I've seen this here and there over the years in fics. Sometimes it's a sweet haha mention and other times it's a hurray over ousting someone else's fic.
So I'm curious on where the drawn "line" is when it comes to similarities in fics? Have we become so crazy with all the publishing and disclaimers and cries of plagiarism that it's downright illegal and a huge no-no to have the same basic plot?
Back in the day there were plenty of NM redoes that were always similar with some differences. But now, especially with AH fics it's like once ONE person does a news Bella and Edward that career is off limits for anyone else. I remember when Bossward and Secretaryella's were coming from every direction and no one batted an eye.
Recently, I noticed an author's AN that mentions readers bringing the similarities in a small plot point to the attention to two different authors. As if one maybe, possibly copied from the other and it kind of irked me that people bring it to the authors attentions. Then on the flip side I've seen authors have their "people" point fingers and call into question others who dared to write a similar Ward or Ella to their own balk when the finger is turned around and pointed at them.
There's a difference in blatant plagiarism and similarities in fics. I remember a time where an author heard of a similar fics to one of their big review ones and the so called "copying" fic went bye bye and so did the author I think. Sure there were some similarities but one thing stood out to me that made it all the difference and they were different because of that. But alas, one person had already "copyrighted" that point so any followers must burn and disappear.
I mean where is the line? Does it really matter? All the "I own Chefward, Copward, Bartenderward" so a fic with Edward owning a bar and mixing drinks mean NO ONE else can have a fic with him owning a bar and mixing drinks but being a single dad? Bella slips in the bathtub in one fics so she can't ever do it in another or people will tattle and wonder if someone is copying?
From what I've seen, that seems to be the general consensus of no, no one else can claim that career or character doing that.
What do you think?
Is there a line and simply two fics having pretty much one scene the same but with different dialogue one author copying another?
Is there a line and once a "ward" has been done one way by one person that "Ward" can't be done again in a similar fashion without an author's creativity being called into question?