Proper Etiquette When Using Someone Elses Content
Posted by Alan Mater on Jul 6, 2009
This is a subject that I don’t think gets covered enough. If you run a blog, it’s important to keep it up to date, and having the time to write all of that content can be tough. It’s oftentimes much easier just to use someone elses article on your own blog.
This is perfectly acceptable, but there’s some guidelines you need to follow.
First, you need to consider the source of the content. Depending on where you’re getting the content from, there can be specific rules regarding duplicating the content and using it for your own use. Most article directories have this spelled out for you. However, if you decide to pull the content from a personal/business website, you may want to contact the owner to make sure they allow you to use it.
Most content owners are more than happy to allow you to use their content on your blog, but this comes with stipulations. For the most part, you’ll be required to cite the name of the author with a link back to the original source where you got the content from. With article directories, there’s usually code you can copy and paste that already includes this information.
If there are links within the content body, they usually have to stay intact. With article directories, there’s almost always an author resource box, and this will have to accompany the article on your site, otherwise you violate the copyright.
Now, I happen to know of some people who are very adament against people using their articles on other sites. That’s understandable as they put in a lot of time and effort to write high quality content for their site. It’s rightfully there’s, and they have the right to reject anyone from duplicating it.
I personally don’t have a problem with other people using my content as long as they keep all links intact and cite the reference from which they got the content from. That’s all I ask. I have had some problems with this in the past, as you can read from this post: I Hate Thieves! Blogger Steals My Content!
What actually prompted me to write about this is not from that post I just mentioned; although, it’s the same circumstance. You see, I was just made aware of another blog that published one of my articles and disregarded my policy and proper etiquette of content duplication.
I have already contacted the owner, and hopefully we can get this resolved without any legal action.
I just want to make everyone aware that it is a copyright violation to use someone elses content without proper citation, and in some cases, without the content owners approval. You can face legal action for disregarding this.
Of course, I’m not an attorney or anything, so use your own discretion in this matter. Regardless, there’s always going to be people who don’t follow the “rules” of the internet. Luckily for us they’re the minority. Don’t let this discourage you in any way from using other people’s content when you think your readers could find value in it. And, don’t let this deter you from creating high quality content of your own.
Tags: articles, author, blog, blogging, copyright, duplicate content, marketing, violation
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Hi, Alan:
I agree with your perspective and appreciate your attention to this issue. Content etiquette is important and more marketers need to realize there are standards of respect that should be followed. You have provided some great insight and suggestions.
StarrBizz.com
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Alan Mater
@GT Bulmer, Hi GT, thanks for the compliment. In my previous post I referred to, I stated about keeping an eye on this sort of thing with the help of Google Alerts. They have been a huge aide in spotting stuff like this, and I recommend that every marketer and online business owner uses them.
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is this the guy who stole your content last month? what happened to him and his blog?
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Alan Mater
@Glass Beads, No, it’s some other person now. I don’t know what happened to the other guy. My guess is he’s still blogging away.
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Hi Alan,
Very informative and meaningful post. Content stealers should realize that it is necessary to maintain the resource box, as authors creativity and hard work in involved in it.
Damodar
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Alan Mater
@Best Home Based Businesses, Hi Damodar, welcome to my blog. Agreed… it’s downright plagiarism as they’re pawning the content off as their own when they in fact didn’t write it.
Hope to see you here more often.
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HI Alan,
Nice article, first time I have seen something on the use of other peoples blogs/articles. I would never personally think of using someones work. I do use the articles supplied by Jeff every month but I spin these as much as I can. Having only a couple of hours a day to work makes writing difficult although I have found I quite enjoy it.
I also use Free Traffic System because of time constraints and am awaiting to see how my first article is performing.
Regards
Phil
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Alan Mater
@Phil, Jeff does excellent work, and good idea in re-writing them to make them more unique. I also find writing a bit difficult; although, the more you do it the easier it becomes. I’m sure you’ll find that the Free Traffic System works wonders and will have a positive impact on your backlink building.
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Hi Alan,
It’s hard to write everyday for blog and I am sure I am not able to keep up doing that. I usually do the same as Phil that using articles provide by Jeff S. and rewriting them. Once a while I am also willing to pay a ghost writer such as Jeff S. to write articles for me. Thanks for your advice and it’s good to know.
Thanks
Kha
Computer Work At Home’s last blog post..5 Computer Jobs Working At Home
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Alan Mater
@Computer Work At Home, Hi Kha, I know what you mean. Keeping up with a blog is time consuming plus writing other articles and doing everything else on top of that. I may have Jeff write some articles for me at some point as well if I feel I can’t keep up with everything.
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another guys stoles your content again? man, maybe you’re such a good writer that other people just steals you stuff.
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Alan Mater
@Glass Beads, I’d like to think that anyway.
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well you have to
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