Netconcepts

Specialists in SEO, web dev, online marketing

Book A Free Strategy Call
  • About
    • Problems We Solve
    • Who We’re Not a fit for
  • Services
  • Results
  • Learn
    • Learning Center
    • Courses
    • Blog
    • Podcasts
  • Press
  • Contact

What to do about copyright infringement of your website?

They say that “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” But not if you’re a site owner! I’ve seen designs copied, content copied, even entire sites copied. It’s so easy for someone to “view source” and take whatever they like, without regard to copyright.

You can locate copyright infringers pretty easily with Copyscape if they’ve lifted some of your page copy. It’s much more difficult if they’ve limited their sticky fingers to just your design.

So far I’ve discovered by tip-off or by chance that our Netconcepts.com site design has been “pinched” at least 3 times. One of them was a fairly big company. More than a year and they finally stopped using our design, but the evidence of their misbehavior is permanently archived in the Wayback Machine (hint: pick a date in 2004 and compare with my company’s site). In fact, the Wayback Machine is quite useful in that it can serve as indisputable proof of who is the source and who is the copy: whichever site shows the design in use before the other is the source.

The way I see it, you have five options for dealing with an infringer:

  • Do nothing,
  • file a DMCA infringement notification with Google, to get them yanked out of Google,
  • contact the infringing company’s CEO,
  • “out” them on your blog 🙂
  • have your lawyer send them a nastygram.

I have to admit that we’ve often done nothing, just because we’re so busy. Eventually they’ll redesign (maybe pinching another design from somewhere else?). Of course that’s not a great option if you’re serious about protecting your IP (intellectual property) rights.

With our most recent infringer, we’ve taken a more active role. We spoke to their CEO. He asked for 2 months to redesign, which we’ve granted them.

So, what would you do? What’s the most legally correct response? The most pragmatic response?

lipo b12 injections side effects

Comments

The Art of SEO

Chapter 7:
Content Marketing

From the fundamentals of link building to the nuances of natural linking patterns, virality, and authority.

Get Free Chapter

Related Posts

Blog Images

Your Ultimate Guide to Google Penalties

When your website’s traffic suddenly takes a tumble and you don’t know why, it can be maddening. Why is this happening? It’s possible you’ve been hit with a Google penalty, or have come up against one of Google’s algorithm updates. If you’re wondering how Google penalties work and what you should do to avoid them, […]

Read More
Blog Images

Using Psychology to Boost Your Conversion Rate Optimization

Can a better understanding of the human brain help you get more conversions? Absolutely! Let’s look at how to incorporate some psychological concepts into your conversion rate strategy, along with some examples. Behavioral economics: humans are irrational What is behavioral economics and what does it have to do with conversion rates? Traditionally, economists believed that […]

Read More
Blog Images

How to Master Social Selling on LinkedIn

Social selling could be your key to securing new prospects and boosting your bottom line. When not done properly, however, social selling can also ruin your online presence and repel potential customers. So what is social selling, and why does your brand need it? More importantly, how do you master social selling? Let’s look at […]

Read More
As seen on
NBC ABC CBS Fox CW Haryard adweek foundr cnet
Capsule Bar Img
Will your content marketing turn readers into customers?

Download chapter 7 of The Art of SEO, Content Marketing

Download Now
netconcepts
  • submenu
    • About
    • Services
    • Problems We Solve
  • submenu
    • FAQ
    • Results
    • Who We’re Not a fit for
  • submenu
    • Case Studies
    • Testimonials
    • Learning Center
  • submenu
    • Courses
    • Blog
    • Podcasts
  • submenu
    • Press
    • Contact
netconcepts
© 2021-2022 Netconcepts. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Earnings Disclaimer Privacy Policy
Book

The Art of SEO

Chapter 7: Content Marketing

Yes, this is the book that Seth Godin referred to as “Hype-free, data-rich, and loaded with insight that’s essential reading for anyone who needs a deep understanding of SEO.”

Want to sharpen your SEO chops?...
start out with an appetizer before you dig into the main course!

Get Free Chapter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube