to be kind. Whatever — life goes on. And it’s a site admin’s decision as to who they embrace or do not embrace. Nothing to be done about it, really.
This has never been about competition with us… only about helping Rain, helping English-speakers, and getting every fan to whichever Rain site they need or prefer.
(And then some are probably just unsure what to make of us LOL)
The folks who’ve been really helpful and kind and looked out for us (sites, Clouds, and people) are truly appreciated, though. We appreciate it more than they’ll ever know.
Stephe ^@@^
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*(And then some are probably just unsure what to make of us LOL)* ~ Stephe
Well, all I have ever seen is a site where we “love on” Rain, plain and simple. There should be nothing else To make out of us….only that. We may express it in different ways, but the sentiments are Exactly The Same and quite clear. I just think it’s human nature at its ugliest to be honest. When some people see something good or successful or people gravitating to something good there’s this “little” emotion called Jealousy. Some people can not stand to see what is Good succeed. That’s all……
Off my soap box now….(SMILES)
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Ladies, I am sure you both know that I wub you both as well as my fellow Cloud USA sisters.
I don’t know enough about other sites to comment because… well I am an active member of this site only. If I have registered for other sites, I would probably have forgotten the user id and password to the site.
Anyway, I have Cloud USA booked mark and last I checked, I still rank number #7 and is a Super Star on the forum ha ha ha (darn StarRain knocked me off my #6 position!).
Anyway, appreciate your effort.. alot. Though I haven’t been as active as I once was, it is only because earning an income to keep the Internet going kinda got in the way of my fangirling business.
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I do want to say, if anyone from Rain’s official Music Thread on Soompi is reading, that we don’t have any problems with them, either. They’ve always been so good about credits and how they format the things they post from here and everywhere.
🙂
Stephe ^@@^
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It’s pretty sad that this happens specially when y’all put so much effort into this site. I thank all of y’all for what you do. Keeping this site active and always, always with most current information has to be difficult.
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Talk about hurt feelings…
I’ve never understood how some people are just wired that way. And that they actually think you haven’t taken note of their nonsense.
Stephe ^@@^
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Oh dear, I just had a thought. The vid I did for Cloud USA 1st birthday, I was using images taken from Cloud USA site. I never thought much about it because.. well, I just didn’t think.
Apology ladies (and gents) if I have inadvertently plagiarised your work in any way.
Gotta be more mindful next time.
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You were fine, river. You didn’t do anything wrong. None of you involved in our first birthday did anything wrong. As I recall, the images you used were either tagged by us, or tagged by the people we got them from, or floating on the Net for free promotional use.
So don’t worry. Okay?
Stephe ^@@^
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I for one appreciate all that both Steph and Terri do. Thank you again for all of your hard work and the efforts that go into providing us with up to date info about Rain. ^_^
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Thanks, Lynn. We really appreciate all of you being here with us and breathing so much life into Cloud USA.
(And BTW, we’ve never had a problem with the way you share our stuff. Wanted you to know that, in case you were wondering.)
Stephe ^@@^
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