Public Service Announcement:
Is Your Blog Being Scraped for Content?

The site in this image at right has been reposting Northdixie Designs content without my permission, as well as content from other blogs I have through Blogger.com.  And while I was there I saw quite a few other folk artist's blogs are being scraped.   So it would be worth it for you to check out what Google is presenting when you search for your name and your blog's name.  

The justification can be read here in this Google support forum conversation.  Apparently, if I didn't want my content re-published I shouldn't let readers subscribe through the RSS feed. Um, no. I use the RSS feed so that people can receive my posts in their email in-box, not because I want that content republished on the web. That's a bit like saying, 

"Hey, you left your car in the driveway, 
you're just asking for us to take a drive...."

This has happened before with other sites who usually post a small excerpt and then a small thumbnail and a link back to this site.  Not by permission then either.   But blogger dash index dot com site has been reposting my entire post along with full sized pictures.   I wonder if this is a result of Pinterest's growth ...because when I tried to pin my images from  blogger dash index dot com , yes indeed, you could pin my images from this site that reposted my content.


If your blog is being scrapedyou can do a little. Here are a few links that might help you:

Hyperarts on how to stop blog scraping


Start watermarking your pictures, kids!
Because they are traveling to places you never dreamed. 

Now it's my hope that this is a new blogger who doesn't know any better.   I hope so.  The right way to do things is to get people to opt-in and not to make them opt-out.   But all this leads to another question....
Why are these sites ranking so high?   
What's up, Google???

4 comments:

Susan At Glen Oaks Primitives said...

Hi, Dixie;
The post with your photo is saying page does not exist. Thought I'd tell you.
I'm glad I don't have to worry about this. I don't create original designs but I can feel the frustration of you and others who do and are copied by other bloggers or "designers". It goes to outright theft when they claim it as their own work. I'm sorry that you are going through this "scrapping".
Hugs,
Susan

Mary Ann Tate said...

Yes content of all 3 of my blogs is there when I do a search under their names. Very interesting. There is a link to remove your blog at the bottom of the page but I seem to be going around in circles:(

Dixie Redmond said...

Susan - I'm glad they seem to have taken down my images. At least I hope.

Mary Ann - I'm sorry. It's very frustrating, isn't it? I think talking about it on your blog helps. Do a post on all three blogs. that you have not authorized the republishing of your blog's content or pictures, and that use of images and content is only by express permission.

Also, make sure you are confirming that you are the author. Read the links I provided. It's a bit hard to understand, but you can do some things.

Unknown said...

A lot of good stuff to consider here Dixie. There's so much of this nonsense going on on the web. every pic I post now comes with a watermark. i don't know if it has helped. i haven't googled my site in some time... maybe i should be checking. thanks for the reminder!


"Do not let what you cannot do
keep you from doing what you can do."

John Wooden