Forum Moderators: Robert Charlton & goodroi
I've set up a news site that I update with info from around the web. It isn't spam, but not really adding anything either. Anyway, I contribute to that site with an automated RSS syndicator (takes the feed, makes posts automagically). It has full attribution and links back to the originating pages, as well as blockquoted if anypart of the story is repeated. I primarily use this as my "Headlines" section.
Anyway, I really want to take advantage of Google's Blog Search (and likewise, their RSS feed of said search) in my site becuase it has great coverage of my topic that is hard to find elsewhere. However, I don't want to enter each headline by hand.
So:
1. If I violate G's TOS, and display their feed in a reformatted way that only shows headlines and links back to the originating site, but uses Adsense on the page (thus violating their TOS) what are the chances I'll get caught?
2. Are there any legal ramifications? (I do have Adsense on the site so I profit marginally)
3. If I do get caught, do I go to hell or just get a slap, whereas I'll make amends and request a reinclusion.
What are your thoughts?
Again, this isn't super spammy, but not really original content either... better to be honest about what I'm asking about.
1. If I violate G's TOS.....what are the chances I'll get caught?
It depends on too many factors. The safest assumption is that you will get caught eventually.
2. Are there any legal ramifications? (I do have Adsense on the site so I profit marginally)
We can't go into legal issues here - that's outside the remit of WebmasterWorld, as per the TOS here.
3. If I do get caught, do I go to hell or just get a slap, whereas I'll make amends and request a reinclusion.
Your AdSense account will be suspended. You may or may not get it back again.
Why don't you get the site up and running without risking AdSense on it, and see what kind of traffic you get first?
You can always ask the AdSense team in advance if you need the authoritative answer.
TJ
So, one more question. What if I used a different ad campaign instead of Adsense? Then, if I violate G's TOS, they wouldn't have as strong of reprocussions, correct?
I'm not trying to be a badguy, but I'm interested in looking into all possible avenues, and making my sites the best performing they can be.
(again, I'm always giving full attribution to the originating sites if I use even a clip of their content, and always link back to the article, so I'm not trying to be a scraper, just like the headlines feature a lot)
IMHO, a scraper is someone that scrapes another site contents on the fly. I don't want to get into much technical details, but when databases are involved then you are not a scraper, again this is IMHO. But then again in the eyes of a searching engine you might be considered a scraper.
My advice is not to stick much about Google TOS as they are vague, whether its the SE webmaster guidelines or the adsense TOS. I can give examples but I dont want to have my message any longer.
So, shortly, have your site up and running for a couple of months and see how it goes with Google SE. If everything goes fine, contact adsense team for a review of your site to see if its complient with their TOS or not. Of course even if they stated that your site is not complient you still can run other ad campaigns, affiliates, etc..
Again, google webmasters guidelines are vague and I can give 9179432 examples of big names that violate at least one or two of these guidelines but gaining millions out of google traffic. Remember there is no such thing called searching engine TOS, it is always guidelines.
Hope my post added any value
when databases are involved then you are not a scraper
Sorry, I fundamentally disagree with this statement. Taking other peoples content and displaying in for the purpose of better search engine traffic is scraping, no matter what the methodology is.
From a webmasters point of view there is nothing worse than checking your rankings to find that someone that stole content that you wrote has a higher rank than you. Its simple theft, regardless of how it is performed.
IMO the best course of action is to contact an adsense representative and ask the same question to them. If you know they will say no then your question is already answered.
waxy.org/links, fark; they all aggregate interesting content and display it, (fark even has ads) and they do it to improve their search results/provide interesting internet bits to their readers. if the only difference is, I use an automated system to do it based on keywords, because my site is narrowly based, why is it seen as such a negative thing? Also, this is for headlines, I'm not displaying stories, and if i do quote a story, i use blockquotes to make absolute sure the reader knows this content isn't from me.
IMO the best course of action is to contact an adsense representative and ask the same question to them. If you know they will say no then your question is already answered.
You're right, I know how G will respond, that wasn't what I was interested in, and wasn't my question. The whole purpose of this thread is to find out the reprocussions of breaking their TOS.
I've also talked with several people who've had their content scraped, and I've asked them, what do you consider is fair if someone wants to link to your article. Most people agreed that not using more than a paragraph, and giving full attribution was fair, using more would piss them off, but less would end up driving traffic to their site.
If you are providing link backs and only headlines I do not see that there would be any problem .
I dont see how your site differs from most of the web, which is based on this type of linking. The content owners are happy as they get a link.
I still say, if you are concerned contact an adsense rep. Word the email carefully. No need to mention your methodolgy and dont use the term scrape. Just mention what you plan to show on your site and ask for confirmation that it is ok.
Off the record, I doubt this would get you banned but I cant know for sure and I think thats the best answer you will get here.
Hopefully, I'll stay in the clear... and on the up-and-up.
