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steeringman
Joined: Feb 25, 2008
# Posts: 12
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Posted: 2008-Apr-13 03:10
Hey everyone I usually hang out in the General SEO, and google forums, but I was hoping that someone here could help me with a website legal issue. For the past few months I have put a lot of time and effort into my website that has over 1500 pages and sells products...
However, tonight I cam across a site that has stolen my pages and content word for word and is using it to run their site that sells the same exact products.  I know that I have not filed any paperwork or have any idea of how I should have prevented such a thing, but is that not illegal on the internet?
There are such pages as my about the company page that they have stolen and only changed my company name in the paragraphs to their website link. Has anyone ever had to deal with this and is there something I can do to get their site taken off line?
I would provide both my page and the fake page links but that is not allowed here so any information is greatly appreciated.
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Quadrille
Joined: Nov 15, 2000
# Posts: 1064
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Posted: 2008-Apr-13 10:34
First, gather evidence: download samples of the stolen property, check archive.org for dates when it appeared (compare with yours), and check whois info and dates. Check also which country the perp is in.
Then write to the perp, pointing out the simple fact that he's using your stuff, and ask him to stop.
That may be enough, but will not be if he's making good cash,or he's in another country.
The next step is to write to his host, and request the site be removed. You'll need to send a sample or two of evidence, probably. Copy this to the perp, so he knows you mean business. If he is his own host, this won't work. But I've found that hosts are very co-operative, and do not usuaully want to be associated with thieves.
In many cases, they will remove the whole site, others just the disputed pages, others will ignore you.
Next is a request to Google and Yahoo! to remove the stolen pages from their index. This works, but it is complex, hard work, and includes faxing a 'penalty of perjury' affirmation - but it works.
Finally, there's the law. The law is crystal clear on copyright theft on virtually every country in the world, so long as you can establish ownership. But outside your own country, enforcing the law is expensive and/or impossible. And some countries (eg China) will happily censor every Western website - but will allow their own people to post stolen sites all over. Go figure!
Good Luck, come back for clarification if anything is unclear.
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steeringman
Joined: Feb 25, 2008
# Posts: 12
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Posted: 2008-Apr-13 19:27
Thanks a lot for that information it is all very helpful. Right away I searched through this new website and compared it to my own, and everything is exactly word for word, but just placed on a different cheap template. Then, I checked the whoIS database and found their location to be just one state over from mine (NC to TENN), so they are not out of the country.
I have sent an email out to a lawyer professor that I have had in the past and will be waiting back for a response from him. I hope to just have him write me up a professional letter to send to both the creator of the site and the host. I just hope that beyond the letter no other action would need to take place because I understand how long and drawn out the legal steps can be.
But, thanks again for the response and I will be sure to post back with any further questions.
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surrealillusions
Joined: Mar 18, 2008
# Posts: 11
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Posted: 2008-May-13 23:49
I had a similiar experience, another website copied some text off my site. The host was very supportive (eventually), although the site owner wasn't too happy that i got upset over a few paragraphs..but copyright theft is theft at the end of the day.
good luck
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Quadrille
Joined: Nov 15, 2000
# Posts: 1064
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Posted: 2008-May-14 00:57
I've had several incidents over the years, and what really annoys me, is that for most of my sites, I specifically state that people are welcome to use the material - all I ask is a citation of where they gt it (I don't even ask for a link!). But for some, even that is too much effort.
BTW, it's one good argument for using the 'author' tag; while it has no real 'value', it makes thieves look stupid when they can't be bothered to remove your name. Tends to get others to co-operate quicker, too (Hosts, Google, etc.,).
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judithscott
Joined: Jan 03, 2009
# Posts: 3
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Posted: 2009-Jan-07 10:44
thanks for great information here.
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mj1256
Staff
Joined: Jun 05, 2006
# Posts: 981
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Posted: 2009-Jan-07 17:25
its amazing at what you can get for just adding a citation and a link to the originators website,
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animated3d
Joined: Dec 22, 2005
# Posts: 444
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Posted: 2009-Jan-08 02:13
getting a lawyer can get expensive and should be the last resolve, there is a service called copyscape u might give that a try i never used them myself
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