Holy Moly !  That makes me sick and upset.  I am sorry that happened.  I can only imagine the feeling of reading that post.  I am no techie so I cannot provide info about how the whole thing works and to be honest, I dont understand the "reblog" idea.  I know there has been a ton of posts about it but I have not taken the time to read them as of yet...

Am very interested to see how this plays out for you.   Dont let it get to you too much though... is not worth it.  At least you caught it early on...  The scary thing though is how much more this is happening and we will never know about it.  I take it the only way you know is for the google alert, correct ?

Carole--Interesting questions...I don't have answers for you but do know that prior to blogging I would submit articles to Ezine-type services to allow for reposting of my writings. Most people followed the rules of giving credit but some did not. It didn't hurt my business or website as most people tend to be fair...sometimes it is just an honest mistake. Maybe others have better ideas and answers for you. :)

Tell me how you get notices that your blogs are being repeated?  I have been blogging for four years and try to remember to put a "all rights reserved" on the bottom - but someimes forget.

Someone once sent me another website that has my actual website copied - but their name on it.

Hi Carol...Wow I had no idea people on AR were stealing material from you and us, bad thing, Can you not also report them to the AR Gods? As far as having to post in the article that it is copy righted that is only a warning, anything you or anyone writes belongs to them, nobody can legally use someone Else's material without giving them credit for the material and as you point out get permission.

I am a firm believer for every negative reaction there is a positive reaction, anyone rewriting your material is saying you are the expert or source of the material.

Oh...photos are included as being the exclusive property and belonging to the person that took the photo.

How did you set up Google to automatically notify you of articles written by you? Another Blog post to follow?

Cheers, have a great weekend! Thanks for sharing your story with us all.

Carole, you are such a person of good character and high ethics I feel bad for you with these plagiarism activities. It definitely is a danger with the re-blog function which seems to escape the awareness of others that use it so easily.

Carole, forget about notifying Google.  Notify your attorney.  A nice cease and desist letter works wonders.

I'm so sorry this has happened to you.   You know what really grinds me?  YOU write such wonderful articles that they catch the attention of thieves, as well as consumers and others.  Darn those thieves.  (Yes, that is what they are..)  Taking someone elses content without permission is stealing.  No need to sugarcoat it with fancy words.

Edit:  Holy Cow.  Did you read on that site that someone is the author of a book?

I hope to heck that person doesn't use YOUR words for the next book.

Hi Carole~  You may want to email or call Lenn Harley -- she has actually filed lawsuits for plagiarism and succeeded.  She also may know about the RSS feed issue -- while someone can "use" material - I doubt that means they can steal it -- this doesn't make any logical sense to me.

Hello Carole - see if I follow you here...

A competitor uses your written copyrighted work to attrack business without giving you credit?- who is getting the rewards/future income from this re-blogging ? ( unless there is a referral fee:)

If this is an example of reblogging, it doesn't sound positive.

Sincerely,

Grace

I had on of my post pop up in a google alert this week.  The person had given me credit for the re-blog post but they used the post to advertise their ghost writing services.  I let it stand but it wasn't the intent of the blog and they didn't get any comments on their post so obviously no one one else was paying attention to it.

It sounds to me as if this isn't a reblogging issue, but rather a "stealing a blog" issue.  What nerve that lady has, and to be so BOLD about it?  Wow. I agree with Joan...call or email Lenn Harley, AND your attorney. 

I guess I should read the reasons for re-blogging because your experience makes it sound like a not so good thing.

One more thing....if this is an AR member, I would report her ASAP.  They will put the skids to her so quick her head will spin :)  (Can you tell I am having a hormone shortage today?)...let me at this woman, LOL

Oh what a piss off eh?  I haven't been clear on the re-blogging either and deactivated my button from the beginning.........i'm sure theres something positive to it - just haven't found it yet.....

Congratulations on your Featured post Carole. A great topic which you have unfortunately had to deal with.

Carole - I have heard it all lately - from the rss thing to the if you change 10% its not plagarism to the if its on the internet its free.  I have learned that those that know what they are doing are nasty and defensive so I will now skip the contacting them part and they will just get the legal letter.  Those that truly are misinformed are generally extremely apologetic and want to know how to make it right.

Hi Carole - My understanding of an RSS feed is that it makes it easier for people to gather and read content, but in no way does it give them a right or license to republish. I'm glad to hear that you were so diligent with your follow-up on this. It's definitely an issue that we all need to be more aware of.

Right now I only allow listings to be reblogged.  Too many issues, I want to know where it is so I can keep in touch with commenters.  Also, don't like that it can be edited. 

Good luck with all of this.  My most stupid case for material theft was just a plain guy on a message board using my stats without credit or attribution. 

I have never really had as big of a problem as this, LUCKILY!

Keep us updated, K?

Stealing and Plagiarism are both serious offenses.  We should all take it seriously, if you want it to stop, you need to go to your attorney.  Be careful, your X out and line through her name and site didn't do much to hide the identity of the other party.  Don't let a small mistake like that weaken your case against her.  Good luck.

RSS is Real Simple Syndication, not Real Simple Stealing.

I am permitting reBlogging for my posts because I know that AR articles are already published in at least 2-3 other locations as well as my own blogs.  Just more syndication IMO. 

As for copy and paste and that sounds like what this was if the article was published in it's entirety, that's a clear violation of your copyright. 

I just settled one yesterday for $3,500. 

I make them pay.

Wowzers, I am with Lenn!  Sue the pants off of her - that is ridiculous!

I would definitely make sure this person does not continue to steal your articles and follow up. She will thing twice next time once, and if, she realizes this is a big deal and not cool! Stay calm...don't let it get the best of you. You have a lot of support here....

Sorry to hear that this is such a pervasive problem! Honest people tend to trust other people and expect the same from others.  Hope you can resolve this situation quickly.

Wow, it seems some people aren't interested in Blogging for the reasons I am.  It is fun to write and connect with people on line.  I think that original content will bring people to me for who I am and what my team offers as OURSELVES!  I guess it really is just about money for many.  I am sorry you have had this issue.  Wondering......how do you set up the google alerts?  I keep hearing about them in posts, but don't know how.

 Hi Carole... my opinion on plagarized stuff is to give them more exposure than they expected. I think I told you about a character from Active Rain who set up a group on Facebook under the name The Art Of Marketing You.

 Aside from publicly commenting about it on every site/blog he had online I did what Lenn suggest you do, make them pay!!!

Carole~ It is hard to believe that people are doing that and then not even giving you the credit! I am not sure about the re-post thing.....

I uncheck the reblog box ....at least until I know what's going on....as you ...I've had trouble with people using my stuff on their website.

What do we do if on a Russian site :)

Hi Carole,  Gosh, it seems like this is fast becoming quite a problem.  So much of it is technical and so easily done but a consttant threat  to us all !

I know of no way to stop this. My content has been copied and I have wrongfully been accused of copying.

In fact, today I noticed points were removed from AR - when I clicked on View Guidelines it opened a window that read - "Points will only be awarded for your original content submissions." Interestingly the post is a monthly closed stat report for an area within one of the largest cities I serve.  These reports take me several hours to prepare from data extracted from the MLS.  

Point being is that we know the rules and guidelines and follow them and the powers that be have the control to do what they will do.  People can take away well deserved points for original content or steal original content and claim it as their own. How can we stop that from happening? How do we stop earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, lightening ....you are right - we can't. It is nature being and doing what nature does ... just as people will be who they are and do what they do.  I try not to let any of it get to me and hold faith that truth always prevails. 

Unbelievable Carole! I believe in Karma so they will get theirs in the end.  How hard is it to credit someone.  I feel like my clients will respect me for finding and knowing good information.  I do not have to be the one who writes it.

Wow! I learn omething every day around this place. It's hard enough to always come up with something to post. Now stealing is rampant!

Thanks for sharing this, Carole.

Does anyone know what kind of attorney a person should use for this type of thing?

Carole,

Flat-out plagiarism seems to be getting more outrageous by the day. What's really weird is that when some of these abusers are notified about it they think it's okay to do so.

Oh, Carole- I'm so sorry. I clicked on the link and was horrified, expecting that your blog would have a tiny mention of you somewhere, instead of prominently. Not what were clearly your words being consumed and presented without YOU somewhere. Nope, that's not good- I'd pull the plug after taking Lenn's advice.

I don't like the reblogging thing either.  I guess even before now someone could have blocked and copied anything I or anyone had written, but now the reblogging button seems to legitimize it.  I have a feeling that few people bother to read the rules and restrictions (and some just don't care).

I read a comment the other day (can't find it now) where someone had said they were a newbie and wondered where to start.  They didn't know if they could write good posts and they didn't know how to get enough posts to ever be in the first page for their area.  One commenter said that they could get a head start on points by reblogging other posts that they found interesting - no warning that attribution must be given.

This could be a clear temptation to newbies to just gather points from someone else's hard work.  Maybe notice of any reblogged post should be sent to the original blogger, so they can approve and refuse permission.

I guess I am glad that I don't think my posts are worth stealing. Maybe one day I will be at that level.

Carole,

  I have reblogged 2 other members posts now and just added my comments above. I certainly see the advantages but as in your case there is the possibility that some people will misuse the feature.  Sadly there are those who are always looking to take others possessions and claim them as their own.  They should be punished!

Certainly reblogging wasn't intended to be this way.  I would be furious if I were you.

Hi Carole...Oh, you are so much kinder and much more patient than I would have been.

I would have checked to see what type of legal recourse I had after she refused to remove the post.  I would have used whatever it took to make her regret doing that.  She may well be stealing from others also.

You had to waste too much time and effort to get her to comply and then she really got off without any repercussions.  Not fair.

Kate

Chris, I've had many articles and blogs reposted and most have given me credit...but this is really over the top.  I just had a blog reposted with my name from another blogger who had embedded links inside my post to demonic sites!  I don't know what is going on here....I reported them but by that time, they had taken it down.  I have many Google Alerts set up so I can see what's going on in the world of Feng Shui--and that is how I've been finding them.

Teri, I have lots of articles on Ezines that have been reposted but given me credit--never something where they blatantly put their name as author and direct it to THEIR site--and blame me?  It's almost unbelievable.

Greg, You just have to create a Google Account--it's free.  They allow you to set up as many "alerts" as you want---one of mine is my name, one is simply "Feng Shui" and some are more specific. It's easy to do and you'll see when anything you've written comes up.

Fred, This person is not on AR as far as I know.  They are apparently in the "business" of using other people's works to build their site and get you to buy their book.  I do know what goes around comes around but they don't even admit to any wrongdoing---they are not permitted by law to use my works or anyone elses--I have a feeling with these practices they will be taken offline.

Gary, I do believe if used the right way re-blogging can certainly help get your name out--but there are dangers as well.  Mine are left unchecked but people take my posts anyway.  And I'm getting SO tired of doing all the work to report them (which I do if they don't give me credit).

Kris, I believe (although I am not sure) that this person was having a difficult time selling the book---and hired someone to get the "stats" up to get people there.  Which stealing (I know it is!) seems to accomplish.  I've been having difficulties so much recently with reposts of my blogs and it's taking me more and more time to try and correct it.  Attorneys cost money---if anyone wants to do this on a contingency basis on this I would do it as much as I don't like disharmony.

Joan, Thank you for your suggestions, I wasn't aware this was so widespread but it is now so BLATANT---Of course we can use RSS feeds--it doesn't mean someone can try to pass off our work as their own.

Grace, I don't think this was a re-blog, I have that box unchecked.  There are just people that want to add content to their site and are too lazy to write their own.  I have not been able to find ONE blog on that site that the person who is taking credit actually wrote.  They are desperate to sell their book it seems.

This is making me angry. We just found someone stealing our content and another AR's content last week. They are now banned from AR and Wordpress and took down the stolen content from their site finally but what a hassle to go through. I really don't understand why people don't 'get this'.

To all, an easy way to check for stolen content is to google some of your writing with quotes around it or use copyscape.com or google alerts for your name.

Good luck and sorry this happened to you.

Having an RSS feed in no way excuses them from honoring your copyright.  I would go the Lenn Harley way and let the seconf contact be your copyright attorney (get a referral from Lenn).  Not Google, not them again.  A terse note for the first contact, followed by an attorney charging for time and PITA factor.  That's it. 

I do not allow the re-blogging of my AR posts. I have and will continue to allow people who ask me to use my posts as long as they give me credit and a simple backlink; to me that is not much to ask and I would be more than willing to do that for someone else. I realize that putting stuff on the internet means it is out there forever and though you may be able to pursue some sort of legal action, that is daunting and the plagiarizers know it. I hope you are able to get this resolved and I think it sucks stinks that so much of anyone's energy has to be put into such a thing.

Carole - Personally, I detest the majority of lawsuits that go on in this nation.  That said, I also detest others taking somebody's work and pawning it off as if it were their own.  I allow re-blogging and until it's misused, will be fine with it.  When it is misused, when it goes against the grain of conduct becoming to any Professional, I'll pick up the phone and get them on the horn.  I haven't found too many who copy my crap stuff... yet when that occurs, we'll have a little heart to heart.

Can I re-blog this article;-)

All of me recent posts (and some really stink) have a "re-blog" pencil thing on them.  How can I tell who is re-blogging them?

I don't understand the difference between plagiarism and "re-blogging".  How can you tell peole for a couple of years "original content only", and then let them use other people's blog posts.

I don't get it.

Why would someone get points for re-blogging my post?  I SO don't get it.

I can't believe how dumb people are especially with Google Alerts and Copyscape making it fairly easy to discover plagiarism.  And to say that RSS gives someone permission to use your material is beyond stupid.  Take Lenn's advice, make them pay!

Carole, It must have been shocking to find that out.  I am sorry this has happened to you.  What seems worse to me is that when you notified the person, they did not even have the courtesy to respond to you!!! 

I personally feel that with all of these techie rules to keep up with, some mistakes are going to happen.  I am sure that I have made some and will continue to.  But when I find out about them, I really do my best to fix them!!!

I think at this point you may have to go with a cease and desist and then a lawsuit if they don't comply. 

I found the setting to remove the reblog feature.  Thanks for posting this.  I've been away for a couple of weeks and this post helped me catch up.

Carole, I guess on the bright side is that "imitation is the highest form of flattery." I know, I know, then we get into thievery. Yuk and I'm sorry that's happened to you.

Is there a way to know whether or not we've been reblogged? How do we tell? I had better remove them? I don't know.

Later in the rain~Deb

Cindy, I have no problems if the person gives me credit....and doesn't embed links to horrible sites in my posts.  But she made this sound like it was written by HER to promote a book....that's so low.

Elizabeth, I am not one for lawsuits but from what I can see, ALL the posts on their are written by someone else.  It's appalling and she has got to be kidding to tell me to take down my RSS feed. To think a simple "I'm sorry" and removing it would have done wonders.

*That's what my daughter said :)  I'm not going to keep having to ask someone to stop taking my posts, I think I am more upset that she didn't admit to any wrongdoing and left it up!

Jason, It CAN be a good thing when used by the right people.  It can really get your name "out there."  This is not the case, unfortunately....and not something I want to keep going through.

Liz, It wasn't checked....and there's been theft for years but never this boldly.  I think she has no clue of the consequences and doesn't seem to care.

Gary, Thank you for stopping back.  I hope this helps other people to watch out for their work being copied---I am so glad I have those alerts.

Steve, You should have seen her email, blaming ME for having an RSS feed.  She has so many things on that site (Digg, technorati and about 7 others).  It appears to her I cannot blog and have an RSS?  How absurd.

John, Thats exactly my understanding of it too.  I believe what she meant was "if you don't want THIS SITE to pick up your blog, remove your feed.

Renee, Thank you, I will.  With another post it took me forever to get it removed but it finally was.  She could have said she was sorry and removed it, it's what an upstanding person would do.

Anna, Thank you for your advice.  I thought about it and wondered and as far as I could see, I am reposting my own original blog--with someone else's edits.

I have re-blogged one blog so far and my comment on why I thought it was valuable info was at the top.  The blog and the author came up in its entirety ( & I had told her).  Still it was a little wierd to have it come up under my blogs and then people commenting to me on how well I had done in the "staging". It is still confusing to readers.

I just accidentally erased the next ten or twelve comments I responded to :(  I will be back later to answer everyone and I thank you so MUCH for your support, kind words and advice!

Carole... I know that you mentioned this in that post of mine...  it does make me sick, especially when it's word for word... and then to say that you gave permission, if you have the RSS feed?  please....  it was like me telling my teacher that the dog ate my homework. It didn't work... lol

In any case.... I don't mind the reblogging, but for them to take your name out and use their name?  What needs to happen is that more people are made an example of this stuff and fined lots of money... and for their name to be plastered on the net.  I need to go in and change up some of my Google alerts... and I guess to register for copyscape?   thanks for the post

I didn't have time to read all the comments, Carole, so perhaps someone has already mentioned this...  In case not, try copyscape.com.  I use it periodically, and you can usually tell when I find something because I go through a few weeks of posting the copyscape logo on every post.  lol.  It is very maddening when someone steals your intellectual property.  I, too, have had whole posts stolen - by someone I knew and liked, as a matter of fact.

Crooks and skallewags,

People have no right to steal your words and palm them off as their own.  What is the world coming to when you blog is peddled off as their own.  That is one of the problems with the internet in that it allows so much access and some people take advantage of that fact.

Gosh, this is news to me.  I never put the disclaimer at the bottom of my blogs here.  Thanks for the great info.

Carole,

Sorry to hear about this issue.  I did learn something ....Google Alerts.

Carol, correct me if I am wrong:

You posted on AR

Your blog got picked up by someone who stole your content.

They are NOT on activerain

That is not re-blogging, that is splogging.

Re-blogging is ONLY for here on AR, not outside, private blogs that is stealing.

Re-blogging gives credit to the author.

I went to the site, and it looks like a splog site to me. Where they are picking up content for their blog. I have had it happen to me from my outside blog and yes I get the Google Alert and find it.

Let me know if I am missing something, it is early here and haven't had my coffee.

Carole...I can understand why you would be upset..and innocent mistake that was not!

I don't know how I feel about re-blogging yet?

I'm okay with reblogging although I wish it was more clear that it was the original users post. This person who nabbed and used your writings seems to be okay with laziness and stealing!! Love Google Alerts!!

Also, that person wrote a book?  Are your writings in that eBook??? Scary, huh? That wouldn't come up in a Google Alert, so you may want to look!!

Carole,

I really don't know about this reblogging thing and what benefits it has...I'm not allowing every post I put up to reblogged and that's because I just don't want certain content out there posted twice...it all depends on the post I'm writing about.

Email received this morning from the above party said (in a much kinder language) that the post had been removed...and to let her know if any of my other blogs are up there.  Which leads me to believe she has stolen so many times she can't keep track.  I also received MANY private emails, some wishing me well (Thank you!!) and 3 others who said she had done the same thing to THEM.  They didn't know they had legal recourse and were thrilled to hear that they do!  One actually said the book contains nothing you can't find online for free and this person suspects at least part of it was taken from other peoples work.  I have the feeling that this could get very expensive---and ruin a name which you can't replace.

Lenn, Thank you so much for stopping in and letting us all know that we can and should take legal action.  I'm very grateful to know and so are the three other Feng Shui Consultants who emailed me.  This shouldn't be allowed and I spend so much time reporting it where there ends up being a cache of it anyway.

Courtney, Thank you for your kind words, this has been happening to me so often lately it just gets tiring.  I'm glad to know there are other things I can do...such as letting someone else handle it.

Terrie, I appreciate everyones support so much, it is not only helping me, it is helping other people who have sent me emails and are tired too of having their work taken.

Lynn, Thank you, I didn't realize what a huge problem it's become.  I wish there ware another way to stop it but for now, there isn't.

Anna, I left a message above on how to set up Google Alerts, it's easy and free.  I got one today that reminded me my favorite singer is playing :)

Vickie, Some people are so kind to ask me if they can post a blog I've done--with credit to me...Then there are the others :(

Sally, Please don't tell me they're doing this to your posts...in Russia?   I would have no clue how to fight that one, I didn't even know what to do about this one until I posted.

Bill, According to my emails and past experiences, it's more rampant then I would have thought...putting a copyright on them do not deter these people

Marti, I didn't know someone would dare to start up with you....and your business name!  I don't blame you for getting LOUD but I do feel awful that this is so rampant.  These other consultants have documented proof of what she did to them and yes, they are reading Activerain!