What Do You Do When Someone Steals Your Content (Lorelle on WP)

Having been the target of copyright thieves, and working with writers, authors, and photographers on copyright protection and laws for over 25 years, I thought I’d talk a little about what to do when someone steals your content.

First, you noticed that I didn’t say “if” someone steals your content. That was on purpose. With the glut of information on the Internet, it’s now a matter of “when” not “if”.

The first step in learning about what you can do when someone steals your content is to know that it will happen, so the more prepared and informed you are, the better your chances of prevention and having a plan in place when they steal.

As the number of websites and blogs grow, especially splogs, the demand for content puts more pressure on website administrators, who may resort to stealing content in order to fill space on their sites and attract traffic. Website hijacking, as such an example, is on the rise. This is the blatant use of part or all of your site’s content on another site without permission. This is also a copyright violation and needs to be dealt with accordingly.

If your wallet, car, or purse is stolen, or your home robbed, you have the police, security, and insurance companies to call to help you recover your goods and get compensation. If your content is stolen, who can you turn to for help and aid?

Unfortunately, until an agency is established to defend your creative rights, most of the fight is up to you. Don’t be overwhelmed by the thought. I hope to make the process of recovering your stolen material simple to understand and easy to implement.

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