Lazy, yes. Plagiarism, yes. Copyright violation, most likely. Ethical, not at all! I would check with my local MLS and find out what the rules say.

First of all, you must be a great writer!  Yay!

Second, aside from the lead on copyright violations to Lenn Harley, I have heard people in publishing talk about copyright.  I heard that in Canada everything we write is copyrighted and we don't even have to mark it so, although it can be a useful reminder on our material.  If you can't reach LH, you might turn to contacts in publishing or a lawyer in that area for some brief printed material that outlines the protection in copyright law.  Getting several facts can be very helpful to you and doesn't need to cost a lot.

What about letting the agent know you are delighted that your description is useful to them, and that in view of copyright laws (make sure you are accurate--i.e., you researched the law), you expect to be paid up front next time they want to use your material, and your fee is ____.  That will make them think, plus it shows you as someone to respect.  Which is quite true, of course.  And it might make you money, as well.

all of the above Damon, very weak!  I however am too busy to get in fights with my collegues so I don't say anything.

Just like stealing your photos, it's cheating and illegal. Report them!

     You can sue them in court.  ActiveRain member Lenn Harley (who is on a break right now) is an expert on Copyright; she has prevailed several times when people used her Images.  Maybe send her an email, or give her a call.  Lenn Harley 

Contact your local MLS and report this. This isn't ethical and it is plagiarism. 

When it happened to me, I wrote a blog post.  

Plagiarism is not good in any form. One thing that might help is, when you are finished with a listing, delete the remarks and some of the photos from the MLS.

I would want to tell them to change it although I'm not sure how I would handle this. Perhaps we should remove our descriptions when listings expire or sell.

Good morning Damon. I am much to busy to spend any time battling with others in my industry, I would let it go.

First of all it probably is, but do you really want to be nasty to one of your colleagues.

Be the bigger person, accept it as a compliment and let it go.

Plagiarism and lazy. I would report it MLS and also give him a call requesting that he stop copying your hard work.

I would do nothing at all.  Going after a colleague for this kind of thing doesn't help you list and sell other properties.

I wouldn't like it either.  I work hard to create an image in the readers mind and create an emotion.  I think I would have a word with them.

Definitely lazy

Plagiarism...

Yes it is plagiarism, laziness and being just a crap agent all around.  You have to copyright it for it to be copyright violation.

Out here, you can take the agent to the board on an ethics charge (and I would).

And congrats on being a great writer that people want to steal your words.

Happens all the time.  I also put thought in my descriptions and notice agents copy and paste word for word.  Had this discussion with another agent recently.  One agent in our area does this. I think it's tacky and shows they probably don't do much for themselves. 

I like Fred Griffin's answer..contact Lenn Harley she is the queen of snuffing out plagiarism and unethical behavior.

See it alllll the time. There's one out right now that the next agent after me copied my words verbatim. I just shake my head that they are so weak, lazy and unoriginal. The listing won't sell anyway, or I'd still have it. IDC. Words are hard to fight. Steal my photos and yer dead, though.

There is nothing new under the sun... just lots of items being recycled. Go from there

Damon,

Of course it is. 

It probably is plagiarism. Did those agents also steal your pictures? I would first call them and ask them to not use my work product. I get less excited about description plagiarrism than stolen pictures. Those I would report to the Board if they didn't take them down.

Lazy and dangerous come to mind!

I would call it lazy and something that is rare. Normally I see the directions copied.

A few words is not considered copying however if you do several paragraphs you will be in trouble.

Damon - I have had the same thing done to me as well. I didn't realize it until the other listing agent had already sold the property using my description.

I am pretty sure this would be frowned upon, but the question is, is it worth the effort to try and discover first, and then file a complaint about it.

I don't think anyone cares, at least not enough to make a federal case of it.

All of the above.  Lazy, crappy, unethical agent.  Report the agent.

Lazy for sure, and possibly some of the others you mentioned.

parked and reading

If this was school it would be plagerism, in the world of making money it is called copyright infringement.

I do not mind it.

Not plagiarism unfortunately. Pretty damn lazy though .....

Check with your MLS & you'll see. 

 Good morning Damon. It probably is.

It must be a bored seller who has the time to check to see if it is word for word, right?