Questions & Answers – My Website Text Was Stolen

Update Note: Since I added this post, I received an email back from my client wherein she noted that she used my suggestions of  writing a cordial email to the site owner that her content had been stolen.  In my client’s words: “The guy wrote back that it was his web developer who did it (yeah, right) and he had no idea.  He fired his web developer and updated his site. ”  My client, also found an online resource that address content theft in detail, and provids lots of good information.  If you have this problem then I encourage you to read not only what I wrote following, but check out this website: https://lorelle.wordpress.com/2006/04/10/what-do-you-do-when-someone-steals-your-content/

Question: “Some **** stole 3/4 of the verbiage from my website and used it on his.  Do I have any recourse?  I know there is a copyright thing at the bottom of the site. Can I go after him for some sort of infringement? Thanks.  Man am I heated!”

Answer:  First, and foremost, …. since your content and website was in place first, their duplication of content won’t hurt your ranking; though it will likely hurt theirs.  As for steps to deal with it, the cordial thing to do would be to contact the owner of the website by email and note that their content is very similar to your own, and in case it was added without their knowledge of its source (your website) you wanted to give them the opportunity to remove the text taken from your site before legal and other actions are pursued.  Note that it is possible that their website designer went to your site and “borrowed” your content without the owner’s knowledge.  For this reason, I would take the high road first.  And I would avoid calling them unless you are able to record the conversation since if legal action is needed then it is best to have documentation of what has been said/requested by you.  If you don’t get a response by email, then you may also want to send them a certified letter.

If these attempts fail, the next option is to contact the support department of every search engine where this website is listed (yahoo, google, bing) and file a complaint of content theft.  With each search engine/directory, there will be some type of customer complaint, customer service, or related department email option.

As for actual attorney involvement, I wouldn’t suggest going this route unless you can prove malicious intent and that damages has resulted from their use of your verbiage.  I am not a lawyer, so can’t say for certain the outcome, but considering that their theft of content will only hurt their ranking, and not affect yours, I don’t think you have to worry too much about their attempt at usurping your own efforts.