PLAGIARISM AND COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AT AN ALL TIME HIGH!

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Have you ever had someone steal content or photos from your blog or website that you worked hard for? What did you do about it? Stealing articles from someone else is just not right. It's a crime. But why does it happen and what can we do about it?

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This is totally off track from what I normally write on my own blog, Spatulas, Corkscrews & Suitcases, but this copyright infringement and plagiarism issue has really gotten me down lately. In December, 74 of my articles from Suite101 were taken and copied word for word. I had to track them down and send a cease & desist letter to the offending website. I started out by being polite. That soon changed to leaving comments.They disabled the comments so no one would see them. After so many comments, I got an error notice telling me to stop leaving duplicate comments. A few more, and I was shut down for spamming. ME? Spamming my own articles? I thought about taking the total number of articles, multiplying by the number of words, and charging them the going rate of .10 cents per word. YIKES! The total came to  $4440.00! I could really use that money to pay down my boat loan. The articles were eventually removed from the site, but I never got an apology or anything. The worse thing is, this guy's website is still up and running and probably stealing more content because he was never held accountable for the last theft.

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The 74 articles were written over a period of one year. Suit101 and I hold the copyright. There's a little  © at the bottom of each of my articles. The offending website included my name at the top, but left no link. It didn't go anywhere. It could have been handled a different way. It's acceptable to cut & paste up to 50 words as long as the author and website are cited. A link back to the original article is appreciated. That way, I still make money. This was copyright infringement, pure and simple.

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To make matters worse, this is my bread and butter. Suite101 pays me for what I write through Google Adsense. Some of the stolen articles are coming up higher than my own (I know, how is this possible?) in the Google search pages. So, the reader that is searching for my article lands on the stolen content, with no need to go any further and click on my article. Bottom line - Lost revenue and income out of my pocket. And while many bloggers write for the ultimate fun of the craft, I do it for both - love of food & writing, AND income.

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Today, I find out that a bunch more have been plagiarized by another site. I haven't finished counting, but it's over 20. This time copying & pasting my articles and using their own name as the author. I'm getting weary of this. I am totally fed up with internet thievery. I've had it! I don't have time for it. I have better things to do with my time...like write more articles so someone else can steal them from me.

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Now, before I offend anyone here, I am NOT talking about "you". When I say "you", I am generalizing. I mean the offending parties, In my experience that happens to be major websites taking my work from Suite101. OK, now that I've put your mind at ease let me go on with my rant.....

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Years ago plagiarism and copyright infringement were harder to accomplish. You actually had to copy the text directly from a book or magazine using a pen and paper or typewriter. It took a lot of time (just so you know, I'm not talking about me here). Todays internet makes it so much easier. Ooooh, look at this! You like whatever she's writing. You like her photos. Just cut & paste something you like and copy it into your own blog! Lift a photo or two from someone else and away you go. Add your own name and viola! Instant content with no work!

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Well, stealing content, articles and photos without permission is not always flattery. And flattery doesn't always get you everywhere! It's just common sense and courtesy to ask permission before you take something.That's why there's a little © at the end of most articles, on the inside cover of most books and magazines, and watermarks on photos. 

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This is happening at an alarming rate. But what can we little old bloggers do about it?
Check out this article from Wikipedia on Plagiarism. It'll help inform you on what that dirty word - plagiarism - really is. You can set up a Google Alerts feature that will track certain words that you deem important. Like your name for one, and maybe a few other very specific keywords pr phrases that link directly back to you. It's free and they even have a Feeds For Google Alerts option to alert you instantly if your name or keywords shows up. If you find that someone is stealing your work, the first thing you need to do is send the offending party a polite note asking for your content to be removed or at the very least to add a link directly to your post. This usually works the first time. The offending website or blogger is usually ignorant of copyright laws and plagiarism protocol.

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If that doesn't work, you may have to send them a cease & desist letter. This happens with big websites that think they are above the law, or that no one will catch them. Most times they'll just ignore you. Sometimes, they're tricky and open new websites and do it all over again. In some cases, it's just too big to go after and you feel violated, like someone went through your underwear drawer. Don't expect an apology from these big sites. You suck it up and take it like a man.

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Have you ever had another blog or website steal your work? How did you handle it? How do you protect your work?                                                   

Comments

[Jodi]

I do think this is an awful thing for someone to do. It's really not that hard to ask someone for permission to use a photo or recipe. And a lot of times people are very flattered that others ask.

[Chocolate Heaven]

It isn't fair, no.
Having said that, I will take parts of articles and ideas - but will ALWAYS link back & trackback to the original article, and NEVER take credit for it as being my own.
When I first started blogging for the shop that I work for, when I wanted to use a photo or recipe, I emailed each person asking for permission. I only ever got one reply. So I have been guilty of stealing ideas and some photos - but as I said, will always link back and credit the author.
Does this count as plagurism or flattery?!

[Erika Martin - Stampin' Mama]

It happened again!!!??? And this time, they put their own name as the author??? What a bunch of ......*bleeps*....

It really takes the joy out of writing when someone does something like that to you. ARGH!

[Gretchen Noelle]

Sorry to hear that you are having to fight this. It is no fun! When I have found things used, I have written the appropriate letters and they have been taken down. Sounds like you have numerous items taken by numerous people. I hope you achieve victory soon!

[Liliana]

These people have no scruples.

I am sorry you have to go through this again. Hopefully these cyber thieves will get what they deserve.

[betty]

I have only 'borrowed' pictures from blogging buddies so I can do their Happy Birthday blogs. I give credit where credit is available and due (anonymous stuff gets marked that way...or with 'author unknown'). I will give credit and trackback to someone's blog, if warranted. I am sorry people are stealing your Suite 101 writings...it's obvious those are your own creation! Shame on them!

[deeba]

What an absolute sneaky thing to do Donna...I think Google Alerts work well as far as you name is used, but what does one do if the author is changed? Pain indeed. I know Meeta at WFLH had a huge issue with a newspaper for the same. *SIGH*

[Jojo]

I am sorry for your troubles. Is it too much to expect that people act like adults, and actually do the work they are getting paid for??

Geesh!

[Denise]

This is absolutely frustrating to me! I so appreciate the blogs and the knowledge shared and efforts of the authors. I can't imagine life without them..... I get so upset to hear that this is happening. Please do not loose heart. Your blog is so enjoyed.
Denise

[Cathy-wheresmydamnanswer]

That is just crap and should not happen - That would piss me off as well. I confess that I do remake many recipes that I find from other sites but the best part of that is being able to brag about that site, give them a shout out and post a link. I love to tell the peoples how wonderful that blogger is and how the recipe turned out. To me the best part of blogging is that we are a community that should be built on promoting and supporting and shouting out each other when we can. If those people cannot play well in the sandbox with us then get out!!

[Cherie]

I just read on another blog - a stamping blog - where this was happening.

I guess it is just too easy on the internet.

I am so sorry this is happening and hope it won't keep you from writing. I really enjoy all you do.

[Tel]

Hi Donna, It's extremely frustrating. I'm sorry that you have the most plagiarized articles as far as I know.
I hope you're having some support somewhere, somehow...

[Donna]

Thanks everyone for all your encouragement. You made my day a little more bearable. I was just counting all the articles that were stolen on that website. Seems like there's about 200 articles from Suite101 readers, me included. The name of the website is http://www.readcosmo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=23&Itemid=130 in case you're interested in seeing what plagiarism really looks like. Scroll down the page a bit. See the Chocolate Pecan Pie Recipe? That's mine, and apparently I've changed my name to Karl Ecke. The names on the articles are either fictitious, or these people really are that dumb! There's even a poll on the sidebar to vote for your favorite author! The nerve!

[Sandy S]

This is a terrible infringement of your rights as an author. Surely there must be something you can do to protect yourself! So frustrating! I wonder if you could file a complaint with their Web host or something!

[Cakespy]

What a bummer. I think that a lot of people believe that if it's online it's free for the taking. I tend to be pretty easygoing about that type of thing, but when it's just ripped off with no credit...no fun. Definitely not awesome.

[Nate]

This content thievery really makes me mad.

I have had one or two of my articles stolen by scrapers. I filed a spam complaint with Google via the Webmaster Tools Dashboard. Google doesn't want spammers / scrapers to dilute quality content, so they will investigate and (hopefully) drop the site out of their all powerful index. Poof.

One thing I like to do is put lots of internal links in my content (links to previous recipes, articles, etc). So in the event that one of my articles shows up on another website, I've got that many more links back to my site from theirs.

[AmyRuth]

Wow, just learned a boat load reading this post and comments. I was not aware you contributed on multiple sites. Must pay better attention. Wow you are all grown up and you get paid for this madness. That is Cool! Try and keep your chin up. Usually what goes around comes around and you'll be stronger in the end.
Thanks for all your help and work for TWD.
AmyRuth