BlkKnight

Calling the SN advice gods. . . .

In a nutshell I’ve paid a bloke to write me a training manual to use when he teaches some “fitness exercises” to a class of semi-professionals.

The work he's done does not look like anything he’s done before, and is not 100 % relevant to the class he’s taking.

It’s simply too good for the guy to have done it and seems (I’ve seen his past work).

Is there a “document” search widget out there that I can use to try and source it’s originality?

I’ve already googled on the appendices and other catch phrases in there, but if my suspicions are correct he would have got it from a class he attended elsewhere – and the document would not be in the public domain.

Any suggestions?

fast bloke

If it isn't 100% relevant ask him to do it properly

ProperCharlie

Most document are "lifted" from some other document, somewhere along the line. Why re-invent the wheel?

BlkKnight

I was going to do that anyway, but I'd rather be armed with more ammunition

Mark Miwurdz

Why charge for it then? This bloke's adding no value, assuming of course, that he didn't author the original.

BlkKnight

Simply because we are selling the "couse notes" as part of the training course.

If he's quoting other authors without their permission or giving them credit I believe we could be in trouble.

ProperCharlie

It's a fair point , but in my experience, if you ask a consultant to write you a document, they will try and find something already in existence that broadly meets your requirements and then tailor it to your specific circumstances. Of course, if they are doing their job properly, they will take care of any potential copyright issues.