It is a sad state of affairs when we have to talk about content theft taken from our personal blogs. There is 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
What copyscape does is simple, is searches the web for "matching text" and highlights the text for you to view.
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:
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!
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:
Developing a Website? Watch Your Step!
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.
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.
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