ConsumerAffairs.Com Plaigairism Strikes Again

Tempus · 10-13-2006, 03:00 PM

I keep seeing this but it never ceases to amaze me.

The "Joe Benton" byline at consumeraffairs.com blatantly rips copyright media stories, and changes just enough words to apparently avoid infringement issues. I've seen it with LA Times articles, Mercury News, AP, and many others.

Here's the latest

Reuters

Consumeraffairs.com

Compare:

Reuters

"The future market development has only limited predictability so any decision (on hybrid models) is tainted with uncertainties," Marius Lehna, project manager for the hybrid Audi Q7 sport utility vehicle, told automotive engineers attending the Aachen Colloquium industry congress on Wednesday.

Consumer Affairs

"The future market development has only limited predictability so any decision is tainted with uncertainties," Audi hybrid project manager Marius Lehna said.

---

Reuters

One of the core problems facing hybrids is the complexity of integrating two powertrains in one vehicle, leading to costs that he said cannot be fully passed on to customers.

Consumer Affairs

Integrating two powertrains in one vehicle increases costs considerably, and automakers are finding it difficult to pass those coast along to consumers, he warned.

Etc Etc

Paragraph after Paragraph lines up side by side. If they wrote the articles independently, the order of their thoughts are identical. They must be twins.

The bylines

© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.

vs

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.Com

BrianTheDog · 10-15-2006, 05:33 PM

Okay, I compared the articles side-by-side, and you're right that they read almost the same. It is possible that Benton lifted the Reuters article. However, to me it seems more likely that Audi sent out a press release that included all of those figures and quotes. If that's the case, then Reuters probably ran the release as-is, while Benton re-worded it and stuck on his byline.

The Reuters version reads like a company press-release -- especially that last two paragraphs on page 2. Plus, notice the entire article is based on one person's statements, which were made at a conference. Even the fifth 'graph, the one that gives US market figures, ends with "according to Lehna." There is no verification of facts. There are no quotes from outside sources. There is no reaction from conference attendees.

Yep, my bet is on press release.

Of course, that doesn't change the fact that Benton (most likely) lifted it from somewhere.

Any decent reporter would take that press release (or cover the conference) and expand it into a real news story. Is this just Audi's opinion, or do other manufacturers agree? What about dealers' perspectives? Do environmental or consumer groups have a reaction to Audi's opinion? And so on.....

Oops... forgot to ask if you have other examples.

Tempus · 10-15-2006, 07:01 PM

Other Examples have been posted here in the past

http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=19233

The Mercury News article he cribbed isn't online anymore it seems.

But, there's always his classic Prius Rage - Hybrid Haters article.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006...rid_haters.html

Which looks very much like the LA Times Article by Amanda Covarrubias

I can't find it on the LAT site anymore, but it was reprinted all over, with proper attribution.

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/specialsect...6/09special.htm

Even the quotes are the same, and I can't imagine Mr. Benton coincidentally interviewed exactly the same people, or, even more improbably, got idential quotes from interviewing different people

BrianTheDog · 10-16-2006, 01:02 AM

Yep, I would have to say he lifted the LAT article.

I wonder how ConsumerAffairs.com would react if someone were to use the "File a Complaint" form on their website to point out this guy's lack of ethics. Any respectable news organization.....

Sorry. Any respectable news organization would fire a plagiarist immediately.

10-15-2006, 05:33 PM	#2
BrianTheDog Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Northeast Alabama Posts: 178 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Okay, I compared the articles side-by-side, and you're right that they read almost the same. It is possible that Benton lifted the Reuters article. However, to me it seems more likely that Audi sent out a press release that included all of those figures and quotes. If that's the case, then Reuters probably ran the release as-is, while Benton re-worded it and stuck on his byline. The Reuters version reads like a company press-release -- especially that last two paragraphs on page 2. Plus, notice the entire article is based on one person's statements, which were made at a conference. Even the fifth 'graph, the one that gives US market figures, ends with "according to Lehna." There is no verification of facts. There are no quotes from outside sources. There is no reaction from conference attendees. Yep, my bet is on press release. Of course, that doesn't change the fact that Benton (most likely) lifted it from somewhere. Any decent reporter would take that press release (or cover the conference) and expand it into a real news story. Is this just Audi's opinion, or do other manufacturers agree? What about dealers' perspectives? Do environmental or consumer groups have a reaction to Audi's opinion? And so on..... Oops... forgot to ask if you have other examples. __________________ <span style='font-family:Times'>"I'm sorry your pizza was 20 seconds late, sir. I was feathering......"</span>

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10-13-2006, 03:00 PM	#1
Tempus Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Washington DC Posts: 1,693 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I keep seeing this but it never ceases to amaze me. The "Joe Benton" byline at consumeraffairs.com blatantly rips copyright media stories, and changes just enough words to apparently avoid infringement issues. I've seen it with LA Times articles, Mercury News, AP, and many others. Here's the latest Reuters Consumeraffairs.com Compare: Reuters "The future market development has only limited predictability so any decision (on hybrid models) is tainted with uncertainties," Marius Lehna, project manager for the hybrid Audi Q7 sport utility vehicle, told automotive engineers attending the Aachen Colloquium industry congress on Wednesday. Consumer Affairs "The future market development has only limited predictability so any decision is tainted with uncertainties," Audi hybrid project manager Marius Lehna said. --- Reuters One of the core problems facing hybrids is the complexity of integrating two powertrains in one vehicle, leading to costs that he said cannot be fully passed on to customers. Consumer Affairs Integrating two powertrains in one vehicle increases costs considerably, and automakers are finding it difficult to pass those coast along to consumers, he warned. Etc Etc Paragraph after Paragraph lines up side by side. If they wrote the articles independently, the order of their thoughts are identical. They must be twins. The bylines © Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved. vs By Joe Benton ConsumerAffairs.Com

10-15-2006, 07:01 PM	#3
Tempus Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Washington DC Posts: 1,693 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Other Examples have been posted here in the past http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=19233 The Mercury News article he cribbed isn't online anymore it seems. But, there's always his classic Prius Rage - Hybrid Haters article. http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006...rid_haters.html Which looks very much like the LA Times Article by Amanda Covarrubias I can't find it on the LAT site anymore, but it was reprinted all over, with proper attribution. http://www.southcoasttoday.com/specialsect...6/09special.htm Even the quotes are the same, and I can't imagine Mr. Benton coincidentally interviewed exactly the same people, or, even more improbably, got idential quotes from interviewing different people

10-16-2006, 01:02 AM	#4
BrianTheDog Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Northeast Alabama Posts: 178 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Yep, I would have to say he lifted the LAT article. I wonder how ConsumerAffairs.com would react if someone were to use the "File a Complaint" form on their website to point out this guy's lack of ethics. Any respectable news organization..... Sorry. Any respectable news organization would fire a plagiarist immediately.