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Blogs: Using Other Blogs' Content. The Rules?

by JustOnePepsi
6 replies
I've noticed that some blogs simply post articles from other blogs. They do reference the blog it was taken from, and sometimes add a link. Is that legal? Do you need the borrowed-from blog's permission?

What about rewriting an article? Yes, the blog owns a particular wording of a story, but can't you always rewrite it and post it on your own blog?
#blogs #content #rules
  • Profile picture of the author fredjr1978
    From my understanding is that you can use any article you want, as long as you keep the bio box that includes the link back to the original authors blog. If there is not a bio box, then it would be wise to reference where you received it from and add a link back to the original authors site.

    This would of course give the original author a back link, and I am sure make them happy.

    It also never hurts to shoot them an email either, asking if you can featuring their blog post on yours. Perhaps they would want to feature one of yours and create a back link for you as well..

    Great question, I cant wait to hear some other responses as well.
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  • Profile picture of the author VegasGreg
    If it was posted to an article directory that allows republishing it is ok, provided all the links are left in place.

    If it was simply taken from another blog, that is not ok without permission.

    If it was taken from an RSS feed, that material can be ok (for the most part) too as it is syndication (RSS), but credit is still due.
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    • Profile picture of the author JustOnePepsi
      Originally Posted by VegasGreg View Post

      If it was posted to an article directory that allows republishing it is ok, provided all the links are left in place.

      If it was simply taken from another blog, that is not ok without permission.

      If it was taken from an RSS feed, that material can be ok (for the most part) too as it is syndication (RSS), but credit is still due.
      Really?

      I see blog posts that cite cnn.com, espn.com, wired.com, etc. I really doubt they got permission from those sites.

      Here's an example:
      MJ Must Match Offer for Bobcats, Or He Will Be Unemployed | The Hoop Doctors

      ESPN breaks the story that Michael Jordan might get fired.

      Hoopdoctors.com basically rewrites the story, posts it to their blog, even quotes espn.com. But they do link to the original story.

      It seems this is a great strategy because they get a hot, fresh story, rewrite it for their audience, and espn.com gets a link too. Everyone wins.
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      • Profile picture of the author Al-Leyson
        You have to be careful when dealing with blogs. Rewriting is a good idea but it may take some time. However, avoid copy pasting the content from one blog to another. That is called plagiarism.
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      • Profile picture of the author VegasGreg
        Originally Posted by JustOnePepsi View Post

        Really?

        I see blog posts that cite cnn.com, espn.com, wired.com, etc. I really doubt they got permission from those sites.

        Here's an example:
        MJ Must Match Offer for Bobcats, Or He Will Be Unemployed | The Hoop Doctors

        ESPN breaks the story that Michael Jordan might get fired.

        Hoopdoctors.com basically rewrites the story, posts it to their blog, even quotes espn.com. But they do link to the original story.

        It seems this is a great strategy because they get a hot, fresh story, rewrite it for their audience, and espn.com gets a link too. Everyone wins.
        Rewriting the story is one thing. And quoting a portion of the story with credit seems to be ok if only a small portion is quoted. I do not know the technicalities of how much is ok to quote.
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  • Profile picture of the author JustOnePepsi
    It's confusing because no one actually owns facts. For example, when Tiger Woods gets in a car accident, an article is written by an Orlando newspaper. It has facts about who, when, where.

    That article gets rewritten 1000x and published in the La Times, WSJ, ESPN, etc. so it's hard to determine what is a unique article and what has been copied.
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