Adsense Scammers

Larger problem than original thought

[sailorjwd]

While searching for websites copying content I suddenly realized that adsense fake directory creators, and other variations on that theme, have copied every single line of my website. These end up as a sentence or two on their sites.

This amounts to 250,000 words having been copied to dozens upon dozens of adsense sites.

That doesn't count the 100's of fake directories not using adsense.

Anyone else noticing this problem?
ASA, is there anything anyone can do about it?

I've read about 'fair use' but this is absurd - particularly within Adsense.

[johnnie]

File a DMCA

[sailorjwd]

Can't.. they are copying only a sentence or two at a time. and then on 500 other pages they have other sentence or two snippets.

[sailorjwd]

I have filed DMCA complaint before for snippet snatchers.. google ignores them. I've had good success with folks who copy a couple of paragraphs or whole pages. 75 of them in last 3 weeks.

[signor_john]

I've read about 'fair use' but this is absurd

You could take the matter to court, but it's unrealistic to think that Google will fight that battle for you. If Google dumps a scraper who appears to be operating within the letter of the law, it won't be for copyright reasons: It will be for business reasons, such as poorly-converting ad clicks.

How much money are you losing because of scrapers? And are you losing more than you're gaining? (A "fake directory" that has a reasonable level of traffic might be sending you referrals--after all, how useful are those isolated snippets to readers?--and a fake directory that has little or no traffic probably isn't worth worrying about.)

[sailorjwd]

Thanks for your input.

[ken_b]

It will be for business reasons, such as poorly-converting ad clicks.

Since the TOS seems to allow them to drop a publisher for any reason at all they could always dump the scrapers for the "business model" concept.

[Marcia]

Can't.. they are copying only a sentence or two at a time. and then on 500 other pages they have other sentence or two snippets.

Not only that, but there are a ton of sites where the pages are being cloaked and users' browsers are being redirected.

[signor_john]

Since the TOS seems to allow them to drop a publisher for any reason at all they could always dump the scrapers for the "business model" concept.

They do (eventually, in some cases, or during wholesale purges), if we're to believe previous threads on the topic of scrapers and other dreck. But filing DMCA complaints and reporting sites that you don't think meet the AdSense TOS are two different things--and obviously clear-cut copyright violations get quicker individual attention (and should get quicker attention) than ordinary tattletale reports do.

[Digmen1]

I tend to think that Google Adwords has ruined the internet !
The web is now full of sites selling SEO manuals, selling drop shipping lists and full of sites with other "content" that they have go from somebody else and full of retailers reslling the same old stuff.

This results in lots of sites that "purport" to be expert sites" but are really sub standard sites. They are existing and making money solely due to Adwords and Adsense.

[sailorjwd]

I think 25% of the internet is all about scammers, snippers, and wholesale content theives.

Sorry who ever you are but I just submitted 10 Adsense DCMAs... while seeing if the moon will hit the earth.

[tangor]

"Fair Use" has been abused and confused, and sadly... my point of view... Google has allowed it for the bottom line. It is cheaper (their side) to make the copyright owner go after the infringer (which is part of the law)than do that little bit in algo to RECOGNIZE infringement (which would make them liable).

Who wants to be liable for seeing the obvious? When it is so obvious.

Do not look to Google or Bing, or even Y! to do the dirty work. Just won't happen.

You, as the content provider, will have to expend YOUR time and MONEY to stomp on the infringers.

Period.

But in today's multi-millions database generated steal a few sentences websites that's an enormous chore. Ain't it?

Good luck. ... or Give up. Which the scammers hope you do.

[chrisv1963]

It's about time that Google realizes that they are destroying their own business model by allowing these snippet snatchers, MFA websites with worthless content, websites with a "directory" of stolen content and images, blogs with stolen content, ... As an advertiser I do not want my ads to appear on these CRAP websites and blogs. As a result of that I refuse to use Adwords for advertising. These crap websites are using all sorts of dirty tricks that are in the "grey area of the TOS" to make people click the ads. These clickers are not potential customers but simply people that arrived on a crappy website or blog and that click on something to get away from it.

[signor_john]

As an advertiser I do not want my ads to appear on these CRAP websites and blogs. As a result of that I refuse to use Adwords for advertising.

Use placement targeting.