Filipino bloggers stealing entire article content from me how to report them?

@dennis and fathom
Guys you're both taking the thread out of topic (sure it's a legal topic but it's out of the confines of the OP's immediate problem). Vel has been given advice on what to do and all we're waiting for him/her to do is to take action and report said bloggers to Google's services.

For the curious though, vel is not the only one experiencing this problem: http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=1668050

Also to anyone feeling a sense of personal pride to respond the thread, please READ THE FULL THREAD BEFORE REPLYING. Comprehension much?

 

In my case I've lost over $2,500 last year according to my evaluation.

Never demanded that money, simply asked Google to close the accounts/penalize sites of copyright infringers, and it always worked.

However, since I am not American, I might be missing a few things....

But my understanding of the issue is as following... if:

#1) I have explicit copyright (above mentioned creative commons, no commercial and no derivative works).
#2) My site is listed in Google News, as such they crawl and cache my site within 2-3 minutes after a news article was posted.
#3) Google CAN easily compare my site's timestamps and compare them to infringer's site --since they have access to all this information-- after I submit my DMCA complaint.
#4) After all the information I've submitted (DMCA notice, post stamps of articles/news, archive.org web archive, in addition to their own data) Google REFUSES to remove the infringer's account from AdSense/Google search.
#5) Then I proceed with a lawsuit, naming:
a) Infringer as the person responsible for ACTUAL financial losses (say, aforementioned $2.5k).
b) Google responsible for not taking down the site on time as responsible for POTENTIAL losses, which could be even more than 2.5k.
#6) Then I should win the lawsuit and get both:
a) Financial losses back from the infringer (yeah, unlikely)
b) Potential losses from Google (more than likely!)
c) ... and in addition to that Google will get a punitive fine from the Fed for KNOWINGLY ignoring DMCA (if I can prove that they knew that my site was original, which I am sure I can, based on aforementioned Google News inclusion).
d) My attorney fees get refunded by either Infringer or Google.

So it's my understanding that for Google it's simply not worth it to undergo this process since it's impossible to win it, while for me it would be worth it since I'd make some cash back.

So.... am I missing anything here?

P.S. From my understanding the service provider (in this case - Google) is responsible for REFUSING to remove copyrighted information. This is why warez gets removed instantly from any host, because they know that they'll get punitive damages fees if they'll decide to keep it any longer on their network. And last ruling decisions with torrent sites (e.g. PirateBay) prove that hosts/service providers that only PROVIDE LINKS (= Google) to infringing sites are STILL responsible for the links they provide (even if they were not submitted by them but only hosted).

 

Actually, we're discussing the same exact topic = DMCA infringement and what can be done about it.

Also I'm in contact with OP via PM and he's following this topic, so you must be tripping mate.

 

As for me, if someone else steal my work off of me (newspaper and websites/blogs) I will not ponder on these people. They are just wasting my time and effort anyways. I believe there is karma, money earned in fast way will be out of their hands with just a blink in an eye.

If they earned money out of it, let it be. I will find other ways and means on how to earn money where people can't steal them and it's all mine. This is the risk of earning money online, risk of getting our work stolen by ruthless people who just lure to other's hard work for them to earn money. I have lost money worth $1,500-$2,000 due clients who did not pay me but published my work online after I submit them. If, I spend most of my time hunting these people down and try to get the money which they owe, I would not think I will still be working online and earn money until now. For sure, I will be frustrated and try to work in an office where I know my employer will pay me my daily wage. After days, weeks and months of asking them to pay me up, I have given up and look for avenues to regain what I have lost.

This is the path I have chosen, after several attempts and got no positive results I quit sending them emails and move on. Now, I tripled and even quadrupled the money I have lost during those times and I earn decent income now. This is what I called karma. One thing I know with the guy who did not pay me up, his website is not up until now. They lost thousands and maybe hundreds of thousands and yet the website they developed never become live. They came from different countries but I will not say where they from. But I learned a lot from them, and that which there is no amount of money can pay the value of lesson I learned from them.

Use your energy to find further avenues to earn more money, and leave those guys alone there is such thing as karma! They will be given their due in the right time.

 

WOW that is sad I feel for lorelei, lorelei had her site for 5 years and some new upstart is taking her content.

This is sad I have too much of a guilty conscience to be like thse stealers, how do they live with themselves.

its funny cause if someone took these crooks content they would be the first to cry foul, they are one sided.

I bet the money is what keeps them stealing content.

 

Thanks, I feel mad for your that you lost that much money, its not fair that these things happen to hardworking people.

I am already gathering the information that is useful and studying the situation and getting the proof.

 

Uhh no but I guess the "OP's immediate problem" part didn't have any weight (and seeing as you've already considered that I'm TRIPPING anything else pointing that out will be semantics). Carry on then.

 

Thing is, it takes 3-4 hours to submit a well written DMCA claim to Google Search and Google Adsense, effectively crippling the assholes that steal your content. So it's not rocket science, and it actually works.

Putting it simply, if someone steals your car, you can either let it go and shop for the next one, or report the stolen car to the police.

And God knows, if I can't do it myself, I'll go to the cops, because I hate people getting away with stuff I worked for.

 

Stop taking the topic off course then, if you've got nothing useful to add unlike some other folks in this thread...


...and regarding the OP's original question see my response a few pages back.

So yeah, stop tripping if u don't wanna fall.

 

DMCA isn't meant to protect you (the copyright holder) it's meant to protect innocent 3rd party from you... e.g. you attempting to claim damages from Google. e.g. search engines, hosts, and other content providers that have no clue about your rights so can't possibly guess who may or may not be infringing.

You wrongfully believe you have claims against everyone because some other person infringes (the guilty by association accusation). DMCA prevents you from doing that with registered designated agents.

DMCA also protects Google (all registered designated agents) from you making false claims and the alleged infringer claiming they wrongfully removed their information... in which case Google MUST replace that allegedly infringing information if you don't file suit in 14 business days.

As for Creative Commons... it isn't really doing anything that you don't already have without them.

 

So basically all that I said above is right? As in, if I do proceed with a lawsuit both the infringer AND the agent that caused further damages get zapped? ...and if they know that I am right they have to remove that copyrighted content?

Please note that the situation (as we're describing it) is that I find an infringing site and REPORT it to Google first of all, via proper channels.

And how about this:

?

 

Not true. What they are doing is very illegal, according to US copyright law. Original articles are afforded copyright protection the moment they are created, regardless of the medium by which they are published, and regardless of whether they are registered with the Copyright Office. See Copyright Basics

The Philippines is a signatory to several bilateral agreements with the US as well as international copyright conventions which extend this protection for US authors to the Philppines. See International Copyright Relations of the United States

I'm not suggesting you will be able to find recourse through the Philippine authorities. I've spent time there, and can assure you they have more important things to worry about; crimes much more serious that copyright infringement go unpunished due to extreme poverty, lax law enforcement, and corruption every day. But I do think it is important to clear up any misconception that what the blog pirates are doing is acceptable, let alone legal. If nothing else, when enough people understand and get fed up with their intellectual property being stolen in this way, a practical way of dealing with the problem might be developed.

Best success,
Neil

 

*points to this suggestion to file a DCMA on PAGE 3 while everyone was still hot on the heels of the OP*

 

Dude this thread is getting ridiculous... People stealing content will always exist on the Internet and there is absolutely nothing me or you could do about it. This guy's problem is that someone is making more money than him and that he is not able to build that income. I say we should all mind our own businesses and things will turn out right.

By the way, about the stupid part... You're right, you are probably smarter than me and I'm glad that I can chat with people that are more experienced and intelligent than me. I was thrilled to know that you managed to ban 7 sites from Google in one year! You must be the bomb. Maybe you should stop doing internet marketing and go work for CIA or something in their internet crime division!

This thread is nothing but internet marketing related. If it was then the thread would just be one clear question: "how can I block users from a specific country from entering my blog" or even "how do I report a website to Google for stealing content"

This guy goes on and on about stuff that have absolutely no value to anyone and he doesn't even take the time to provide evidence for what he is saying. Who cares how much money the content thief makes. Adsense penalizes websites for having duplicate content and anyone who calls himself an internet marketer knows that.

Go on doing your job dude and let that guy do whatever he thinks is best for his business. If you want to investigate something then it should be how to achieve what your "thief" is achieving as the matter in hand is clearly a financial one. And it is clear enough since you took (wasted) the time to investigate on how much this guy is making.

If you want my opinion stop wasting time chatting with us here and go do some work on your websites to increase your income so that you stop being jealous of people who are making more than you do no matter where they come from.

About banning traffic from the Philippines (about 100 million people). What would you do if, not 5-6, but 20-30 people from the US stole content from your website? Would you try and ban US traffic as well??

The only "solution" I can suggest, as my friend denniss already said, is to report them to Google who as stated above doesn't allow duplicate content to be used in websites that monetize through Adsense. I have never done it myself but as my friend and mentally superior denniss shared with us, it works 100%!

Again, good luck with your business!

 

LOL - Well you're in conflict with yourself in the US ... you can't file (since you don't need to register copyright - you can't file suit without registration).

Elsewhere the laws aren't as strict BUT you'll also never likely successful sue a 3rd party agent either like a host or search engine or content system... unless you can prove they conspired with the infringer (had knowledge of the infringement).

 

From the highlight part I am guessing you are a supporter of these thieves, you know what Ill speak up and i hope others share their stories as well this is what this forum is for buddy, Maybe you dont want me to say anything cause you support this stuff.

your reply is a bit fishy.

First of all I dont have any problem with anyone making more money than me! I aint a hater and I am not jealous, I actually am happy for those people making money and want to learn from them the right way.

These guys are making money stealing my content but yet you say I am jealous?

These guys are jealous they take my content and than have the nerve to post comments telling people not to click my ads and I just want hits.

you are basically saying tough luck let them take your content and make money you are just jealous that they are stealing your content and making money while you suffer.

Hmmm so basically I am jealous? what kind of reply is this?

I guarantee you would be pissed if someone stole your content and made money too.

 

I'm in no way supporting the people that are stealing your content. I also do believe that making money the way they do it is immoral and in my opinion it could never work long term. On the other hand, I AM actually saying tough luck. If there was like a button that by pressing it these people would get penalized, believe me, I would press it. BUT I would in no way take that much time dealing with this issue. I completely understand that you are pissed off with this situation and you are completely right when you are saying that I would be the same. It has happened to me before and this is exactly why I'm saying that you should get over it. You are just going to waste your time and get nowhere.

Again I will say that the only thing that you can do is to report them to Google and Adsense so that they get penalized for what they did and that's it. There is no way for you to get something more out of this guaranteed. By the way you know that them stealing your content has no effect on your website or content AT ALL right? Since you are the one that posted it first. Yours is original and theirs duplicate.

Yes, concerning US copyright law, your content is yours and no one is allowed to copy it but it is not worth either your time or your money to go after them legally. If as you are saying you are not jealous or anything like that just go submit a report to Google which takes about 5 minutes and then go on. I'm talking from experience. You shouldn't waste more time than this.

Again I want to highlight that in no way am I defending this kind of people. If I could make them disappear from the Internet I would do it right now 110%. I'm on your side and the only reason I'm saying what I'm saying is so that you don't waste your time.

The reason why my previous post had an ironic tone was because of the statement my friend denniss made about me being stupid. It had nothing to do with your issue.

One last question for denniss. Could you please share with us how much your success, i.e banning 7 websites, increased your revenue?

Best,
M

 

@Vel i think it is better if you can post here the site of a content stealer and your site. So that we can do some investigation. It is hard to discuss a problem without the proof and the stuff that can prove. We dont even know whats going on here if you dont put some evidence. I think it is ok if you can share here so that we can help you more. How can you solve a case without evidence?

 

Its ok I already got some answers from Fathom and Denniss and others.

I am focusing now on trying to gather up all the information and stuff so I can file the report.

I hope more people see this thread and come forward hopefully I helped them.

I seen other members here also had to do with some of these type crooks too .

 

HOPEFULLY some people will realize that it's NOT WORTH stealing from other people.

But yeah, what they do is 100% illegal TOS wise. I hope OP follows up with DMCA complaints to Google.