What Can I Do About Stolen Content?

[mickfrancis]

Someone has stolen the entire contents of one of my webpages, word for word (800 of them), and also a dozen photos. Is there anything I can do about this? I have a copyright notice at the foot of my index page.

[Terabytes]

I've been thru this about 15 times before...

write them an email, call them, notify their hosting (explain the situation with links to the offending page and your content)

If you can locate other content that has been stolen notify the other partys if possible..

(grab some text from the offending site, place quotes around it and search for it..you may be surprised what you find...)

Normally once the hosting shuts them down, they remove the content, and you're back in business....

...waiting for the next thief.... 8-)

[stapel]

The copyright notice doesn't "protect" your pages, as much as make it obvious that the plagiarizer knew perfectly well that your stuff was not either "public domain". (Note: I am not saying that you shouldn't have the notice on your page -- you should. I just wanted to clarify what that notice does.)

Now that you have found the thief, I would recommend finding his server host. You can "ping" his domain to get his IP address, and then use the ARIN "WhoIs" database [ws.arin.net] to figure out who owns that IP. For instance, snagged_ur_stuff.com might be at IP address xx.666.yy.zzz, and responsible_host.com might own the entire range from xx.666.yy.0 to xx.666.yy.13.

Find the Terms of Service or whatever for the server host, and then (assuming the host is in the US) send the host a DMCA notice. (You can find the required language online.)

In my experience, contacting the guy who stole your stuff and asking him please to be nice and give it back is not highly successful. Presenting a polite and calm listing of the facts to the server host is, on the other hand, usually quickly successful.

Good luck!

Eliz.

[Syzygy]

A Guide To Protecting Your Content

[webmasterworld.com...]

From this forum's Library [webmasterworld.com]

Syzygy

[ergophobe]

Actually, I think there is a small category of well-intentioned folks who don't know any better, who will in fact comply. When the person seems just very good-willed, but is just totally stoked at sharing your awesome info dude and is not trying to actually pass the writing off as his own (e.g. has a link to where he copied it from), I've had good luck explaining why he shouldn't post something of mine and getting them to comply quickly.

In the case of just plain spammers, scrapers and thieves of course there is no reason their education should be painless.

[bhartzer]

I usually follow these steps:

1. Look up whois - see if there's a real owner listed. Call them on the phone and ask them to remove it. Follow up with an email and give them a strict deadline for removing it (date and time).

If there's no real owner, file a DMCA with the web host and MSN, Yahoo!, and Google.

2. If you get in touch with the owner and if they refuse to remove it then file a DMCA.

3. If DMCA request won't remove it then contact an attorney and have them send out a cease and desist letter.

4. Sue. (this is the last resort).

[M_B_Walker]

What about foreign countries, where this approach doesn't seem to work? Any suggestions?

[bobothecat]

4. Sue. (this is the last resort).

If it's a registered copyright... go with this option.

It's what I do... all have settled out of court, and removed the offending copy. It's also made for some nice bank deposits.

[lcampers]

hey bobo

do your lawyers work via contingency fee on these cases? or do you pay them upfront?

[bobothecat]

do your lawyers work via contingency fee on these cases? or do you pay them upfront?

I have an intellectual property attorney on permanent retainer.

[Leosghost]

I have an intellectual property attorney on permanent retainer.

Braided studded leather one I trust ..with buckles ;))

[bobothecat]

Braided studded leather one I trust ..with buckles )

For the amount of grief and aggravation they've saved me, I'd be happy to give them buckles of gold. ( though for what it costs... they should be able to afford those on their own ) ;)