Stolen blog posts + content!

[boobster]

hello there everyone..

first off, I guess this one should go to Blogs section, but I was guessing Im gonna get more replies here.. also, it's more about legal issues than actual blogs.. but moderators, feel free to move it if you think it's necessary...

so, it came to my attention that Busty-Reviews.com is copying my posts, along with sample photos (that I have a permission to post), from my blog, BoobsterNewsCenter.com ... they are than just replacing my codes with theirs, and that's it..

now, my question is - what can I do about this!?..

I already sent them an email, giving them 24 hours to remove all my posts before I contact the owners of those photos, and their hosting company.. but is there something more I can do about this?!

also, I found these other blogs that are just posting up my posts and images, but with my codes still there!?!?.. Im not really getting what are they gettin from that, and if I should do something about it!?..

thanks for your time and your help fellas!

saL

[walrus]

Originally Posted by boobster

hello there everyone..

first off, I guess this one should go to Blogs section, but I was guessing Im gonna get more replies here.. also, it's more about legal issues than actual blogs.. but moderators, feel free to move it if you think it's necessary...

so, it came to my attention that Busty-Reviews.com is copying my posts, along with sample photos (that I have a permission to post), from my blog, BoobsterNewsCenter.com ... they are than just replacing my codes with theirs, and that's it..

now, my question is - what can I do about this!?..

I already sent them an email, giving them 24 hours to remove all my posts before I contact the owners of those photos, and their hosting company.. but is there something more I can do about this?!

also, I found these other blogs that are just posting up my posts and images, but with my codes still there!?!?.. Im not really getting what are they gettin from that, and if I should do something about it!?..

thanks for your time and your help fellas!

saL

You could file a DMCA on them. Here's a link to Googles guidelines. The images may not be yours but the text is.

Contact the content provider to see if there is anything they want to do about it.

Is he hotlinking your content? If so, do a search here or on google for hotlink protection.

The ones who are not removing your links are simply using your RSS feed. Personally I see nothing wrong with it and it should help your site in the serps. If your using WP, there is a plug-in for adding a copyright notice to your feeds. You may want to look into that.

[boobster]

thanks for the tips Walrus! .. I'll look into that..

saL

[NY Jester]

Id say contact the program that is supplying the content and show them proof of it and hope they can work with you.

[Tommy]

I hate to be on the other side but..
The stolen image argument sounds a little silly

It sounds like its sponsor content and the offending blog owner is promoting the same sponsor.. so how does that give you any unique rights under DMCA

Also if the offending blog is promoting the sponsor. why would the sponsor care. when a sponsor gives out content its for all affiliates

the smarter move would just be send him an email that he will answer and then pull his ip out of the header and add that to an allow/deny htaccess file on your blogs. If he cant see your blogs then he cant steal from them.

And/or you could email his blog trades, ccing the cheater on each email and try to make him look bad
say something like you better look and see how many blog posts he has stolen from you etc etc

[NY Jester]

My answer should have been more specific, but then again it wouldnt make much sense. I was really referring to the stolen text more so than the image, as Tommy said if they're promoting the same sponsor than the content isnt stolen only the context of which its being used is.

[ed_banger]

Originally Posted by Tommy

I hate to be on the other side but..
The stolen image argument sounds a little silly

It sounds like its sponsor content and the offending blog owner is promoting the same sponsor.. so how does that give you any unique rights under DMCA

Also if the offending blog is promoting the sponsor. why would the sponsor care. when a sponsor gives out content its for all affiliates

the smarter move would just be send him an email that he will answer and then pull his ip out of the header and add that to an allow/deny htaccess file on your blogs. If he cant see your blogs then he cant steal from them.

And/or you could email his blog trades, ccing the cheater on each email and try to make him look bad
say something like you better look and see how many blog posts he has stolen from you etc etc

He still would have DMCA rights for the text that he wrote.

[dunc]

Is he copying your posts... or using your rss feed and changing the ref code in some way?

If hes using your rss feeds... I don't think this is stealing as that is sort of one of the things they are used for... think of all the sites which aggregate rss feeds which are around

You might have a case with him changing the ref code... but rss feeds are there to be shared (aren't they?).

[ed_banger]

Originally Posted by dunc

Is he copying your posts... or using your rss feed and changing the ref code in some way?

If hes using your rss feeds... I don't think this is stealing as that is sort of one of the things they are used for... think of all the sites which aggregate rss feeds which are around

You might have a case with him changing the ref code... but rss feeds are there to be shared (aren't they?).

RSS feeds are there for READERS to subscribe to so they can read and follow blogs they like in a browser/reader of their choice.


With paysites and sponsors providing RSS feeds for splog builders, that is just teaching the splog builders "hey, I can make my own splogs using other peoples RSS feeds!" And with RSS feed plugins to automate blogging, with "find/replace" features, it only makes sense that the sploggers are going to start ripping real bloggers handwritten blogs.


If I make splogs by leeching rss feeds from real bloggers, then there will only be 2 websites with duplicate content, instead of hundreds of sites using the sponsors stale RSS feed.


This is why I turn RSS off on my build and forget blogs.

[Tommy]

Cmon... how does one prove ownership of a couple lines of txt

those posts can be back dated in WP so you cant use the published date

[ed_banger]

Originally Posted by Tommy

Cmon... how does one prove ownership of a couple lines of txt

those posts can be back dated in WP so you cant use the published date

So you're of the mindset that it's futile, and not even worth trying to stand up for your copyrights... fuck it, lets all just steal content?

[Tommy]

yes.... I do think its futile BUT I never said or implied lets all just steal content.

in my opinion time would be better spent protecting future stuff from getting stolen.

but again Its just my opinion

[ed_banger]

Originally Posted by Tommy

yes.... I do think its futile BUT I never said or implied lets all just steal content.

in my opinion time would be better spent protecting future stuff from getting stolen.

but again Its just my opinion

Ahh, yes, for a couple blog posts, I would simply send a DMCA notice to the company hosting the site.


Disable or Cripple RSS in wordpress by restricting to 1 post in the feed, and using summary instead of full-text.

[boobster]

hey guys, first of all thanx for all the tips and opinions...

the thing is that the guy says they are using automatic system that takes my articles.. BUT, they are editing the post - sometimes they are changing the amount of the samples, they always take off one of the links in the post (the one that goes to some random photo on the net), and they ALWAYS change my link codes with theirs... so, I don't think this has to do anything with RSS or any automation.. they are simply stealing and that's it!

as for content - yes, some of the content is from affiliate programs, but most of it is actually from members areas which I got access to by my program owners..

now, so far I informed the program owner about it, and most of them said they're gonna report them for using unauthorized content, I contact their registar, and they can't do anything about it... I also contacted their host, and haven't heard from them yet.. I didnt file a DMCA on them yet (simply cause I thought all these other things should work).. but, I will do that later today I think...

but the worst thing is that they haven't changed ANYTHING about the blog yet, my posts are still up there (along with stolen posts from some other blogs, I just found out), and they are actually offering me to join their future project!?!?

thanks for your help once again.. any new ideas are welcome, and I will keep you informed on hows this going..

thanks
saL

[PhoneMistress]

If your entire post is being quoted without the appropriate citation, then that is an actionable problem.

Be a little more proactive. In the long term protect your intellectual property via copyright and trademark where appropriate.

[justevilman]

Originally Posted by walrus

You could file a DMCA on them. Here's a link to Googles guidelines. The images may not be yours but the text is.

Contact the content provider to see if there is anything they want to do about it.

Is he hotlinking your content? If so, do a search here or on google for hotlink protection.

The ones who are not removing your links are simply using your RSS feed. Personally I see nothing wrong with it and it should help your site in the serps. If your using WP, there is a plug-in for adding a copyright notice to your feeds. You may want to look into that.

is he right or is he right

[boobster]

hey people..

just wanted to let you know that they removed everything from the website few days after I noticed.. first they were trying to "explain" the situation, but once I contacted their host, and other websites started doing the same, they just had no choice I guess...

thanks for your help!

cheers,
saL

[NY Jester]

glad it worked out for you