You've seen them. The blogs that steal your content. The ones that copy and paste your entire post without even asking and without giving you any credit, as if they wrote it. The ones that steer traffic away from your blog, benefiting from your hard work, not their own. The Blog Post Stealers!
I happened to find a few pins on Pinterest last week that lead to many many discoveries of people taking my content and using it as their own. Some were just using my photos without giving me credit. One offender was none other than the website of the said "Bob Vila"! That was nuts. You'd think with a name that big you'd be careful. A big ooops for him! Other stealers just copied my posts word for word.
So what did I do? I first reported copyright problems to pinterest to have those pins removed. Then I went on a little rampage leaving emails and notes. I'm a little embarrassed to admit that some of them may not have been nice, but I was upset. Even if they had no ill intent, bloggers and writers need to know that it's not ok to steal. They need to understand that it is in fact stealing to use other's creative content as their own.
Has this happened to any of you bloggers out there yet?
What is the best way to handle this problem? Obviously the stealers are so profuse that it would be a full-time job trying to track them all down. Once your content is on the web, there are no Internet Police to stop people from using your creativity and photos and writing any way they please.
I knew this when I started blogging, but I still can't help getting angry when I see something of mine that was stolen. Maybe I just need to let it all go and not even care, but how does one do that?
I happened to find a few pins on Pinterest last week that lead to many many discoveries of people taking my content and using it as their own. Some were just using my photos without giving me credit. One offender was none other than the website of the said "Bob Vila"! That was nuts. You'd think with a name that big you'd be careful. A big ooops for him! Other stealers just copied my posts word for word.
This is my original image with a title and a watermark.
This is one website that stole it and my entire post. Notice how they cropped out the watermark. Those crafty little devils!
So what did I do? I first reported copyright problems to pinterest to have those pins removed. Then I went on a little rampage leaving emails and notes. I'm a little embarrassed to admit that some of them may not have been nice, but I was upset. Even if they had no ill intent, bloggers and writers need to know that it's not ok to steal. They need to understand that it is in fact stealing to use other's creative content as their own.
Has this happened to any of you bloggers out there yet?
What is the best way to handle this problem? Obviously the stealers are so profuse that it would be a full-time job trying to track them all down. Once your content is on the web, there are no Internet Police to stop people from using your creativity and photos and writing any way they please.
I knew this when I started blogging, but I still can't help getting angry when I see something of mine that was stolen. Maybe I just need to let it all go and not even care, but how does one do that?
That is disgusting, I do hope I'll never find my art stolen like that!
ReplyDeleteYou are justified to be upset! Those folks obviously WANTED to crop your watermark off of the picture. I don't know how any decent blogger can just out and out take your work and act like it is their idea and photography. I came across the Bob Vila blog just yesterday for the first time. It seemed like the only credit they gave to other publishers/bloggers was to put a small credit under a picture they used in a "list" of things to do. That seems to be a main format for them. Susan at "Between Naps On the Porch" did a big blog post on that subject (of plagerism) about a year ago...did you see it?
ReplyDeleteI haven't read that blog post about plagerism. Thanks for telling me about it. I'll go look it up!
DeleteTerribly sorry to read such a thing, really saddens me, especially when I know how much effort is put into pictures and posts and then someone just steal it from you.
ReplyDeleteWith this watermark that you put now, perhaps you should try to put your logo "Grow Creative" reduced and barely noticeable, or maybe just the letters "GC". When someone steals your picture again and cut her, on picture will be these small watermarks, which can prove that this image is actually yours. So far I've rarely put watermark, but from now on I'm going to put on images a couple of them barely visible, but I'll know where they are and so I can to stealer prove that the image is mine.
Yes, I do need to be better at watermarking my stuff. That does help some. Thanks for the reminder!
DeleteI'm not a blogger but I am a big-time Pinterest "pinner" and pin many photos from bloggers. I love it when there is a watermark as it makes me much more comfortable to have that in the pic. I do try and list the blog name if there is no watermark although I'm sure I sometimes forget. You have every right to be upset, especially with a "Bob Vila" website. I hope you get an apology from them at the very least!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad there are responsible pinners out there like you! That makes me feel better :)
DeleteYou are quite right to be upset, honestly these people....grrrrr! I always try and link back to the original (well, hopefully the original!) I must admit I tend to put some sneaky watermarks in my photos, like you say, you'll know where they are to prove they're yours. Suzy x
ReplyDeleteI do know you can file a DCMA takedown complaint against the site that stole your stuff. I think it's such a shame that people do this--we bloggers work hard at our art and writing, and stealing it for your own isn't okay!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info Martha! I was trying to find out what to actually do about these stealers- I'll have to look up the DCMA.
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