Protecting your work from copyright infringement is important.  Our blogs here on AR are not as critical as our websites, but it is a moral issue.  I for one would not want to do business with people who steal and when get caught deny, torment or harass others.  When this happens the offending site almost always disappears. So in order to have proof be sure to follow these steps.

1) Make a copy of the offending site, before notifying the perpetrator.  I don't care how much you want to make a stink, make a copy first. I use a great program called "ONFOLIO".  It saves a COPY of the page to my hard drive and it will save a link back to the site.

2) Notify the offender.  If they balk, at least you have the proof.  Most reasonable people will remove the infringing content.  Others dig their heels in and put up a fight.

3) If they don't remove it and apologize and promise (in writing) never to do it again. You can file a complain with the Host, DMCA and your attorney.

4) Your words do not have to have a copyright, your creation is yours the minute you write it.  Of course to get compensation you must prove damages.  If your work has a registered copyright, you really have a case.  Go for it.  You don't have to prove damages, you are entitled to statutory damages, legal fees and other good stuff.  It is expensive, but worth every penny.

 As you can tell, I really hate people who steal my work or the work of others.