I’m getting absolutely sick and tired of people thinking it’s just fine to take my content. This happened just a few days ago, and I wasn’t happen about it. Now I don’t even know what to say. Don’t people know that plagiarism is illegal? Taking other people’s words and claiming them for your own is illegal - even if it is online!
Over at Rediffiland, a place to have your own special web space and such (I think it’s for Indian bloggers), on one person’s page they copied and pasted, word for word, my article about blog top lists. And you know what? They didn’t even give me a link back. Their page was full of “their information” about getting traffic and such. But they stole my article without giving any credit. Nothing.
I wouldn’t have even found out about it unless I’d received the pingback from the the ViralTags they did on the same page. Hah. Clever.
Basically, I’m tired of it. What’s wrong with giving a little credit where credit is due? I feel ripped off and there’s never anything I can do about it. It’s NOT right. I work very hard on all of my articles and content. I’ve spent countless hours on this blog.
Why, in the article they stole, there was a section that listed my thoughts and recommendations. It was misleading even more because that makes a person think they wrote it, and that’s what they think… But no, it was my article they stole and put up on their special web space post. Write your own content, people! Stealing and plagiarism are illegal!
What can I do? I’m surprised this is happening to me - I’m not even a big blogger, so why is my content getting stolen left and right? “Famous” bloggers must have their content stolen constantly! But I ask, what can I do about this?
Actually, click here to check out where my post was ripped off of me. I don’t care about being anonymous this time. Scroll down, my article is at the very bottom. How hideous. That person isn’t even smart enough to write something decent on their own.
I’m very sorry for my bad mood. I apologize, I am so so grouchy. I didn’t go to sleep at all last night. All-nighter. I have huge bags under my eyes and my veins are popping out of my hands. I’m supposed to be cleaning the entire house and I can’t deal with this and think about it without getting upset. I just want to know what I can do!
Over and out… Gotta go clean some more…
QUICK EDIT: The community site’s rules for what people are allowed to post: “However, by posting the content you represent and warrant that you either own or otherwise control all the rights in the content including but not limited to the intellectual property rights, right to post, upload, input or submit the content. By posting/ uploading the content you are granting Rediff.com, its subsidiaries, affiliates a non-exclusive, royalty free, perpetual, worldwide license to use the content posted by you including without limitation the right to adapt, copy, create derivative works based on, distribute, transmit, publicly display, publicly perform, reproduce, alter, edit, format, translate, store, view, sublicense and/or delete your content, without compensation to you or any other provider of the content. You also permit any user/anyone to access, display, view, store and reproduce your content for personal use.” Basically, you have to own the content. That specific person stole it.
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Hi Tay,
Copyright infringement really sucks. I had some problems with it a while back with my blog. It irritated me so much that I wrote a post showing people exactly what to do when it happens and how to stop it.
Copyright Infringement - Is Someone Stealing Your Content?
http://www.aaroncook.com/2007/04/copyright-infringement-is-someone.html
Hope you find it helpful.
Shine on,
Aaron
Thank you for the post, I did find it very helpful! I added it to my bookmarks so I’ll know what to do again right away for when this happens in the future.
I think the person removed your post from the blog.
Yes, they did that a little while ago.
I had approached them and told them it was my content and it is illegal to plagiarize. I bet they didn’t know they’d ever get caught.
Anyway, sometimes it works with approaching people and they take it down politely or without a word, and sometimes they’re rude but take it down, and sometimes you get the people who refuse to take your content down. Everyone’s different, but I’m glad this one person removed it.
[…] I am most definitely not telling you to copy their content or even their post’s exact idea, I despise that. Actually, I’m just telling you to look for inspiration, or extend/give your own opinions on […]
Hi Tay,
I’m glad you were able to find my post helpful. I’m also glad the infringers took your post off their site.
Let’s hope you don’t have to go through that again!
Shine on,
Aaron