Content stolen by competitor, what can I do?

[tuler]

There is a new competitor to my forum that has copied my content (a post I made)word for word and pasted it on his forum and has used my name to do so. What actions should I take to have the content removed? Are there any further actions I can pursue, such as contacting his hosting provider?

He has also tried to spam my members through personal messages after registering for my site. Because of this I banned him through every means possible.

[ctabuk]

Please get realistic - was it rude about you? We all pinch stuff from other forums, we just always own up and say 'Hey I found this by xyz - good topic' If this guy used your name - That is fine - unless he stated falsehoods - then PM him or her - But Action??? Forget it - we live in a Claim for Anything society - don't make it any worse.

[texxs]

It's actually all to easy to "get him" report him to the search engines for copyright infringement (provide a link to the content in question at archives.org), they ususally will pull him from the results without even investigating or even letting him know, sadly.

Do the same with his web host and domain name registrar.

If you can't find the content in archives.oreg or have some other incontravertable "proof" that you wrote the content first. Then you may not be listened too.

[tuler]

Please get realistic - was it rude about you? We all pinch stuff from other forums, we just always own up and say 'Hey I found this by xyz - good topic' If this guy used your name - That is fine - unless he stated falsehoods - then PM him or her - But Action??? Forget it - we live in a Claim for Anything society - don't make it any worse.

This is different than pinching information. This is acting as though I visited his site and made a post with information that I already posted on my site. There is no reference to my site at all.

[tuler]

It's actually all to easy to "get him" report him to the search engines for copyright infringement (provide a link to the content in question at archives.org), they ususally will pull him from the results without even investigating or even letting him know, sadly.

Do the same with his web host and domain name registrar.

If you can't find the content in archives.oreg or have some other incontravertable "proof" that you wrote the content first. Then you may not be listened too.

Thanks. I have kindly asked him to remove the information, but if he does not comply, I will probably follow up with what you have suggested.

I don't want to get ugly with him, so I'm hoping he'll just remove it. But, I don't want him snaking my info for free and not giving me credit for it.

[orangemike]

I don't want to get ugly with him, so I'm hoping he'll just remove it. But, I don't want him snaking my info for free and not giving me credit for it.

You do have copyright; it is your perfect right to tell him to take it down, whether he gives you credit for it or not.

[fctoma]

Unfortunately it happens all the time. I've had some luck with reporting them to the search engines. Takes some time, but yes it does help.

On another note, I'm not sure why anyone would say just take it... laying down as someone did above. Why not stick up for yourself, especially when all you have to do is send a few emails to people.

Have some pride :)

Best of luck with your issue.

[TrafficProducer]

What they give no link to you;

Report Plagiarism (http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4PCTA_enGB205GB205&q=report+Plagiarism)

~~~

I remember my University having a sign warning about Plagiarism on almost ever door.

[snowflakegirl]

If Google is involved anywhere on the page you object to you can report a copyright infringement with Google.

[Clint1]

Tuler there may be some info on this thread for you: http://www.webproworld.com/viewtopic.php?t=72002&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

[jgravelle]

I remember my University having a sign warning about plagiarism on almost every door.


Heyyy... I WROTE that sign!


-jjg

[incrediblehelp]

Scraper sites steal your content. Use them to Build Your Traffic (http://www.ewhisper.net/blog/scraper-sites-steal-your-content-use-them-to-build-your-traffic/)


Use absolute URLs.
Begin posts by including your name and/or blog.
Hyperlink your name to your about page.
Include a link within the first 2 lines to one of your blog entries.
Link to at least one to two of your posts in the body of the entry (depending on the length)
Include the name of your blog within the post.
Include a link at the end of your post to ‘related or other information’.
Quote yourself or reference another post within the body of the text.