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So my work has been plagiarized by another copywriter

by The Copy Warriors
17 replies
I just stumbled upon a copywriter's website.

The author is promoting a sales letter than I WROTE as part of their own portfolio.

As flattering as this is, I want this letter taken down.

Anyone know what I should do?
#copywriter #plagiarized #work
  • Profile picture of the author Robert Michael
    Send a DMCA to him, and if he doesnt remove it then send it to his hosting.
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  • Profile picture of the author CabTenson
    I've heard that too: First approach them and ask them to remove it. If that doesn't work threaten to contact whoever hosts the website (or IP or whatever). If that doesn't work contact the hosting service.
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    • Profile picture of the author The Copy Warriors
      Originally Posted by CabTenson View Post

      I've heard that too: First approach them and ask them to remove it.
      Is this a common occurence??

      Man I'm floored.
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      • Profile picture of the author Doceye
        Find them. Hit them hard in the face. With a shovel.

        Then bury them with said shovel.

        Problem solved.
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      • Profile picture of the author CabTenson
        Originally Posted by Andy Button View Post

        Is this a common occurence??

        Man I'm floored.
        No. I've never heard of someone taking credit for copy that isn't theirs before. But I've heard of people stealing things like photographs and art...things that tend to get stolen a lot on the Internet.
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  • Profile picture of the author Pusateri
    Have some fun and get some attention "Copywriters are willing to face prosecution to pretend my work is theirs."
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve Hill
    I've seen it happen many times with web site frameworks and web copy, to the point where it became standard practice to add hidden identifiers in the code to prove ownership.

    The general procedure for resolution was to: 1) ask them nicely to remove it, 2) inform them of a pending DMCA takedown notice, 3) then follow that up if necessary with a DMCA notice to the host's DMCA agent or abuse team. That usually took care of it.
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  • Profile picture of the author BHeard
    Some folks have the best suggestions.
    It has happened to me - I did the oh boy they are so eager for my work they are willing to go to jail thing and sent it out posted it on a site link and put that link on his site...
    Not only did my words disappear, his whole site was gone...

    Having now read this I would do our equivalent in Aus
    1 - Pusateri - some attention "Copywriters are willing to face prosecution to pretend my work is theirs."
    2 - Steves suggestion 1 - 3
    3 - then finish with Doceye s (no really I would)
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  • Profile picture of the author Ross Bowring
    Rip 'em a new one...

    "Look here old chap, I think you may have made an honest mistake and accidentally added the wrong letter to your portfolio. Slip of the hand I'm sure. Easily done. Sorry to bother you about this. Hope I'm not interrupting anything."

    --- Ross
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  • Profile picture of the author wilmath
    Anybody who plagiarizes on the internet has got to be crazy. Once, I accidentally put up the content of my own website on another domain and soon after that domain was de-indexed by Google.
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  • Profile picture of the author Raydal
    Originally Posted by Andy Button View Post

    I just stumbled upon a copywriter's website.

    The author is promoting a sales letter than I WROTE as part of their own portfolio.

    As flattering as this is, I want this letter taken down.

    Anyone know what I should do?
    Maybe the copywriter got confused between the meaning of "swipe file" and
    "portfolio". Just an honest mix-up.

    -Ray Edwards
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    The most powerful and concentrated copywriting training online today bar none! Autoresponder Writing Email SECRETS
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    • Profile picture of the author 1byte
      Originally Posted by Raydal View Post

      Maybe the copywriter got confused between the meaning of "swipe file" and
      "portfolio". Just an honest mix-up.

      -Ray Edwards
      Hehe, that's very funny, nice one!
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  • Profile picture of the author DavidAmerland
    Originally Posted by Andy Button View Post

    I just stumbled upon a copywriter's website.

    The author is promoting a sales letter than I WROTE as part of their own portfolio.

    As flattering as this is, I want this letter taken down.

    Anyone know what I should do?
    Ask them to take it down. If they do not you can approach Google. Under the DCMA act they will take the page down.
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    Online visibility made easy.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jennie Heckel
      Hi All,

      I just noticed a something you all need to be aware of and something that could happen to you if you do not have your domain names set to auto renew.

      I created a sales letter and design for a client that was selling well. He hired a web person to take care of his domain name and website content and moved it from my server.

      Then, in the first year, his web person vanished. When he had to renew the domain name he could not access the domain name renewal, because it was under his web guy's Godaddy.com account.

      So because of non-renewal the domain name was lost. I put in a backorder for the domain name figuring to pick it up after a year and restore the site as soon as the client contacted me with his tale of woe.

      The new domain name owner went to the www.WayBackMachine.org and stole my client's content. He was unable to get the privacy policy and disclaimer but he was able to get the main website design and copy. Now he has posted it on SEDO.com for sale. I contacted Godaddy.com and am in the process of trying to get the site back and getting the run around. I can prove he stole the content from the WayBackMachine.

      So any suggestions? I tried contacting the new domain owner but no response. (The problem is the new domain owner was so dumb he never changed the Contact/Admin or Owner info on the domain name so it looks like it is mine! (I bought the domain name in the beginning and sold it to the client.)

      Even if the dude was able to sell the sales letter he does not have the Videos that go with the copy -- he does not have the original product. So I wonder how he thinks he can sell it even if he did get it sold on SEDO.com

      This happens more often than you think. I have had many clients contact me after the fact that this has happened due to a non-renewal. There are plenty of people who want to make a fast buck and do it unethically.

      Suggestions?

      Thanks!

      Jennie
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      ******* WSO & JV ZOO COPYWRITER -- VLS & SALES LETTERS PROVEN TO CONVERT ******* Get Higher Profits From Launches That SELL! Proven Copywriter with 17 Years of Copywriting Experience. Contact Me Via Skype: seoexpertconsulting Copywriting Website: http://www.VideoScriptCopywriter.com

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  • Profile picture of the author dogstar
    Jennie,
    Just to underline something you said in your post that is very important...access to the account...ftp, dashboards and all that. I just started working with a new client and not only had the previous "web people" just left him high and dry but none of the logins we were handed were current...It has taken two weeks for us to uncover enough clues to piece it all back together, re-do everything and give them a document that will help them should they choose to move their business to another team or if we all meet our end during the upcoming Mayan Apocalypse....I've experienced copywriting theft before and it is a peculiar sensation...felt the same as the time I had my camera equipment stolen.
    But, remember you have one thing they will never have...you have an infinite number of great ideas and they have none. My view is, they lose in that comparison.
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