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Is this legal?

by c0rv3tt3
15 replies
I recently stumbled upon a fairly popular site that has tons of copy and pasted content. The catch is at the bottom of the article he gives credit to the author, company, etc but does not give a exact link to where the original article can be found.

ex:
Author: Chris Aceto
Website: Procardnutrition.com
COPYRIGHT 2008 Weider Publications
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning

Just curious if one can get into legal trouble for doing this :p.
#legal
  • Profile picture of the author rosetrees
    I would think so. Edit: Unless it's PLR stuff being used, or some version that allows publication if the link is used.

    If he's copying from someone's site or blog without permission, he's definitely in trouble.

    If he's using articles from article directories without the full citation then he' also in trouble.

    Obviously I don't know which site you are talking about (and don't post the link - that would just be giving it credibility). If I find stuff of mine being reproduced I always report it to the web host.

    Sorry guys, but I can't stand lazy thieves - who always comes up with some limp excuse when they get caught with their pants down.
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    • Profile picture of the author c0rv3tt3
      Thanks for your input.
      The site is actually pretty huge. 6k visitors a day and 20k facebook group following the site.
      What the given person does is goes to sites like "flex" which is a bodybuilding magazine and copies and pastes articles. I know for a fact this is not PLR material.
      There is maybe 5-10pages of unique content on the site and 90 pages of this random copy and pasting.
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      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        What the given person does is goes to sites like "flex" which is a bodybuilding magazine and copies and pastes articles.
        Do you know that for a fact? It may be copyright violation - or if the site is high profile, the site owner may have permissions. Some blogs and sites also publish articles by "guest" authors.
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  • Profile picture of the author JustinDupre
    Yeah, I don't think its legal either. Be careful with the site!
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  • Profile picture of the author esr
    6K hits per day? Sounds like a pretty successful site and I don't believe sites get THAT successful by stealing content. Of course, I never thought OJ did it either, because of his success. Anyway.....

    He IS giving the author credit and a link to this URL, right? It's not like he's trying to pass the content off as being his own. So, perhaps he does have permission and we, as visitors I mean, are just not aware of it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gwen_Iler
    I think he still won't get into trouble since he published those not under his name but rather by the author's name so I don't think that's intellectual piracy. But if he did not asked permission from the authors to publish it into his site, then he might get into trouble with that....
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    • Profile picture of the author rosetrees
      Originally Posted by Gwen_Iler View Post

      I think he still won't get into trouble since he published those not under his name but rather by the author's name so I don't think that's intellectual piracy..
      Sorry - but that's rubbish. If someone has written something, they own the copyright. Adding a link bank does not give you the right to use their content without permission. That's what copyright means. The author has the sole "right" to use the work unless they give permission.

      If you submit to an article directly you ARE giving permission for reuse IF the article citations are left in tact.

      It does sounds as if the site in question might (??) have permission, if it is a big and well respected site.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gwen_Iler
    Just want to clear something, after you email that site owner. The publication points directly back to your domain? Is that right? Because if that's the case why not make that as a resolution? Just like how the saying goes, if you can't beat them, then join them....or something like that..... lol
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    • Profile picture of the author rosetrees
      Originally Posted by Gwen_Iler View Post

      Just like how the saying goes, if you can't beat them, then join them....or something like that..... lol
      You mean become a thief and plagiarist too?
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    There are many site owners who do not mind if you use their articles, along as they are given credit and a link back. The best way to find out if you can do this, is contact the owner of the site and ask. I always say yes ... I'll take the link, but no if no credit and link is given back.
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    • Profile picture of the author Gwen_Iler
      Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

      There are many site owners who do not mind if you use their articles, along as they are given credit and a link back. The best way to find out if you can do this, is contact the owner of the site and ask. I always say yes ... I'll take the link, but no if no credit and link is given back.

      This is actually what I was thinking..... So in short....permission + her suggestion would be beneficial for both parties.....
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  • Profile picture of the author cpa-money
    there are lots of content copy websites, but if they link to the source than i think it`s ok.
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  • Profile picture of the author blue_gurl
    Isn't the original site getting some sort of benefit by the link created on the copy site?
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    • Profile picture of the author Gwen_Iler
      Originally Posted by rosetrees View Post

      Sorry - but that's rubbish. If someone has written something, they own the copyright. Adding a link bank does not give you the right to use their content without permission. That's what copyright means. The author has the sole "right" to use the work unless they give permission.

      If you submit to an article directly you ARE giving permission for reuse IF the article citations are left in tact.

      It does sounds as if the site in question might (??) have permission, if it is a big and well respected site.
      Oh...I see....Thank you for pointing that out....

      Originally Posted by rosetrees View Post

      You mean become a thief and plagiarist too?
      Nah....nothing like that.....I just don't know if they have good PR or Page Views but if they did.....putting some links from their site to the author's site would be beneficial for the author, won't you agree.....?
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