Copyscape is the best system invented to track copied content online but how can we prove the content we are buying from a small number of writers are not copied from a book, current or old. What are the chances of this happening?
You really can't but if it passes copy scape it shouldn't matter to much. Not to mention often copying content from a book would be harder than typing it yourself.
Not a valid point really. It does matter. If you publish content online that's from a print book protected by copyright, you're the one who's going to get in trouble with the publisher (and a print publisher is probably even more likely to go after infringing parties in court than smaller independent Web writers). This is one of many reasons to stick to professionals with proven track records, or those referred by others you trust.
This is the question you're asking: "how can we prove the content we are buying from a small number of writers are not copied from a book, current or old?" When you ask a question about proof, you are asking a legal question. Legal questions pertain to what might or might not happen in a litigation. What might or might not happen in a litigation concerning a copyright violation is a complex matter that depends upon many variables, none of which you defined in your post. So one very practical solution to your question is to put a clause into your contract with your writers specifying their acceptance of your term disallowing all content copied from a book, current or old. What you would then have is a piece of evidence that could be used in a litigation to support your case in the extremely unlikely event that you actually would ever go to court over an issue like this one.
Hi, When I said "Valid Point" I was refering to this bit: Not to mention often copying content from a book would be harder than typing it yourself.
Thank you for your points and answers. I have bought loads of bulk articles and then i think to myself how do these writers write all this and sell it at a cheap price.
Some old books have expired copyrights. So there wouldn't be any legal problem with copying those. One can also be much more liberal when excerpting from them. But much information will probably be outdated and will need to be revised.
You make a very good point there. I once knew someone who was copying out of books as they thought that they would be writing unique content as it was not copied of the internet, needless to say eventually a complaint was made against them and appropriate action was taken. Quite a costly experience if I remember correctly. Its not hard to create unique content or find someone professional to do this for you, yet people still copy and paste others work all the time. Its a real shame.
Yea true.. A publisher will go behind if he/she finds the articles are oopy pasted. He has a proof that the book was published on XYZ date and he owns the rights.. Many a times its difficult for Online writers to prove he was the right content provider. Hence I feel its important to make sure to hire good people and also important for writers to work with good clients. On my journey towards this stage.. I learn't one thing...My Quality only counts if my articles are viewed by good clients...