6 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
6 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Are exact descriptions counted as duplicate content

by dlinden
5 replies
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
#content #counted #descriptions #duplicate #exact
  • Profile picture of the author SageSound
    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?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1184472].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    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.
    Signature

    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1184522].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      Yep - not a duplicate content question. It's a copyright question.
      Signature
      Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1184545].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author SageSound
    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.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1184577].message }}

Trending Topics