Is This Legal - Republishing Expired Domain Articles

6 replies
Was wondering if copying expired domain articles and republishing on my blog is legal? since there domain and content is no longer online wouldn't its content also be free for public use?

Now I'm using web.archive.org to see content on expired domains and I'm able to see specific blog posts also so this lead me to asking you smart people on here. I also heard that this was legal to do, but would want some more peoples advice.

The Method I Would Use

Using a tool called expired article hunter to speed the whole process up, and then fine expired copy and paste into a unique checker and if its 95% unique would republish on my blog?
#articles #domain #expired #legal #republishing
  • Profile picture of the author marciayudkin
    It is never legal to appropriate other people's writing without permission except in two cases:

    1)The text was issued by the US government, which makes it public domain.

    2)The text was written some 70+ years ago and is out of copyright.

    Otherwise, republishing articles without permission is STEALING.

    Thanks for asking. Now you have the opportunity to come up with a different - honest - plan.

    Marcia Yudkin
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    Check out Marcia Yudkin's No-Hype Marketing Academy for courses on copywriting, publicity, infomarketing, marketing plans, naming, and branding - not to mention the popular "Marketing for Introverts" course.
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    • Profile picture of the author potasium56
      Originally Posted by marciayudkin View Post


      2)The text was written some 70+ years ago and is out of copyright.

      Marcia Yudkin
      sooo for example if, i find an article from an expired domain and that website has been expired for like 2 years and i do a plagiarism scan and the content is 100% unique and on the blog post says Copywrite 2010 does this mean its out of copyright and im able to use the content freely?
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      • Profile picture of the author DABK
        It is, most definitely, not out of copyright. Below is what applies to the US, but other countries have similar things, I'm sure (70 years might be 50 or 80, but they do have copyright laws).

        How long does a copyright last? (from Copyright Basics FAQ - Copyright Overview by Rich Stim - Stanford Copyright and Fair Use Center)


        For works published after 1977, the copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years. However, if the work is a work for hire (that is, the work is done in the course of employment or has been specifically commissioned) or is published anonymously or under a pseudonym, the copyright lasts between 95 and 120 years, depending on the date the work is published.
        All works published in the United States before 1923 are in the public domain. Works published after 1922, but before 1978 are protected for 95 years from the date of publication. If the work was created, but not published, before 1978, the copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years. However, even if the author died over 70 years ago, the copyright in an unpublished work lasts until December 31, 2002. And if such a work is published before December 31, 2002, the copyright will last until December 31, 2047.




        Originally Posted by potasium56 View Post

        sooo for example if, i find an article from an expired domain and that website has been expired for like 2 years and i do a plagiarism scan and the content is 100% unique and on the blog post says Copywrite 2010 does this mean its out of copyright and im able to use the content freely?
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  • Profile picture of the author DABK
    What do a writer's rights to his/her work have to do with someone not renewing a domain?



    Originally Posted by potasium56 View Post

    Was wondering if copying expired domain articles and republishing on my blog is legal? since there domain and content is no longer online wouldn't its content also be free for public use?

    Now I'm using web.archive.org to see content on expired domains and I'm able to see specific blog posts also so this lead me to asking you smart people on here. I also heard that this was legal to do, but would want some more peoples advice.

    The Method I Would Use

    Using a tool called expired article hunter to speed the whole process up, and then fine expired copy and paste into a unique checker and if its 95% unique would republish on my blog?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10891990].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author marciayudkin
    What do a writer's rights to his/her work have to do with someone not renewing a domain?
    I think it is the abandonment theory of ownership: If someone has abandoned a book, a domain, a house, a car, it is up for grabs for others to use without penalty or shame.

    Of course those who live on the right side of the law know that that is not valid.

    Marcia Yudkin
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    Check out Marcia Yudkin's No-Hype Marketing Academy for courses on copywriting, publicity, infomarketing, marketing plans, naming, and branding - not to mention the popular "Marketing for Introverts" course.
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    • Profile picture of the author DABK
      But even with that theory, it doesn't make sense: they abandoned the domain name, not the content on the website that was hosted on that domain name.

      Seems like a double-stretch on top of a triple stretch.

      And, the thing that surprises me, the time it takes to locate 'abandoned content' is just about the same time it takes to create spanking new one or content whose owner wants the content syndicated.

      Aren't short cuts supposed to reduce the time it takes...?

      Originally Posted by marciayudkin View Post

      I think it is the abandonment theory of ownership: If someone has abandoned a book, a domain, a house, a car, it is up for grabs for others to use without penalty or shame.

      Of course those who live on the right side of the law know that that is not valid.

      Marcia Yudkin
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