If content is king on the internet, and we generate content, then who truly rules the internet?
I don’t typically make it a point to write about things other than online marketing and SEO, but the idea that your body of work is constantly at risk when you write and publish online is a burdensome concept and one that I don’t think about enough, as I am pretty sure many of my readers don’t spend the time and energy to protect their thoughts either.
Google has determined a way to identify the owners of unique content on the web earlier this year with the addition of the Panda Update as well as refined this algorithm change to improve their results by attempting to deliver the authority or at least the originator of content online. The challenge that we have as publishers is ensuring that we receive the credit for the content we produce.
So what should search engines do if a piece of content is published on a website that has limited or no authority and also published on a website that has a great deal more authority than the original publisher? As the engines try to figure this out, there are few ways to try to protect yourself and your content.
One of the best ways to protect your content from scrapers and other unscrupulous types is to copyright your material, however, this has sometimes been a difficult, laborious and expensive task that can take time and experience to get done.
As you may know, I have a tendency of looking to those who have gone before me for direction and a great resource from an organization that has done this was brought to my attention. This is a perfect situation, as I have little experience personally. However, Houston Neal provides a great step by step process to filing for copyright protection as well as an easy to understand synopsis of what copyright law is in the US, as well as why it is important to copyright your content and protect your interests. It is also one of the best ways to proactively protect your online reputation.
I have not gone through the process of filing for copyrights on my material, but I would appreciate your stories and comments if you have gone through this process or been caught on the other side if you haven’t filed for protection. Please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences.
Cheers!
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I haven’t applied for copyright in a long time. However, about 10 years ago it was a long, laborious process with a lot of paperwork. If much of the work can now be done online, so much the better.