Imagine the mild surprise when you find not one, but a long laundry list of your articles copied, and stripped of credit mention.
I am always open to sharing what I know with people, especially in meaningful, intellectual exchanges that enrich both parties. While I believe in sharing my resources, I would also hope that the recipient would reciprocate with respect.
I was a little surprised when I chanced upon a local website that copied one of my articles, without attributing any credit mention of the authorship. What’s strange is that many other articles on this website had their authors mentioned specifically. Why the difference?
I went through page by page on this part of their website, and found, not one, but a long laundry list of articles reproduced verbatim, most of which had NO mention of the authorship, and only a few had a cursory pointer to the source.
Unlike those who bark and sue at the slightest instance, I assert my full copyright and authorship and simply ask that those who wish to reproduce the content contact me before posting. It is as simple as that. I don’t ask for money either, because I make my money the hard way – laboring.
While I am appreciative that someone found these articles useful enough to reproduce, the least the site owner could do was to ask for permission in writing (as stated on our site).
My nasty experience, as with many authors out there have equally discovered, propagation of news content is not necessarily a good thing. By keeping the content within one’s own site, it is easier to keep uncouth and runaway comments in check, and moderated. This is important in today’s trigger-happy world. It is a rational and sensible self-protection, no hard feelings.
The discrepancy in crediting other authors and not ours just seem a tad strange, to put it nicely. We may be small, but we are no less deserving of our authorship, and certainly deserving of full mention and linkback just as other authors do, a minute token of appreciation to point potential business at the content provider for sharing their insights and expertise.
I trust the moderator (who goes by the name “Avatar”, with no real name or identifiable details, although I have filed the necessary details) who posted the aforesaid content would be professional and respectful enough to remove the content promptly.
These are the infringements on that website (I found a 45, yes, FORTY-FIVE):
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/235-Tenure-and-youth-–-there-is-no-shortcut
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/340-Apprenticeship-and-the-mastery-of-life
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/369-Wisdom-of-parting-ways-with-customers
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/410-The-sales-and-service-blackhole
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/443-How-great-is-your-marketing-program-Think-fried-rice
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/485-3-ways-to-owning-content-like-the-big-shops
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/525-Chinese-painting-and-what-it-means-to-marketing
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/526-Met-a-Doppelgänger-We-may-not-be-unique
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/571-Publish-or-perish-–-the-new-world-of-careers-and-business
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/572-Creativity-and-innovation-–-may-the-child-lead-us
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/573-See-that-young-man-helping-someone-Recruit-him!
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/598-Your-brand-is-all-about-consumer-confidence
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/626-Pottery-and-the-skilled-hand-–-Communication-and-practice
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/627-Public-Relations-trends-and-beyond
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/706-Grooming-authentic-salespeople
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/707-Optimizing-paid-earned-and-owned-media
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/708-Toxic-employees-under-the-microscope
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/751-Business-sustainability-lessons-from-Taiwan
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/775-3-tips-to-avoid-failing-spectacularly-in-marketing-events
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/779-3-great-friends-and-the-value-of-customer-service
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/1052-Branding-and-marketing-and-baking-a-good-cake
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/1053-Self-respect-and-business-competitiveness
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/709-Success-comes-through-the-long-form
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/1220-Karate-etiquette-for-business-and-careers
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/1302-Innovation-through-the-abyss-of-challenges
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/1303-In-life-and-work-wait-your-turn-and-earn-it
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/1766-Leading-or-Branding-without-wing-mirrors
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/245-The-camera-does-not-make-the-photographer
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/778-Tip-on-getting-the-Chinese-input-back-on-the-Mac
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/942-Tips-for-simple-cuts-only-video-editing
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/1057-My-top-10-apps-for-PR-and-Communication
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/710-Smartphone-video-journalism-for-everyone
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/965-SEO-does-not-replace-quality-or-branding
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/940-Simple-and-effective-communication-for-tech-products
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/776-Conforming-WordPress-sites-to-display-non-Latin-characters
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/749-Open-source-apps-for-businesses-you-and-I
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/505-Analytics-Useful-but-don’t-go-overboard
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/503-Keeping-pace-with-the-changing-tech-media-scene
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/338-Fans-SEO-Focus-on-great-content-first
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/282-Organic-reach-and-media-ownership
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/261-Quality-content-for-Web-social-and-mobile
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/232-Ad-free-social-network-with-an-open-API-Try-App-net
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/228-Huge-web-graphics-It’s-the-Web-not-print!
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/941-Communicate-like-a-well-mannered-poet
- http://infringingdomain/showthread.php/486-Are-you-a-maybe-or-a-has-been
Seamus Phan has 32 years of professional experience. He is a professional speaker, marketing and branding consultant, book author, technologist, scientist, artist, and aviation enthusiast. Some articles are reproduced at McGallen & Bolden, where he is CTO and Head of Content. Connect on LinkedIn. ©1984-2018. All rights reserved.
