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Ethical? (article spinning)...

by TimothyW
15 replies
I saw someone (on a vid) casually going into an article directory, pulling an article, spinning it, then posting it as his own (took 20 seconds, total).

Where does that fall on the ethics spectrum?

-- TW
#article #ethical #spinning
  • Profile picture of the author HKSEO Jonbones
    It's technically a different article, I guess it depends on your personal morality meter.
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    • Profile picture of the author writeaway
      Originally Posted by HKSEO Jonbones View Post

      It's technically a different article, I guess it depends on your personal morality meter.
      Not according to US copyright law. It is a derivative work and the rights owner of the original materials can go after him. Quick reality check though: would it be worth it for the rights owner to pay a lawyer $750 to $1000 to write a C & D or file a complaint in court to fully vindicate his rights?

      Thankfully, Google is cracking down on quality and spun garbage is on its way out. If you want to do well online, quit looking for shortcuts. Offer quality ENGAGING content. Shortcuts may have worked before Panda but considering the major updates Google might spring this year, using spinning and other shortcuts is a sure way to lose money.

      As for morality, ask yourself: would I want this done to me?
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  • Profile picture of the author TimothyW
    "Contextual Ethics??"
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  • Profile picture of the author AuthorityRush
    Originally Posted by TimothyW View Post

    I saw someone (on a vid) casually going into an article directory, pulling an article, spinning it, then posting it as his own (took 20 seconds, total).

    Where does that fall on the ethics spectrum?

    -- TW
    Spinning always splits people into two camps. I personally use spun content for link building to my 2nd and so on tiers.

    But I have never taken someone else's content and just spun it. That I do agree is wrong, period. Just being lazy or cheap. And I'd be a bit peed off if someone took my work and spun it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Campbell24
    It's just the way the internet is right now. Unregulated and I hope it stays that way.
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    • Profile picture of the author Sandra Martinez
      Originally Posted by bathunter View Post

      It's just the way the internet is right now. Unregulated and I hope it stays that way.
      The solution to these types of problems is never regulation, it is education. And education is a natural consequence of exposure.
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  • Profile picture of the author adsassist
    I think it is OK to do this, BUT you should write your own articles.

    People like to connect with the author. When you write things yourself people get to know your personality. Building a relationship were they will follow you for your next article.

    With article spinning, it just information. Will work for product reviews, but nothing personal for a blog or articles for building a relationship.

    The biggest edge you can get with marketing is building relationships and article spinning wont do that for you.
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  • Profile picture of the author onSubie
    Taking an article from a directory and doing this would likely violate the author's copyright.

    Using PLR for this is legal and ethical from a writing standpoint. (Assuming you are allowed to do what you want with the PLR rights). I haven't yet seen:

    [NO] May spin this article

    But many feel it is very unethical for the lack of contribution of value to the Internet, spamming links, pissing off Google, ruining the fun for everyone else, etc.

    Mahlon
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by TimothyW View Post

    Where does that fall on the ethics spectrum?
    It's unethical, illegal and immoral. (It's also a breach of the article directory's terms of service, presumably? It is with any of the directories I know, anyway). There just isn't a way it's "right" at all, clearly.

    (Unlike "spinning" your own articles, which is just ill-informed, unnecessary and misguided, but none of those other adjectives above!).
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Originally Posted by TimothyW View Post

      "Contextual Ethics??"
      Unfortunately, there's a lot of that going around.

      If you read a lot of the 'is this ethical' threads, you'll notice that many times the poster isn't really worried about ethics. They are worried about consequences.

      They really just want someone to pat them on the head, and reassure them that it's okay to lie, cheat or steal, as long as they get what they want.

      A poster in another thread tried to make the case that it was fine to download pirated software from a torrent site because she couldn't afford to buy a copy.

      [By the way, Timothy, I'm not putting you in the group I spoke about above...]
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  • Profile picture of the author IanWilcox
    I would say its Ethical as long as the respan article is quality and provides something useful to the reader!

    If its unreadable or sounds horrible then its no use to the end user.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by IanWilcox View Post

      I would say its Ethical as long as the respan article is quality and provides something useful to the reader!
      You'd say it's "ethical" to steal someone else's material, and in breach of the terms of service of where it's published, and to produce a derivative work from it, in clear breach of the law of copyright, Ian?! Surely not?
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    • Profile picture of the author Sandra Martinez
      Originally Posted by IanWilcox View Post

      I would say its Ethical as long as the respan article is quality and provides something useful to the reader!

      If its unreadable or sounds horrible then its no use to the end user.
      It is not ethical, it is a step ahead in a slippery slope many had fell into. And the worst part... too many had taught.

      So many had fall into it, that is considered ok, but it is not.

      To be perfectly ethical nobody should put material out there that does´t have a unique proposition of some kind.

      This will tickle many and I wouldn´t be surprised if someone says that is not compatible with treating IM "as a business".

      And that is the root of a lot of problems the industry suffers today.

      EDIT: ahh, we were posting at the same time.
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      • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
        I, for the life of me, can't understand why someone would do such a thing!

        Over and beyond being immoral, unethical and illegal, what message are you sending your readers who may or may not recognize the content from elsewhere?

        That you're are a thief, that you don't have a mind of your own, that you really don't understand what you are attempting to sell, that you have no creativity let alone a smidgeon of brain power, that you have no voice of your own? There is so much more I could mention as well.

        Sites that have return visitors, as well as loyal readers and repeat customers are those that have developed engaging content and a unique voice of their own that people enjoy. They have branded themselves with a unique voice that is truly their own.

        So to have stolen and then spun content no less, is like having a dining establishment offering a smorgasbord of day old, tasteless food. What you end up doing is making your customers sick and as for repeat business? Forget about it!! Who wants to dine with rats??

        Terra
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  • Profile picture of the author IanWilcox
    No no no no! Let me clear this up lol!

    Id say its Ethical to spin your own content... this is where i go and get myself a strong coffee...

    I admit I thread the title and jumped straight in.... sorry!!

    Spinning someone elses content is wrong... unethical and they should be locked up!
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