Categories and Links, is that copyrighted?

BUT if that 30K visits a month translates into 90K actual ad impressions/vi

[AffiliateDreamer]

If I have maybe 50-100 categories and subcategories on various topics, along with 25 or so links under each category/subcategory....is that safe from somoneone coming along and copying my data?

I understand that someone is prohibited from copying my description for each link, but the actual category and subcategories and links are not safe? Someone can just come along and steal my work, just add their own description of the link?

[bufferzone]

If the site is EXACTLY the same as yours (apart form the description) I think you would be able to build a case, but is it worth it. Collection links and organizing them is quit a job, but doesn’t attract any traffic. Concentrate on building a present in your market niche, this way, they can copy you but you will still win when they can’t steal your traffic.

Concentrate on the quality of your site and the services you offer. Energy spend on legal battles are often energy wasted.

[AffiliateDreamer]

the site layout is different(html, graphics etc are all different), just the links/categories is the same.

So that is considered illegal? But its not worth my time i guess is what your saying.

[bufferzone]

It’s a hard choice. In my mind, legal battles are always, to some extent, a waist of time, you always end up spending more time and money than you get out of it.

You could try to write an official letter (snail mail) stating that you have noticed that they have committed theft of your (what’s the word) rights in steeling your link structure, and that you will take legal notice if this is not rectified. If you are lucky, this will scare them off.

[bufferzone]

The word is “Intellectual rights”

[blaze]

It depends on whether or not the thieves have attackable assets.

At the very minimum, try sending a cease and desist email to their ISP.

Let us know how it goes.

[BigDave]

I would suspect that it is not copyrightable as you describe it. (in the US anyway)

I really don't see how you can apply copyright to the structure of your directory. A good IP lawyer might be able to work up a case somehow, but I bet they don't take iton contingency.

A list of URLs is just a list of publically available data. There is no literary value added. If you actually wrote original link text or descriptions that were also copied, then you *might* have a case. But they would have to be more than just linking to a site with its title as link text for you to have a good case.

[asp4bunnies]

Actually you can protect huge blocks of data under the DMCA's database provisions, not copyright.