My Product's Site Was Duplicated... Is This a Problem?

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I have several products I've created. One of them is SnoreBuster:

SnoreBuster :: End Your Snoring and Sleep Well Through the Night

Oddly, instead of one affiliate creating a site with an affiliate link, he cloned my original site completely (but he's using the graphics on MY server!).

I checked and the order button does go to ClickBank with his affiliate code.

Do I need to be concerned about these things?

Thanks...
#main internet marketing discussion forum #duplicated #problem #product #site
  • Yes and no. If you have an attorney to take him to a legal battle, do so. If he's in another country... well... good luck.

    However, I'd take a different approach and embrace it since fighting with someone over email isn't going to do you any good. I'd put on my site some where pretty much saying, 'This product is so popular that people are cloning and STEALING it completely. Don't fall for the scammers out there. Get the real deal and original *product* here.'

    Something like that and give a "nofollow" link to these scamming sites. Always test of course.
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  • Hi Bryan -

    Sorry I didn't realize what I was seeing. I took my comment out because I thought the above link was yours and now understand it's the site in question. My apologies.
  • Bryan, there is a program that allows people to do this - duplicate the content of a site but having it so the link goes to their affiliate program - Affiliate Hijacker it is called. I don't know if that is what is used in your situation but that is basically what the program does. Apparently it passes all Clickbank TOS from what I've heard.

    I'm not sure what to think about it to be honest, the affiliate is promoting your product for you so perhaps its not such a bad thing. If they were using your page but sending visitors to another product then that would be different.
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  • Banned
    This goes to YOUR order page for Clickbank with HIS affiliate code?

    So YOU still get the SALE - with him as the affiliate?

    I would be quite happy with this - can't see a problem?? Unless I'm missing something!
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    • Yes. I see that. The reason it concerns me is that there's the duplicate content thing. Also, he's using my bandwidth for the graphics (not a big deal, really).

      A few years ago, I did an affiliate course and they told us to do this. So, I copied a site on Bonasi trees and within one day, the site owner insisted on me taking it down.

      As you said, I thought, "It'll make HIM money if the site stays up.", but I took it down, nevertheless.

      I found this out, btw, by checking my logs in HostGator. Very useful.
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  • If that's the case, then yeah, there's no problem. Personally and professional, I wouldn't mind that at all.
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
  • The guy is going to make you money doing this, so I wouldn't beat him up over it too badly.

    There are many issues that can arise from this...for example, what if a customer buys from that site and bookmarks it then later returns for help and it's gone? (or it could be switched to a competitors product)

    Additionally, there are the issues of duplicate content etc.

    Personally, I contact affiliates doing this and express appreciation for their promotional efforts but ask they find another method.
    • [1] reply
    • I've had many affiliates duplicate my site, and it used to concern me. But in the last couple of years I keep reading that duplicate content on different sites is not a problem.

      Using your images (and bandwidth) would concern me more.
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      • [1] reply
  • Yup, PJ is right. You probably want to shut him down and send him to the CB FAQ page.

    Good call PJ!
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    • [1] reply
  • Banned
    Just another thought . . .

    He must be keen on your product to buy a domain name, host it and then re-direct to your site - so I would tend to want to keep him as an affiliate! Otherwise - you lose sales AND - he may link to a competitor!

    Good luck with whatever happens.
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  • Bryan

    The choice is really yours.

    a. You pull him up on it you lose an affiliate.

    b. You leave him to sell for you (provided you know he isn't ripping you off) and have another opportunity for sales if you don't mind the site clone

    I think if you 'throw the book at him' he'll probably drop selling your product which is the worst that can happen and is something you will have to live with.

    BAYO
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  • I called CB one time on the same issue. They said that this was a very common practice, but they would contact him if I wanted them to. This is not an isolated case. There are tons and tons of people who do this with CB products. I have found that this is true. I didn't pursue the matter.

    I don't like this because I feel the affiliate suffers from a lack of creativity and dedication to his craft. And, while the bandwidth issue with the images may be minor, it is definitely--at the least, being rude to do this.

    I'm not trying to be funny, but this is no different than a neighbor offering to pick something up at the market for you--and then coming over and siphoning gas from your tank to make the trip. It's just plan rude to do this.
  • I completely agree that this kind of blatant redirecting is kind of rude and definitely lacks creativity, period, but the pros are: 1. you are still getting money from the affiliate sales, 2. your product is getting exposure and 3. you are retaining the quality control of your product since the affiliate is not just coming up with some dingy website to promote your item (which in turn can make your product seem low grade).
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