Everybody likes good online content, especially lazy copycats. In the digital world, “borrowing” content is not such an odd practice, so it could happen to anyone. It’s not time to get discouraged though, as there are many ways to protect your unique content from theft.
We are here to help you keep your original articles, images, product descriptions, whitepapers, and other website information intact. Let’s go through the most successful strategies to prevent content theft from your website.
Proven Tips and Tricks to Protect Your Original Content
Copycats are always on the hunt for valuable content for the sole purpose to use it as their own, without giving credit or attributing it to the original creator.
Oftentimes content theft is super hard to organically detect, and it requires further investigation.
In some cases, you never know if someone ripped you off. Or you simply might learn about a case many years later. That's why protecting your content is so important! Here are our top picks on how to prevent your textual and visual content from being stolen:
How to Prevent Image Theft from Your Site?
International Copyright laws are valid for all internet users. So if you are a visual creator - you have rights over your work, no matter if you mentioned it anywhere or not.
A common misconception copycats stand by is that if they found it on the internet - it is free to use. That’s not the case.
Truth is, nobody is allowed to use your visuals without your consent. Every online image, drawing, infographic, video, and photograph is copyright protected by default.
As a visual creator, you are the one who can permit your copyrighted work to be shared or modified on and off the web.
The artist is always entitled to get attribution unless copyrights were sold or negotiated in a written agreement.
What to Do if Your Images are Stolen?
We know that content theft is frustrating, especially when it happens to you. But before you rush to defend yourself in the courtroom, remember that trials are expensive and there are faster and easier ways to solve the issue.
For a start, get in touch with the person/company who plagiarized your image(s) and ask them to take it down. Approach with concern, present your case and request credit or/and compensation. This is a good strategy as it works solid 90% of the time.
While most copyright violators who benefit from stolen artwork are scared of being called out on their actions, others couldn't care less. So if the plagiarist refuses to cooperate, it is time to signal the authorities and the DMCA.
Protecting Your Artwork
Find below a list of solutions that will help you protect your images from copycats:
Watermark visual content
Add a copyright notice to images
Add DMCA badge on your website
Disable the option of right-clicking
Assemble a gallery (avoid separate photos)
How to Protect the Written Content on Your Website?
Content thieves love good content. So if you have quality information displayed on your site, better beware. Copycats would not think twice before they illegally copy your blog posts, website content, or product descriptions, without consent from your side.
And while online Copyright laws are also valid for textual content, you may take legal actions against violators only if a big portion of the text is being stolen.
That means other sites and users are allowed to partially use your headings and small excerpts without giving credit.
What to Do if Your Online Content Gets Stolen?
Unlike images (that often have watermarks), texts are way much easier to snatch and disguise. Thanks to minimal edits and paraphrasing, sometimes it’s hard to allocate stolen content or prove you are the original creator.
If you happen to allocate your texts on another site, the first thing you need to do is alert the website owner! Management is not always aware of what is being posted, where content comes from, or how adequate their content writers are.
Sometimes a plagiarist might be crazy about your content and steal it on purpose, but other times it's just a case of misunderstanding. In both situations, you have the authority to speak up, demand the content be taken down, or find a resolution for both parties.
In case the website that copied your content is not cooperating, it's damaging your reputation or making money by ripping you off - it's time you take legal actions against it.
Protecting Your Text Content
Here is what you can do to prevent online content theft of your texts and articles:
As a provider of quality authentic content, we want our followers and clients to feel safe and secure for their business. That said, the Skribu Digital team is always here for you if you have any further questions on how to protect your website from copycats.
Send us a message or leave a comment down below!
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