How to copyright website?

fastpc101 · #1 (**permalink**) 09-15-2009, 09:26 PM

One of my biggest fears is for someone to take everything off my website make it their own get more traffic and theres nothing i could do about it. I've been searching around but i cant seem to find a company for this. Whats a very good and trusted way to copyright my website?

I've looked at the copyright section on 2createawebsite.com but the link just sends me to the websitepalace home page and i dont know where to go from there, i dont see any links that lead to copyrighting information.

Guys i really want to protect my site the problem is i dont know how to.
Can you guys help me out please?

Scott Cameron · #2 (**permalink**) 09-15-2009, 09:46 PM

When you post your own content to your website it is automatically copyrighted and no one is allowed to take it without your permission. However it still happens all the time, Search Engines are smart though and they usually know that the content originated from your website (if you are indexed first). I'm pretty sure if you find someone else using your content you can report it to search engines like google and have your illegally copied content indexed removed but this is time consuming and it is also hard to find out who has copied your content.

It's a problem every webmaster will face and the problem gets worse as your website gets bigger. No matter how many precautions you take someone can still steal your work.

But once you are index in search engines you don't really need to worry about someone stealing everything off your website and making their own. Search engines would surely pick up on this and not index it, they hate duplicate content and can see that you where there first so it stays as yours.

But there can be issues where they either steal a few pages and/or alter them a tiny bit to seem like their own.

fastpc101 · #3 (**permalink**) 09-15-2009, 09:53 PM

Thanks Scott for the quick reply i really didnt know any of that, that helped a lot. But what about on the footer of all sites where it says Copyright 2009-2009(name). what about that can i just wright my own? or do i have to go through some legal process to be able to wright that in my footer?

Scott Cameron · #4 (**permalink**) 09-15-2009, 09:58 PM

Nope you just write your own ... if you are unsure you can just look at another site and copy what they have at the bottom ... of course with your website name and address

fastpc101 · #5 (**permalink**) 09-15-2009, 10:03 PM

WOW i did not know that. Learn as i go right

. Thank you Scott

but what is the purpose of the dates they seem like they expire after a while, is there some sort of technique to it? why cant they just put copyright or just not put it at all?

Scott Cameron · #6 (**permalink**) 09-15-2009, 10:17 PM

I am not sure why they have dates set but with most CMS's and blogs the dates change automatically, so i suggest just keep updating it each year. Also I am pretty sure that your website is copyrighted even without the copyright tag at the bottom, i think people just like to add it for that little extra deterrent.

Bill the Builder · #7 (**permalink**) 09-15-2009, 10:34 PM

Every site should have a "terms of site use" and "privacy" link on it also. You can add more prohibitions there to further deterred someone stealing your content.

Good Luck

hthought · #8 (**permalink**) 09-15-2009, 11:36 PM

As Scott says your content is automatically copyrighted. To be even more secure just include the copyright sign to your website (this is the (c) that you see on almost all websites).

fastpc101 · #9 (**permalink**) 09-15-2009, 11:39 PM

but i dont know how to apply that sign theres no keys for it, is it a code? do i just get a image and make small?

Scott Cameron · #10 (**permalink**) 09-16-2009, 12:26 AM

If you are trying to do the copy right symbol it is quite easy once you know how, I'll also include other symbols you might find useful.

Just hold down the Alt key and using your keypad (usually on the right of your keyboard) enter each set of numbers for the different symbols, then release the Alt key;

© = 0169

® = 0174

™ = 0153

I believe these only work on a windows system (the alt characters i mean, the symbols will show on any system), also they don't seem to work on a lot of laptops. On windows with a normal keyboard and they should work fine.

Let me know if they worked

fastpc101 · #11 (**permalink**) 09-16-2009, 12:37 AM

sgtmac66 · #12 (**permalink**) 09-16-2009, 07:25 PM

We get this question about once a week. Anything you put on your websie is automatically covered by copyright. It is always suggested however, that you put the standard copyright notice in the footer at the bottom of your page.

Copyright © 2009, yourname.com. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy. There are many good polices out there to copy. You can look at almost any site...(Government sites are good), and copy what appeals to you. Be careful, though as some polices are unique and copyrighted. Gov. sites though, are in the public domain.

Privacy or Terms of Use are helpful. You can specify if and how images can be copied or not, how you deal with cookies and how and if you are linked to a third party site, may affect your users. It just takes a bit of research, comparing and see what fits your needs. After you look over a few sites, you will find some common threads.

WORD OF WARNING! An old addage on the net, is that if you don't want your work stolen or copied, don't put it on the net. Just be aware that theft and copying on the net is commonplace. There are good attempts to preventing this, but so far, nothing is a 100%.

Others here have some spefics such as how to code to prvent right clicking and saving your image, watermarking and other measures. Another addage, is that although these may keep the average Joe from stealing your content, almost anyone with a good sense of the net, can figure a way around it.

If you click on my name and locate my user panel you can look up all my posts. Somewhere I have an extensive comment on copyrights and the such with some links.

Dynamike · #13 (**permalink**) 10-19-2009, 04:18 AM

Thank you for starting this thread, Fastpc. I learned a lot myself from the answers that were given. I never knew a copyright for a website was free. I always thought it required money until I seen the post above.

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