Facebook Pixel
Join our Facebook Community

Using Other People’s Content

Posted By Darren Rowse 14th of September 2005 Writing Content 0 Comments

Here is a free tip.

If you’re going to IM me and ask me to look at your blog – don’t fill it with stolen content.

I’m going to make this as clear as possible.

If you are going to use other people’s content to your site:

– ALWAYS reveal your sources. Give a link to your source if it is an online source. If its not attribute it by giving the author and where it was published.

– NEVER quote full articles from others unless you have obtained their permission.

If you don’t do this you run the risk of being sued, having people report you to the search engines for de-listing, having people report you to your advertisers to be banned from their programs and you’ll end up being a very unpopular blogger and will be exposed and shamed publicly.

If you have grand visions of making masses of money through using other people’s content then you’re delusional. Check out all the top lists of blogs that are doing big traffic and you’ll find that almost all of them are completely original content.

Stealing others content is plain stupid. Doing it and letting me know about it is even stupider. Doing it, letting me know about it and then not changing your ways is completely idiotic.

End of Rant.

further reading – A quick guide to referencing

About Darren Rowse
Darren Rowse is the founder and editor of ProBlogger Blog Tips and Digital Photography School. Learn more about him here and connect with him on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Comments
  1. […] Darren Rowse at ProBlogger who’s received 50 comments on his post as of this writing. […]

  2. […] What a wild and whacky week it’s been in the blogosphere. The laidback style of life that is professional blogging errupted this week when the issue of content theft and referencing was raised – here, here, here and here. […]

  3. Sam Freedom says: 09/27/2005 at 4:36 pm

    Darren, you did say it was a rant, so it must have at least felt good, but I’d be more interested in effectiveness. Who do you think you’re ranting to? People who already agree with you. The ones who steal religiously will never read what you just wrote and wouldn’t care anyways.

    And for that matter, it completely leaves the realm of objectivity because there are *grey* areas that might never occur to average minds in which otherwise good people can be accused of doing something illicit. If that were the case, then your witch hunt would be just as much of a crime as the alleged incident.

    Sam
    the coolest guy on the planet

  4. Internet business is a very creative work, isn’t it ?
    I’m always careful to be original and creative when I make my website and blog. But it’s hard work for me…

  5. Nice tips Dude!
    Simple but Important.
    Thanks.

A Practical Podcast… to Help You Build a Better Blog

The ProBlogger Podcast

A Practical Podcast…

Close
Open