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21

Copyscape: Protect your Web Site

July 21, 2007 |

Plagiarism is a fact of life, especially for Web sites. Online content can be snatched by just plunking a few computer buttons. It’s illegal … it’s unethical … and it still happens.

I belong to the Virtual Assistants Networking Association. Web content theft is always an active topic among members in the online forum. The stories there are infuriating, frustrating and frankly, just plain depressing. As a writer, I get pretty hacked when someone steals my stuff. And yes, I do take it personally.

So don’t let it happen to you.

How can you see if your Web material has been hijacked? Use the following little gem I first learned about on the VANA forum. 

Copyscape is an online service that checks across the Web for plagiarism of your text. You can choose the free service, or you can sign up for more comprehensive offerings that are available for a nominal cost.

The free service is a powerful tool: You can find out what sites have stolen your material, see exactly how your material is used on the offending site, and even get a word count on the copied text. Copyscape highlights everything, so you’ll get a visual rundown that lets you see the problems immediately.

Not sure what constitutes plagiarism or not sure how to respond when your content is stolen? Check Copyscape’s online Resource Center and Guide to Responding to Plagiarism. Get the knowledge you’ll need to fight back.

Remember: Check each of your Web site’s pages on a regular schedule. I check my Web site once a month. Put a recurring task in your calendar software so you don’t forget. Or sign up for Copyscape’s fee-based Copysentry service that checks for you automatically.

Bottom line: Anybody can be plagiarized. But nobody has to put up with it.

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