Constant Content

I had stopped posting content here for quite a while after the gigantic article theft issue a while back. I decided to try again and uploaded a new article a few days ago and it has already been stolen by ReutersPost. I know there were quite a few of us who reported this site to Google yet its still up. How on earth are they still stealing articles? Isn't there something that can be done?

Yeah, this guy needs to be shut down. Another thread said that CC is working to get this site shutdown. It's frustrating though that the guy continues despite all of the complaints filed against him. I reported my content stolen via Google. It was removed. And voila, there it is again

What about reporting the guy's ISP? He appears to be based in a very foreign country, as I can't even pronounce the city he's in. Will foreign ISP's shut down websites like North American ones will?

Because the majority of my content is finance related, I don't feel comfortable using CC anymore until ReutersPost is no longer a threat. I am going right now to pull my finance articles out of the queue. I hate to do it, but I'm not going to post content only to have it stolen immediately afterward. This guy obviously watches CC and just takes new content as it gets approved on the site.

I think he's using an RSS feed.

I agree, I think he must be scraping - probably an autoblog. I may have to check out the site, though I think I am safe if it is just finace-related articles he is pilfering.

http://www.constant-content.com/forum/v ... =2&t=19163 follow the instructions in this thread to complain to Google. It the mean time maybe put your articles in a related but non-finance section.

Perhaps contact the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). They might have some advice.

I appreciate the link, but I've already complained to Google--as did several others here. Google didn't do anything. I had heard that they were fantastic about shutting down thieves, so I had high hopes that the site would go down.

I'm hoping CC can work this out. I enjoy writing here, but finance and real estate are my specialties. I'm eager to post articles but I'm afraid to. I haven't emailed support yet. Perhaps I should?

Oh, and does anyone have a link to the thread about CC working to get ReutersPost shut down?

Right now I'm going with Plan B.

I'm assuming that all of the work on Reuterspost is stolen content. I'm tracking down and locating the original owners of the content and sending off mails letting them know what happened and giving the link to complain to Google. I am also doing that for every CC writer whose stolen content I find on the site. So if you already know they have an article of yours, I'm sorry, I'm just trying to be thorough.

The hope is that if enough people complain, Google will have to do something.

Well, I just spent the past hour notifying all the CC writers whose content I found on ReutersPost. If those of us with stolen work can't get the site taken down and CC can't get the site taken down, then what?

I just did a bit of digging, and here's what I found out.

Reuterspost is registered with active-domain.com. Their website doesn't let you report copyright infringement in a handy little form like other responsible domain registrars - grrrr! - but they do mention unlawful activities in their Domain Registration Agreement.

"Active-Domain reserves the right to suspend, cancel, transfer or modify your domain name registration or suspend, cancel or modify other services we provide in the event (a) you materially breach this Agreement (including the Dispute Policy) and do not cure such breach within thirty (30) days of notice by us, (b) you use the domain name registered to you to send unsolicited commercial advertisements in contradiction to either applicable laws or customary acceptable usage policies of the Internet, (c) you use your domain name in connection with unlawful activity".

Copyright infringement is an unlawful activity. If Google doesn't respond to your complaints, try contacting Active-Domain. Tell them that reuterspost.com has stolen your copyrighted material, and that you didn't give the site owner permission to use that copyrighted material. Include reuterspost's URL and a statement saying you swear that all of your claims are true and that you are acting in good faith. Hopefully you'll get a response.

Reuterspost used to have one of my articles up, but I sent the site owner an strongly worded email, and he took my article down - so I can't battle this one out. I get my aggression out by going after content thieves

I imagine that the real Reuters would be none too pleased to find out that their name is contained in the URL of a plagiarism mill. After all, numerous companies have shut down sites that contain their trademark. No idea if "Reuters" is trademarked, though.

--K

Amy,

Reuterspost used to have one of my articles up, but I sent the site owner an strongly worded email, and he took my article down

-- check the site again. I reported my content to Google/CC and my content was taken down from Reuters initially - at least it disappeared soon after I did all the paperwork. But today when the topic was brought up again, I checked and my content was back on the site! Grrrr...

I wish some sort of high profile case would make headlines and send a message. Kind of like those original music downloading and infringement (ie Napster) cases where some regular blogger needs to be crucified in order for the rest of them to take notice that you can't just do this. Sucks for the person who becomes the sacrificial lamb, but if someone receives harsh penalties, maybe the rest will pay attention.

isande wrote:I imagine that the real Reuters would be none too pleased to find out that their name is contained in the URL of a plagiarism mill. After all, numerous companies have shut down sites that contain their trademark. No idea if "Reuters" is trademarked, though.

--K

efinately Reuters is trademarked for news services. They have a lot of muscle and desire to protect their name.

Try this page: http://thomsonreuters.com/about/contact_us/ I'd choose media equity since you are a writer or general. Head your letter "Attn: Legal Department.

Be sure to note that:
a) this site is a common enemy
b) perhaps they can use their muscle to help themselves and all the impacted writers.
c) domain is registered through Active Domain
d) The site releys on Google Adsense

A letter from Reuters to Google or Active Domain is not going to be ignored.