Copying websites content legal?

13 years ago

Most likely not but it really depends. I guess if someone catches you or even cares.

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Richard Van

13 years ago

Originally Posted by coreytucker

Hi,

I am making a paid membership site and was wondering if I directly copy and paste content from another site is it legal? I put a link to the original site at the end of my text. But is this legal to do in a paid membership site? Thanks

With respect, firstly you're most likely breaching copyright if you do this, you could put a link back to my site wherever you like, if you did that without my permission, I'd have to deal with it.

Secondly, if you copy the site and put a link back to the original won't you lose a lot of business to them? Also when they look at their tracking, won't they see all this traffic coming from you, see you've cloned their site without permission and do what I just said I'd do?

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Devid Farah 13 years ago

No,you can't do that. That's clearly copyright infringment.
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travlinguy

13 years ago

Don't have to be a lawyer for this one. It's not legal. It's stealing. It's called copyright infringment.

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garben2011

13 years ago

Originally Posted by coreytucker

I am making a paid membership site and was wondering if I directly copy and paste content from another site is it legal? I put a link to the original site at the end of my text. But is this legal to do in a paid membership site? Thanks

Originally Posted by travlinguy

Don't have to be a lawyer for this one. It's not legal. It's stealing. It's called copyright infringment.

I am trying to word this in a way that does not come across as insulting because that is really not my intention at all!

I am just trying to understand. Over the past few months I have seen multiple posts talking about this kind of thing. Questions about simply copying content that belongs to someone else.

Anyway, I guess I am just curious as to why anyone would not know this. How this is not widely available information. I learned this back at like Elementary or Middle School age I believe. I honestly thought this was common knowledge. I cannot copy anything that belongs to someone else. I cannot take anything that belongs to someone else. Well, sure I mean I can but it is not legal or ethical to do so.

Can anyone tell me who has recently graduated from school or perhaps is currently in school do they actually not teach this stuff anymore? Plagiarism, copyright, derivative works and so on. I remember doing book reports and the teacher saying to write what we got out of the book. What it meant to us. Do not copy because that is plagiarism and that would be breaking the law.

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Colin Palfrey

13 years ago

Originally Posted by garben2011

I am trying to word this in a way that does not come across as insulting because that is really not my intention at all!

I am just trying to understand. Over the past few months I have seen multiple posts talking about this kind of thing. Questions about simply copying content that belongs to someone else.

Anyway, I guess I am just curious as to why anyone would not know this. How this is not widely available information. I learned this back at like Elementary or Middle School age I believe. I honestly thought this was common knowledge. I cannot copy anything that belongs to someone else. I cannot take anything that belongs to someone else. Well, sure I mean I can but it is not legal or ethical to do so.

Can anyone tell me who has recently graduated from school or perhaps is currently in school do they actually not teach this stuff anymore? Plagiarism, copyright, derivative works and so on. I remember doing book reports and the teacher saying to write what we got out of the book. What it meant to us. Do not copy because that is plagiarism and that would be breaking the law.

It is not so simple, unfortunately. Read the many posts above to see why.

Cheers,
Colin Palfrey

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coreytucker

13 years ago

Hmm then I guess I should just re write content I see from these sites? If I do that then I do not have to even include a link back to the orginal site right?

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2 replies

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stressjudo

13 years ago

Originally Posted by coreytucker

Hmm then I guess I should just re write content I see from these sites? If I do that then I do not have to even include a link back to the orginal site right?

That could be a "derivative work" which is stil protected by the author's original copyright. You would have to make substantial changes. You can create new work based on the idea (for example, everyone and his brother writes about SEO), but it can't be too close to the original (i.e., taking an article and changing a few words in each paragraph).

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Devid Farah

13 years ago

Originally Posted by coreytucker

Hmm then I guess I should just re write content I see from these sites? If I do that then I do not have to even include a link back to the orginal site right?

Corey,

Are you kidding?

You CANNOT take content from a website and rewrite it. That's stealing.

The only content you can rewrite is PLR content( Private Label Rights)

The best thing you can do is to write your OWN original content.

That's it.

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coreytucker

13 years ago

but what about a news feed from a news site? Is that legal?

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Colin Palfrey 13 years ago

Originally Posted by coreytucker

but what about a news feed from a news site? Is that legal?

Corey,

Setting up an RSS feed implies acceptance of its use. RSS is the abbreviation of Really Simple Syndication. Therefore, you cannot set up a means of syndicating content, then complain when it is syndicated.

Of course, stripping links or altering the content means it is no longer syndicated but altered, which is illegal without direct permission.

Cheers,
Colin Palfrey
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Trieu

13 years ago

Dont do it. Its copyright infringement. If you want to do this, ask permission first

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christopher jon

13 years ago

I'm thinking I shouldn't put a lot of trust in this...

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Not trying to be rude, but a member here since 2007 and you have to ask this question?

Hmm then I guess I should just re write content I see from these sites? If I do that then I do not have to even include a link back to the orginal site right?

Still reeks of plagiarism.

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stressjudo

13 years ago

Copyright law applies to anything written. Most sites get around this by offering limited rights - you can duplicate content as long as you keep the attribution (usually as a "resource box.") Straight up copying - without some form of permission - can get a "cease and desist" lawyer and usually a demand for damages. Oh - it's especially egregious if you are copying something and then charging others for it, because now the original author not only loses out on your profits (which are really the author's) but also on the reputation and prestige (because if it wasn't any good, you wouldn't be charging for it).
Adding the link probably won't cure this. You need to work with the author(s) to make this happen the right (Right) way.

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1 reply

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Michael Oksa

13 years ago

Originally Posted by coreytucker

Hi,

I am making a paid membership site and was wondering if I directly copy and paste content from another site is it legal? I put a link to the original site at the end of my text. But is this legal to do in a paid membership site? Thanks

It's very unlikely that what you're describing would fall under the Fair Use clause. Putting a link at the end of the text will not protect you. It's plagiarism whether it's on a paid site or not, however, you are much more likely to get sued if you are profiting from someone else's wirk without their express permission.

Originally Posted by Mike McAleer

Most likely not but it really depends. I guess if someone catches you or even cares.

I would care. Seriously, Mike, wise up! The idea of "it's only illegal if you get caught" speaks volumes. Thanks.

Originally Posted by coreytucker

Hmm then I guess I should just re write content I see from these sites? If I do that then I do not have to even include a link back to the orginal site right?

LOL. Are you serious or just trying to stir things up. Rewriting content is still plagiarism. Not crediting your source will not protect you.

Originally Posted by coreytucker

but what about a news feed from a news site? Is that legal?

It could be legal, because that's typically what the purpose of a feed is for. HOWEVER, once you are sharing the feed for commercial gain, then you are treading into different waters.

My suggestion? Rethink how you're going to get content for your site.

All the best,
Michael

EDIT: I was writing most of this before seeing Corey's later responses in this thread.

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Colin Palfrey

13 years ago

Corey,

This is a highly complex issue.

Obviously it depends on what information is copied, how it is presented etc.

You are allowed to reference things for educational purposes. However, you are not allowed to sell that reference as an integral part of an educational course, i.e. that merely displays another persons content as an educational reference, for the purpose of profit.

If you do, it stops being an educational reference and becomes copyright infringement.

I have had to read up on the laws regarding this complicated situation, and if you are going to do this, do the same as me. Get educated as to the laws you have to work within.

I cannot give you a one-size-fits-all answer, the issue is too complicated, and the result of a wrong call, too severe.

I would suggest contacting a lawyer, or better yet (IMHO) doing your due-diligence yourself. Unfortunately, that means more than asking for popular opinion on a forum.

This is a difficult piece of legalistic advice to give, even under the best of terms, and as an educational course your setting is not that.

Cheers,
Colin Palfrey

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coreytucker

13 years ago

I understand. But what about all of these people creating auto blogs that scrape content and just link back? I have been a member here since 2007 but I have seen tons of people doing things like this. That's why im asking here.

Thanks

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coreytucker

13 years ago

ok I understand guys. I cannot use other peoples content. Espically when we are talking about a paid membership site. I was trying to create a "information hub" here for the niche. But I can see I cannot do that. Perhaps I can do this by simply rephrasing the text and claiming it as my own.

It's perfectly fine to re summarize peoples content and not link back right?

Thanks
2 replies

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Michael Oksa

13 years ago

Originally Posted by coreytucker

ok I understand guys. I cannot use other peoples content. Espically when we are talking about a paid membership site. I was trying to create a "information hub" here for the niche. But I can see I cannot do that. Perhaps I can do this by simply rephrasing the text and claiming it as my own.

It's perfectly fine to re summarize peoples content and not link back right?

No, that's still plagiarism.

~Michael

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paulie888

13 years ago

Originally Posted by coreytucker

ok I understand guys. I cannot use other peoples content. Espically when we are talking about a paid membership site. I was trying to create a "information hub" here for the niche. But I can see I cannot do that. Perhaps I can do this by simply rephrasing the text and claiming it as my own.

It's perfectly fine to re summarize peoples content and not link back right?

Are you being serious here? After all this time here and after reading through all the threads about copyright infringement, how can the thought of "rewriting" content even enter your mind as being legal or permissible?

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coreytucker

13 years ago

I dont understand. Any content you get in life is from something you have read or seen. So I read a book about "the great blizzard of 96" and now I want to pass on this information. I simply restate what I read about in this book in my own words right?

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David Bryant

13 years ago

In the manner that you wrote your question, it would be copyright infringement.

However, you do have choices here. You can simply ask a webmaster if you can republish their content with attribution of some kind, or you can use their content as inspiration to write your own on the subject. Definitely do not just rewrite theirs with the same ideas and concepts - just use the topic and premise as inspiration for your own work.

If you find that their article is available for reposting, such as through an article directory that encourages syndication, then by all means, use it accordingly. But, taking from a site without such an agreement or permission is always an action at risk of copyright infringement.

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Steve Holmes

13 years ago

I'm surprised someone with so much experience is seriously asking this question.

Why not just AVOID the whole issue and create your own content from scratch?

That way you don't have to worry regardless of whether it is legal or not?

Best,
Steve

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coreytucker

13 years ago

Sorry guys I guess I look real dumb right about now,lol. I guess my best bet is to simply write my own content and then simply add related links at the bottom. What im creating here is a community site and want to provide a "place" where people can learn everything about the niche.

So the small membership price is for the community and the information gathered and presented at one place. I don't think linking to other sites with just information will hurt my stick rate with my members. Because it's the community and the "gathered information in one place" that they pay the small fee for. Does that make sense?

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coreytucker

13 years ago

Honestly the information in this niche is very factual type of information. So its really not an option to create my own content in this niche. In fact it's not an option at all for a lot of the content because it pertains to history.

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2 replies

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Colin Palfrey

13 years ago

Originally Posted by coreytucker

Honestly the information in this niche is very factual type of information. So its really not an option to create my own content in this niche. In fact it's not an option at all for a lot of the content because it pertains to history.

I wish that changed the rules, but it doesn't.

I have been in a similar situation where only the source was at an event, I was supposed to write about. Yet they told me I could not copy or quote anything from their website.

I had to drop that project completely as it was not possible to legally complete, so hopefully you can find a work-around. In that case it meant handing back a little over $1k to a client, so think yourself lucky.

Originally Posted by coreytucker

I think my best option here is to simply write a summary about what the link is. So let's say I have a news section for this niche right?

I simply in my own words tell what the news story is about and relates to and then say check out the full story at this link (which links to the full story.)

What im creating here is a community and a information hub. So in reality who cares if users have to check out other sites to read the full story. I think me just providing a "hub" for where users can find all of this information in the niche will work fine.

The above is totally fine. In fact I think you would even be fine to quote 'parts' of their article if you provide a summary and link. It is a tightrope you walk, though.

Cheers,
Colin Palfrey

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ruthlindsey 13 years ago

You don't look dumb to me. It's a very fair question.

Benjamin Franklin said that the way he learned to write was to make an outline of another person's work, put away the original and then try to recreate the original writing in his own words, but make it even better. Many people learn to write like this because they just don't have the gift of overflowing ideas for writing...That's how we all learn to talk, too.

So that was a good question!
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coreytucker

13 years ago

I think my best option here is to simply write a summary about what the link is. So let's say I have a news section for this niche right?

I simply in my own words tell what the news story is about and relates to and then say check out the full story at this link (which links to the full story.)

What im creating here is a community and a information hub. So in reality who cares if users have to check out other sites to read the full story. I think me just providing a "hub" for where users can find all of this information in the niche will work fine.

Thanks

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coreytucker

13 years ago

colin, I think I will be safe and not quote anything. I will simply write in my own words a short summary of the news item and then link back to the original article. In fact this might be better anyways.

What im really trying to create here is a tight community and provide a ton of information on this niche. So I will simply just write my own content where I can and then link back to things like news articles, events etc. The key thing here is im creating a community with a hub of information for the niche.

Thanks

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coreytucker

13 years ago

garben2011 for some reason I thought that if you included the original website as a reference link it was legal. I mean I see people doing it all of the time with ezinearticles.com etc. I thought that just including a link back to the original webpage was enough at the end of the text. But I guess im wrong. Im glad I asked though

I realize now what im creating is a community informational hub in my niche. I just talked to someone I know in this niche who is a fanatic and he says this will be fine. He said as long as my membership site provides a link to read about news, history, events, information etc it would be fine. So I only need to create my own original site, content and then provide links to other useful content I find in the niche.

Thanks
2 replies

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txconx

13 years ago

Originally Posted by coreytucker

garben2011 for some reason I thought that if you included the original website as a reference link it was legal. I mean I see people doing it all of the time with ezinearticles.com etc. I thought that just including a link back to the original webpage was enough at the end of the text. But I guess im wrong. Im glad I asked though

I realize now what im creating is a community informational hub in my niche. I just talked to someone I know in this niche who is a fanatic and he says this will be fine. He said as long as my membership site provides a link to read about news, history, events, information etc it would be fine. So I only need to create my own original site, content and then provide links to other useful content I find in the niche.

Why would someone pay to be a member of a site if everything was just copied and pasted from somewhere else? Even if you provide an attribute to the original site?

Did you ever consider what VALUE you're providing for your members? Unless you're targeting the near brain dead population, how long do you think you'll keep your members when they see all they're getting is content they could see for free all over the internet?

I mean - c'mon.

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WmStout

13 years ago

Originally Posted by coreytucker

garben2011 for some reason I thought that if you included the original website as a reference link it was legal. I mean I see people doing it all of the time with ezinearticles.com etc. I thought that just including a link back to the original webpage was enough at the end of the text.

From what I know, when dealing with ezinearticles and other article directories, you can reuse the content as long as you include the resource box with the article. It's kind of the whole purpose of putting your content there in the first place, to have your resource box spread.

If you are just going to someone else's website and taking the info though, you are definitely treading on some copyright issues.

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imfusa 13 years ago

Of course it is illegal, it is called like all the other ones said: Copyright infringement. You can contact the owner of the site and maybe he will let you if you say you had put a backlink to that site. Or you can buy the content.
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Jake Gray

13 years ago

Use your commonsense.

This question is ... easy to answer?

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coreytucker

13 years ago

thanks everyone for the answers

I now know what to do. I will just write a summary of the news stories and link back to the original site thats all

Thanks

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coreytucker

13 years ago

txconx sometimes people will pay for information that is free. Besides im only offering this "free information" as a bonus. I offer the hub and my original content also. The free information is part of the package. Besides by me "gathering" all of this free information it saves users tons of time. Time equals money to some people

Who knows maybe my membership site will fail. It's something new im trying. But besides the free links I provide I also will provide unique content provided by myself.

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BlondieWrites

13 years ago

Copying and pasting content without express permission to do so is stealing and is copyright infringment. Rewriting content (unless it's PLR) is plagerism. Both are illegal.

To be safe AND legal, simply write your own content, buy PLR content and rewrite it, purchase the rights to use someone's content, or pay someone to write content for you. All of these methods are legal.

Cindy

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neojr 13 years ago

Even if you get permission from the site owner to use their content, there will still be the duplicate content issue... think about Google and their algorithm update (Panda).

Good luck,

Neo
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Floyd Fisher

13 years ago

Originally Posted by coreytucker

Hi,

I am making a paid membership site and was wondering if I directly copy and paste content from another site is it legal? I put a link to the original site at the end of my text. But is this legal to do in a paid membership site? Thanks

As long as you got permission from the original content owners to do this, you can do whatever you want.

I get it even if it's a form they let people use....because lawsuits suck.

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