Sharing

A huge issue arose in class on Friday morning after our Biostats quiz. Just to give everyone a background, these quizzes each count for 10% of our grade. There are five of them. So early on, we decided to form a study group that looked over journal articles every week, made summaries and then we got together before each quiz to teach eachother the material. Our group was made up of about 10 individuals and only Phi Delta Chi brothers. The controversy arose over the fact that on the morning as we were taking the quiz, an Alpha (member of the opposing frat) took out their notes and low and behold it was the one that I had typed up with David and Jeanette for our study group.

First of all, the fact the notes some how got around surprises us all. I had never even gotten a chance to send my notes electronically to my discussion group members due to time constaints. I only made hardcopies for those that attended our small group disccusion on Thursday. However by Friday, our notes had made its way around the class. Someone, obviously took the time to scan those notes send email them out. What makes me personally mad is that as an co-owner of these notes, I should have the say in whom I want to distribute them to. I may make myself out to be a selfish person in writing this post, but I'm not. I often like to say that what's mine is yours. Relating to this situation though, I just wished that the person who had sent out our notes had asked us first. By not doing so, it is disrespecting me and the other co-owners of that piece. A work is essentially copyrighted the moment it is finished. Those who write it become the owners. As owners, I believe that it is our right to regulate our work, and not the right of those who have obtained our work.

What do you think? Are we being too touchy about sharing our work?