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Instructions to Catch a Thief ~ A Primer On Plagiarism Detection - Updated

By
Real Estate Agent with Novella Real Estate

It is a sad state of affairs when we have to talk about content theft taken from our personal blogs. There Copyrightis hardly a day that goes by that I don't hear about someone getting their hard written words, photos or designs stolen.

As a pioneer of the internet, I staked my claim on a domain and published it back in 1997. Eleven years ago before there were many examples of real estate websites. My family will attest, when I built my first website, I practically went under ground to learn how to not only write the content to attract the consumer, but to solve the mystery of Microsoft FrontPage and publishing it. I didn't have a mentor, I had a book and a million and one "trials and errors."

 

My first website was a miracle.

 

It was a miracle I figured it out and actually got it done. It was also the ugliest thing anyone ever laid eyes on. Not a little ugly, major league, big time ugly! But it worked. I made it.

Best of all, it made me money.

As time passed I learned more, grew the website bigger and made even more money.

Then one day I discovered my site was being used in various classes as an "example." How cool.

Not!

The next thing I learned was others were not simply using it as an example they were copying it. Some in totality others bits and pieces.

That was wrong, so wrong.

Obviously others agreed with me and took it a step further. They saw a business opportunity in fleshing out copyright violators thus creating a wonderful program called

C O P Y S C A P E

What copyscape does is simple, is searches the web for "matching text" and highlights the text for you to view.

Copyscape catches a thief

If you would like to give it a whirl, go to http://www.copyscape.com

Just for grins put in the URL for my Denver Relocation page. Here it is cut and paste this into your browser:

http://www.kristalsellsdenver.com/destination/

Now the results might change, but currently you will see a list of sites that have a certain number of matching words/sentences to the content on my page.

Here's tonights example:

Copyscape found infringement

Notice how Copyscape highlights the matching copy? This person obviously used either my site or another one who copied my site. The sequence of the words is just too much of a coincidence.

 

But You Are Thinking...I Don't Have the Time to Track These Thieves Down...

 

It doesn't really take much time. Copyscape has a subscription program where you set up your URLs to be checked automatically at a frequency you choose. On that frequency the system will send you a list of the offenders.

It takes hardly anytime at all to protect your content. The hard part is getting the brainless droids to take it down. I could write a book, compiling the moronic excuses I've heard.

 

Copyright vs. Copyright done right

 

If you have a content rich site the first thing you need to do is register your website with the U.S. Copyright Office in Washington, D.C. You can get the forms and fill them out yourself or hire an attorney to do it for you. I strongly suggest you hire an attorney to do it right the first time.

Now some of you are saying "but if I write it I own the copyright." Yes that is true, but the difference is in "proving damage" vs "statutory damages."

Lenn Harley is much more of an expert on this, so read her blog on plagiarism/copyright violation. I am not an attorney, so please consult one for legal advice in your state.

I can tell you from experience, it is worth the price to register your copyright officially.

 

What Do You Do When You Find an Offender?

 

Knowing the anger that arises when you find a violator, you want to scorch the earth and slap them silly. Resist the temptation. First make a copy of the offending website to your HARD DRIVE. IF you don't do this first, I guarantee you it will disappear.

I make two copies, one of the Copyscape page and another of the actual webpage. Both get saved in a special little file with the title "THIEVES." (It needs no more explanation.)

Once I have the pages tucked safely away in the THIEVES file, I send out a "CEASE and DESIST LETTER." This is usually an email if the offender has a small offense.

In the case of the moron who copied 48 pages of my site, I first called him. Then I emailed him, Then when he didn't respond, I sent the case to my attorney.

He took it down.

OK Now that you know how to protect yourself, I suggest you follow my example. We have to be diligent in our efforts to give credit where credit is due. Reblogging needs to have the appropriate permission. Reblogging without permission is not right, it is stealing, pure and simple.

Remember words are not the only part of a copyright. Photos and design can be copied too. MY best suggestion is "when in doubt don't do it."

Hope this info is helpful. Now I'll sit back and read the comments and I know someone is going to ask how I made the graphics.

LOL, guess if you really want to know you will have to subscribe to this blog!

Subscribe to Denver Dwellings

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credits:

I would like to thank Michelle Minch ~ Home Staging Pasadena & Los Angeles for suggesting I reblog my post on Copyscape.

Copyright Graphic Compliments of Marti Garaughty

Other Posts of Interest:

Protecting Your Good Name

Developing a Website? Watch Your Step!

Catching a Thief...

Copyright for Kristal Kraft

 

UPDATE ~ I wrote this post last night. At that time there was only one infringer of my url, today there is another one.  This one is even a better example of a BAD EXAMPLE.  (Is that OK to say or am I being politically incorrect?)

Who cares.  Go visit the Brentwood, TN site at http://www.homesaroundnashville.com/homesaroundnashville/relocation.asp

Note the photo with my name on it.  Scroll down, see my little RSS Graphic, if you click on it, you will be taken to MY RSS Subscription page.

If anyone knows these people, please tell them kk is giving them some link love on this blog. :)

There's no contact number on the site that I could find  nor an email.  I had to sign up for their IDX search.  Maybe they will call me! 

One can only hope.

                                                                                                                                                              Contact info for plagiarizers

 

 

Day 3 Update:  Mr. Bill Berkley called me today in response to my filling out his IDX search.  He was totally taken back when I told him about his site using my content, photo and graphic. 

As I walked him through the issues, letting him log on to his own page, he never noticed the copyright and my name on the border of the photo!  Poor guy, when I pointed it out he finally saw it!

He was rather upset because it seems he paid a lot of money to a "web designer" who recently updated his site.  Funny when I clicked on the site credits the designer's site was down.  Me thinks Mr. Berkley will have a conversation with the designer soon.  Stay tuned.

 

No. I didn't slap anyone silly...yet.

Comments (109)

Celina Gleason
AgentOwned Realty - Manning, SC

Burns me up how some folks have never in their life had an original idea and want to go around stealing everyone else's!  Thanks for the info!

Oct 20, 2008 06:01 AM
Brian Schulman
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Lancaster PA - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster County PA RealEstate Expert 717-951-5552

Thanks for the guidance, Krystal - I'm bookmarking this blog for future reference.

Oct 20, 2008 06:10 AM
Alexsandra Stewart
Remax equity group - Portland, OR
Broker - Portland Oregon Real Estate

This was all pretty amazing.  I never thought anyone would be lifting any of my blogs or web site to use for themselves, or anyone's for that matter.  I checked -- and they aren't. I never heard of copyscape before reading this post. Interesting!  thanks for the info -- the thoughts.

Oct 20, 2008 07:13 AM
Eva Liland
Platinum Real Estate Group - Canyon Country, CA
Realtor Canyon Country CA, Used Mobile Homes - Manufactured Homes

Thank you for sharing, never thought someone would actually STEAL it all. How naive of me! Better contact copyscape myself. Not that I do know any Realtors that would steal something about mobile homes ;-)))

Oct 20, 2008 07:30 AM
Stuart Dobson
eLoanRates.org - Thornton, CO

Hi Kristal,

I've been copied so many times I stopped bothering trying to find and send letters.  I always just used a google string and slightly imbedded 'near' white text to find them.  Copyscape is great!

thank you,

Stuart

 

Oct 20, 2008 07:49 AM
Sharon Simms
Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International - Saint Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS

Thanks for alerting everyone again to copyright infringement and Copyscape. Alice Held is an authority on stolen websites and content, as she's suffered a lot from theft of her original content.

Oct 20, 2008 11:34 AM
Lola Audu
Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate - Grand Rapids, MI
Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI ~Welcome Home!

Kristal, I've bookmarked your primer & thank you for this easy to follow tutorial. 

Oct 20, 2008 11:37 AM
Sabrina Kelley
ERA Herman Group Real Estate - Woodland Park, CO
Woodland Park Colorado Mountain Homes and Land

Kristal,

Thanks for reminding everyone that they need to come up with their own material. As a former English Lit.

major and once in a blue moon writer myself, I can appreciate your chagrin over the issue.

I also went underground for two months to get to the point where I could publish my own web page.

LOL

Oct 20, 2008 01:33 PM
Glen A. Mitchell
Keller Williams Peninsula Estates - Half Moon Bay, CA
Broker, CDPE, Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay,El Granada

I love it.  I tried it out and found someone with a referral letter almost identical to mine.  Since I saw the original I know it was sent to me.  What I don't know is did my clients copy from a letter they found online?  Did other agents clients copy from my site and send to their agent, or did the agent copy it??  Can I slap everyone silly??

Oct 20, 2008 02:37 PM
Jeff Belonger
Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ
The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

KK... wow, this was excellent. Just about everything that I need to know in one post. Thanks for doing this. I know need to go get a lawyer and pursue some other things that you mentioned... thanks

jeff belonger

Oct 20, 2008 03:59 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Kristal, another fabulous post!  I'm about to go and check this out on my blog. 

Oct 21, 2008 07:02 AM
Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty
Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Eighteen Years Experience in Brevard County

Interesting info, thanks. I have had a few encounters and it does irritate!

Oct 22, 2008 12:53 AM
Liz Moras Migic
Chilliwack, BC
Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

I had to smile - and thank Marti- for putting your link on his post..........and now saying that how could anyone not want to subscribe to your blog? :-) thank you!

Oct 23, 2008 09:21 AM
Patty Luther
RE/MAX Rock-n-Roll Realty - Lewiston, ID
Lewiston ID Real Estate, Idaho-Washington

It is quite a surprise to see something you have done or something you have PAID to have done in a magazine or another website.  When I first started selling Real Estate over 20 years ago I had a photographer take a picture of the Lewis-Clark Valley for me...for my Business cards and advertising...and a few years later I used it for my Website design... well I was quite surprised to see it on another Website for a local Motel, designed by the same webmaster as I had used...and soon after that I saw it in the Local Chamber relocation guide...without any credits... At first I was upset, but, I am not one to complain... and it was about the Valley...so I let it go...thanks for the tip on how to catch these bad guys ... if I wanted ...but I just would not have the energy to chase these thieves...nor can I believe anything good would come of it... so I just move on... and I focus on  "What was the reason for my Blogging?" was it to catch a Theif or Catch a Customer!

PattyLutherI feel the way Jim Crawford does!

I have dealt with this so much I do not even want to check it again!  I even found agents using my testimonial pages across the country!

10/19/2008 07:37 PM by Jim Crawford ~ Atlanta Real Estate-ABR E-PRO (RE/MAX Greater Atlanta)

Whoops ... I cut and Pasted that from above  Yikes! I hope you don't get mad at me Jim Crawford or Kristal Kraft ~Denver Real Estate~303-589-2022 !

from Lewiston ID Clarkston WA Realtor Patty Luther IdahoWashington RealEstate REALTY

Witch Have a Great Halloween!

Oct 26, 2008 08:28 PM
Dan Magstadt
Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc - Lake City, FL

Thanks for the information - Your post is very consice & helpful!

Best, Dan

Oct 30, 2008 01:52 AM
Sonja Adams
Keller Williams Realty - Purcellville, VA

This was some great information...I checked out Copyscape and found some interesting information...prompted me to contact my web designer...I'm really curious what he has to say about my findings....Thanks!  I'm also interested in how to protect photos so if someone could share a site with that info, I would love to hear about it!  Thanks again.

Oct 30, 2008 03:11 AM
Terrylynn Fisher
Dudum Real Estate Group - BuyStageSell.com - Walnut Creek, CA
HAFA Certified, EcoBroker, CRS, CSP Realtor, Etc.

It never ceases to amaze me how much time people take copying when they could write their own copy.  ANd it is amazing that there are so many ways to say things.  We just need to be true to ourselves and our work and use our own words, however eloquent they may be.  My oh my.

Oct 31, 2008 05:49 PM
Kathy Knight
Intracoastal Realty Corp - Wilmington, NC
BROKER, ABR, CRS, GRI, SFR, SRES

Wow Kristal hard to believe you have to go so far to prove a site is yours and it is being copied.

Lucky the internet helps you track the perpetrators. Good for you!!

Dec 27, 2008 05:49 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Thanks Kristal, you've just reminded me to check my Copyscape subscription to make sure I'm signed up for the automatic notification if someone copies my content.

Dec 27, 2008 07:02 AM
Joanne O'Donnell
Chic Home Interiors - Oakland, CA

Kristal, that was really fun, everything I found was actually me copying myself...  or someone quoting me, so I am OK, but it was fun to see how many came up.  It is a shame people do what you say - I never understood why anyone would want to represent someone's work as their own - I am just too opinionated to be comfortable with another's words, work or pictures out there representing me...  Don't get it.  Good luck on remedying the situation.

Jan 01, 2009 05:37 AM