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What are the rules on making a 'database' type website using other people's material/articles?

by steadypay
8 replies
I just had this idea for my niche. There are a few people who have done this but non in a really comprehensive manner.

I have a huge knowledge of the info within the niche with loads of obscure stuff most would have not taken the time to look for.

So my idea is to gather all the information which I've found useful myself in the past on my site and having it all in a nice streamlined format.

Now what are the rules for posting other people's material? is it ok so long as I say it isn't mine and post the original articles giving credit to the original authors?
#database #making #material or articles #people #rules #type #website
  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    Originally Posted by steadypay View Post


    Now what are the rules for posting other people's material? is it ok so long as I say it isn't mine and post the original articles giving credit to the original authors?
    It all depends on the site's terms where you found them.

    Article directories are set up just for that: to provide webmasters with content - provided they keep the copyright/toolbox info intact.

    Individual websites may have completely different terms. Personally, I would go after you if you take anything from my web site without my written permission and republish on your site. Even if you keep there the "source info" and my name as the author. Displaying the copyright info (authorship, source) in itself does NOT give you the right for republishing... practically, copying.
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  • Profile picture of the author steadypay
    Hmm, what about if you just link to the relevant information with a general summary on your own site (i.e. -go here for X because in my experience it is Z)? Surely that is fine since 1stly you aren't using their material, giving your own content in the appraisal of their site and secondly you are encouraging traffic to them.

    So maybe a database of internal links on your own site which leads to the different subgroups of the niche and within them is a general outline of the info. through the link with the link to it.
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    • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
      Originally Posted by steadypay View Post

      Hmm, what about if you just link to the relevant information with a general summary on your own site (i.e. -go here for X because in my experience it is Z)? Surely that is fine since 1stly you aren't using their material, giving your own content in the appraisal of their site and secondly you are encouraging traffic to them.
      I guess that is acceptable.
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    • Profile picture of the author Michael Shook
      Originally Posted by steadypay View Post

      Hmm, what about if you just link to the relevant information with a general summary on your own site (i.e. -go here for X because in my experience it is Z)? Surely that is fine since 1stly you aren't using their material, giving your own content in the appraisal of their site and secondly you are encouraging traffic to them.

      So maybe a database of internal links on your own site which leads to the different subgroups of the niche and within them is a general outline of the info. through the link with the link to it.
      This sounds more like an affiliate presell kind of idea. Sounds like pretty normal stuff. Like a directory of resources. Seems like it would be within the the terms of most sites TOS the way you describe it here.
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  • Profile picture of the author jasonmorgan
    So my idea is to gather all the information which I've found useful myself in the past on my site and having it all in a nice streamlined format.
    Same rules apply here as they do to everyone else who steals content from other websites.

    Now what are the rules for posting other people's material? is it ok so long as I say it isn't mine and post the original articles giving credit to the original authors?
    Same rules apply here as they do to everyone else who steals content from other websites.

    Your whole idea is I want to take content from other websites and put it on mine, use your head man. What is the difference between your idea and the common content scraper?

    And giving credit doesn't make it OK.
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    I'm all about that bass.

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  • Profile picture of the author steadypay
    Good.

    Interesting you say that since the presell/review site was my original idea but then I moved into exploring the idea of blogging. I don't so much like the idea of blogging any more since I feel I am better at knowledge gathering and synthesis than writing content from scratch.

    An engineer rather than an artist if you will, at least in this spectrum.

    Actually thinking aobut it maybe have both- keep the blog for when I feel like posting but also having a 'resources' page with the stuff I mentioned in the OP. Best of both worlds then.
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  • Profile picture of the author DontWorryBeHappy
    This is the best of both worlds in one sense but to play devils advocate for a second. Unless your blogging and news feed is constantly updated your traffic levels may not stay very high. If the content you link to is better, within the specified niche, than your own sites what will encourage people to return to you?

    Just something to think about in your plans, best of luck though
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  • Profile picture of the author steadypay
    Good points.

    With the second factor...the niche is such that there is alot of content spread out on diff places (no one site which has everything which is where I'm planning to become the 'middle man') so I don't think that would be so much of an issue as whenever they reach another sticking point they would want to return to the hub to get the next tit bit.

    There are more comprehensive books but I'll be sure to make those affiliate links .
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