Someone from SBI Copied My Content

Jazzy · #1 (**permalink**) 08-15-2008, 06:45 AM

Another SBIer with a homeschooling website copied some of my content. It is not word for word, but it is definitely a line by line paraphrase - including the bullet points and the suggestions at the end.

I e-mailed her and she said she hired someone to write that page and asked me to show her the page on my site that it copied. I sent her a link to the page on Monday. I have not heard back from her and the content is still up on her site.

Since it is not word for word, I know I won't be penalized for duplicate content, and now she knows I'm keeping an eye on her so perhaps she won't "borrow" anything else.

So should I let it go at this point? WWYD?

lisa · #2 (**permalink**) 08-15-2008, 11:32 AM

Those paraphrased sites are tough because they're not close enough to your content to report plagiarism but you can still tell the person used your content as a guide. Maybe the fact that she knows you're watching her will be enough to keep her from continuing but I'm not really sure there's much you can do if she hasn't copied you word for word.

I know your frustration. I find a lot of flat stomach copycats for my SBI! site and one guy even went as far as putting the years 2001-2008 in his footer to make it look as if his site was published first (even though I checked the WHOIS data and saw he registered the name in 2007.)

I believe in Karma and think those people will get what's coming to them. Even if that means their site won't be as successful in the long run. It is very frustrating though.

Gigababbler · #3 (**permalink**) 08-15-2008, 11:48 AM

Give me his address, I'll take care of him

khawk · #4 (**permalink**) 08-22-2008, 06:24 PM

what is the other person's site?

pencilorpen · #5 (**permalink**) 11-02-2008, 04:23 AM

didnt realise how bad of a problem this may be....man that sux....

if sumone was making a website in a relativly unique niche and sumone copied sum of their info(paraphrased) surely they cant over take u in terms of traffic....right?

lisa, the guy that copied sum info from you website...what happend to him? like is he over taking ur website in terms of development and traffic?

lisa · #6 (**permalink**) 11-02-2008, 11:09 AM

No one that has ever copied my site word for word has ever overtaken me in the rankings. Years ago this happened all the time because the engines weren't as savvy. But what these copycats don't realize is that Google and others penalize for duplicate content so they are doomed from the start.

pencilorpen · #7 (**permalink**) 11-03-2008, 05:15 PM

thats good. it still would be very annoying, but hey, they dont get that far...

WB Sponsors