Fellow Warriors - Need Ideas - Someone Stealing My Content

[IowaGal]

Hey everyone -
I've been working on a few projects; one of them is the promotion of a product due to be released next week. Earlier today I created and posted a video review on this content and also used the script I wrote as the content of the page below the video on my own blog.

Imagine my surprise when I went to go check the rankings and someone was ranking for the very same keyword (no biggie, it happens) but USING MY CONTENT! The same EXACT content that I had written earlier. It wasn't rewritten in any manner other than to replace my links with their own.

Any ideas as to how to deal with this person. Couldn't find any information on contact page, etc. (of course).

Kristine

[traces2757]

I would email this person immediately (if you can) and do a little threatening about copyright infringement. This may be all it takes. If that doesn't work, you may want to get some legal advice.

[Ian Traynor]

Hi Kristine

Try doing a "whois" lookup on their domain name. Of course, if they've paid extra for domain name privacy you won't get their contact details, but it's worth trying.

You could also do a search for the site on GoLexa:

GoLexa Search Tool....

Look for the link to "SiteRpt". This will tell you their hosting company. You could then contact them and complain about pirated copy. Some hosting companies take this seriously.

But if you can find a contact email or telephone number, then follow Tracy's advice. Often a threat is all that's needed. You won't need to have to hire a lawyer - just threaten them with action.

On the few occasions when I've had this sort of problem, that approach has worked well :-)

[IowaGal]

Hi Ian & Tracy -

I did threaten them with a couple of blog comments - one to take it down and the second one was the FBI's warning which reads as follows:

"Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000."

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation - Cyber Investigations

Also, regarding Ian's comment about doing a whois lookup, they're using a free wordpress page which gives me little to nothing to go on.

I don't want to spend too much time on it, but don't want anyone making money off of my copy if you know what I mean.

Thanks both for your input -
Kristine

[schabotte]

Find the hosting company and file a DMCA complaint with them (Digital Millenium Copyright Act.) If they are a US based hosting company, they will act.

I did a google search on file dmca complaint and saw it had a few good articles come up so you can read more and see how to craft a proper complaint letter.

click here for google search results for file dmca complaint

[IowaGal]

Thanks for the information schabotte,
unfortunately, it was a free wordpress.com blog post - however, it appears as though they have changed the information - don't know what did it, but the theme and the content is completely altered so something worked.

Like my husband says he probably didn't realize he was going to get caught.

Anyhow, it seems that for now, the matter is resolved. Thanks for all of your input guys! It's nice to know that some folks have your back.

[Marc2008]

Oh ya you probably scared him with the comments you left. But keep a watch on him or her. The site.