Blogs and Stealing Content without Credit

Fred, I agree with your position on this, although so fat I don't think any one has thought enough of what I write to copy it.

Maybe some day.

Hey Fred.  You sound angry and rightly so -- people should take the time to do their own posts or else give credit to those they "borrow" from

Fred - You are entitled to that rant.  I have seen this topic all over AR.  Some have attorney on a retainer to "go after" those sites. I guess now that your personal info is in a text type paragraph, then you will be able to spot the really lazy thieves.  If you posts have photos, put a link to your site there too.  It's amazing to hear & see all the cut/paste. 

It will always happen. Be honored. When I see it I'm first mad then I know that at least one person "heard" my message.

Tony

Fred, I whole heartedly agree with you. As a former English Major I actually struggle with how incredibly lazy we get writing on-line. I actually keep a Sample Citation list on my desk so I can site works on-line when I do research. I'm terrible at it but I am getting better and it's important that we respect the property of others.

Something else to be aware of when you use someone elses work, etc... is stealing bandwidth also known as hotlinking. This direct linking to a web site's files like images and video. You can read more about it here: http://altlab.com/hotlinking.html.

Fred - great post on a subject that riles me up as well!  Best of luck in 2010.

You can sue all you want, I think the bigger problem is finding the people. Most of these people use fake companies and post office boxes, very hard to track down.

Here ya' but what about the copy/paste feature... People can do that all over the place...

I saw a blog I wrote on a realtors website in my area... Copy/paste to there on page!!!

John Fiorelli, REALTOR 
Recruiting Director
Marketing Consultant
Century 21 Signature Realty
2800 Buford Rd. Ste 204
Richmond, VA 23235
Direct: 804-908-2046
Office: 804-330-4222
Fax: 804-330-4249 
Email: john.fiorelli@century21.com
Web: www.fiorealtor.com

I hope by "borrowed" you mean you got written permission from the owner of that photo because photos are subject to the same laws as the written word. I find my content swiped all over the Internet. If it's a big name media source, I make them remove it. If it's a small-time agent, depending on whether they attribute the content and link to me, I might not. Unless it's a piece where I'm getting a lot of hits, then I make them remove it. If it's a link farm, that can actually hurt your SEO, so you'd be wise to try to get that content released. But bottomline, nobody can publish anything that you write apart from an RSS feed without your permission. So go get 'em, Fred.

Hey Fred If you are getting that much of your content "borrowed" perhaps you should start hyperlinking key words in your copy back to your primary site?

I've stopped counting how many times I've had my stuff used by other sites without my permission for profit. I've started sending lawyers there way now and hopefully I can start getting paid for my work they are using.

There's a difference between plagiarism (using someone else's work and putting it forth as your own without crediting them) and copyright violation (using someone else's work without permission, period). Similar activities, only slightly different, both illegal, just different laws.

If you use someone else's photo without their explicit permission (in writing), you're guilty of copyright violation, which is just as bad as plagiarism.

Remember, both are all about permission.  If you seek, and get, permission from the copyright owner (usually the original author or photographer or other creator), you're good to go.  If you DON'T get permission, then don't use it, because it belongs to someone else.  Simple, huh? 

Profit doesn't matter, by the way, except that it's easier to get damages if they've used the material in some commercial way.  That they may have damaged YOUR ability to get profit from the work is sufficient.  (Actually, profit doesn't relate to whether or not the law has been violated at all, but it does matter in court.)

I think it is a great idea to post your info on each blog

Copy and paste is just plain wrong--stealing!  But what do you think if someone reads your blog article and revamps it to a specific circumstance or real estate situation to a particular region?

So True Fred.  It is very frustrating.  I think if someone wants to just copy it they should at least rewrite it in their words and add to it.  show some creativity.