Are exact descriptions counted as duplicate content

dlinden · 09-14-2009, 11:34 PM

Fellow Warriors,

If I'm building a web page or writing an article, am I allow to give a description of a product without the worry of a duplicate content penalty. Lets say I'm writing about a specific product like a cell phone. Can I give that description the way it is given from the manufacturer or do I have to rewrite all descriptions too. Thanks

David

SageSound · 09-15-2009, 01:09 AM

That'll be $5 please.

"Duplicate content penalty" is a myth. If there was anything to it, then why in the heck would so many people be making so stinking much money by posting unedited copies of articles from EZine Articles and other similar sites on their own sites?

Also, have you done any searches for cell phone stuff lately?

My searches seem to turn up a bazillion sites that all contain the exact same -- and USELESS -- information. I couldn't get my Moto S-9 Bluetooth headset to connect to my iMac. All the searches I tried kept bringing up the same useless crap.

If there IS some kind of a "penalty" for all of this useless duplicate drivel that most searches bring up these days, how in the heck can we enforce it? Where are the referree's when you need them?

HeySal · 09-15-2009, 01:30 AM

When you start talking "duplicate" as in copy from some other person's or company's writing - what it could be called is plagiarism rather than duplicate content. You need to talk to the company and find out if their material is copyrighted or search engines might not be your real problem.

Kay King · 09-15-2009, 01:50 AM

Yep - not a duplicate content question. It's a copyright question.

Traffic-Bug · 09-15-2009, 02:11 AM

Look at what google has to say in the matter of duplicate content
Official Google Webmaster Central Blog: Demystifying the "duplicate content penalty"
And check Matt cutts video about whether product descriptions count as duplicate content

YouTube - Can product descriptions be considered...

duplicate content google penalty checker:

YouTube - FREE Duplicate Content Google Penalty...

SageSound · 09-15-2009, 02:12 AM

Unless you're writing a "review" where you're stating your own opinion, then vendors get mighty fussy if you do NOT use their exact verbage to describe their products. That's not a "copyright" question, it's a nasty legal pickle you do NOT want to get into!

If you copy a vendor's product description verbatim, and use it to promote their products, they cannot come after you for any kind of defamation or TM infringement.

Copyright infringement is the LAST thing on their minds -- as long as you're legitimately promoting THEIR PRODUCTS, your best bet is to use THEIR WORDS to describe the products.

If you've ever been a retailer or work with distributors for retail promotions, you know full well that vendors TELL you what to write in product descriptions. They do not leave a lot of leeway for "creative expression" either.

The worst thing they'd do is come after you for not being a "licensed" or "authorized" distributor or sales outfit. Then again, if you're outselling the "official" guys, they'll ask what more they can do to boost your sales.

09-14-2009, 11:34 PM	#1
dlinden HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 198 Thanks: 16 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	Are exact descriptions counted as duplicate content Fellow Warriors, If I'm building a web page or writing an article, am I allow to give a description of a product without the worry of a duplicate content penalty. Lets say I'm writing about a specific product like a cell phone. Can I give that description the way it is given from the manufacturer or do I have to rewrite all descriptions too. Thanks David

09-15-2009, 01:09 AM	#2
SageSound Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 620 Thanks: 56 Thanked 129 Times in 90 Posts	Re: Are exact descriptions counted as duplicate content That'll be $5 please. "Duplicate content penalty" is a myth. If there was anything to it, then why in the heck would so many people be making so stinking much money by posting unedited copies of articles from EZine Articles and other similar sites on their own sites? Also, have you done any searches for cell phone stuff lately? My searches seem to turn up a bazillion sites that all contain the exact same -- and USELESS -- information. I couldn't get my Moto S-9 Bluetooth headset to connect to my iMac. All the searches I tried kept bringing up the same useless crap. If there IS some kind of a "penalty" for all of this useless duplicate drivel that most searches bring up these days, how in the heck can we enforce it? Where are the referree's when you need them?

09-15-2009, 01:30 AM	#3
HeySal The Nature Lady War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: , , USA. Posts: 4,099 Thanks: 2,673 Thanked 3,187 Times in 1,753 Posts Social Networking	Re: Are exact descriptions counted as duplicate content When you start talking "duplicate" as in copy from some other person's or company's writing - what it could be called is plagiarism rather than duplicate content. You need to talk to the company and find out if their material is copyrighted or search engines might not be your real problem.
	Sal PLR Ebooks: Weight - Mind - Pet/Dog PLR Reports: Disaster WF fundraiser WSOs: Ken Strong - KimW

09-15-2009, 01:50 AM	#4
Kay King Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Gulf Coast, USA. Posts: 15,134 Thanks: 3,680 Thanked 4,123 Times in 2,248 Posts	Re: Are exact descriptions counted as duplicate content Yep - not a duplicate content question. It's a copyright question.

09-15-2009, 02:12 AM	#6
SageSound Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 620 Thanks: 56 Thanked 129 Times in 90 Posts	Re: Are exact descriptions counted as duplicate content Unless you're writing a "review" where you're stating your own opinion, then vendors get mighty fussy if you do NOT use their exact verbage to describe their products. That's not a "copyright" question, it's a nasty legal pickle you do NOT want to get into! If you copy a vendor's product description verbatim, and use it to promote their products, they cannot come after you for any kind of defamation or TM infringement. Copyright infringement is the LAST thing on their minds -- as long as you're legitimately promoting THEIR PRODUCTS, your best bet is to use THEIR WORDS to describe the products. If you've ever been a retailer or work with distributors for retail promotions, you know full well that vendors TELL you what to write in product descriptions. They do not leave a lot of leeway for "creative expression" either. The worst thing they'd do is come after you for not being a "licensed" or "authorized" distributor or sales outfit. Then again, if you're outselling the "official" guys, they'll ask what more they can do to boost your sales.