Click Here
for more articles |
|
|
Busting Online Copyright Thieves |
by:
Jim Edwards |
(c) Jim Edwards - All Rights reserved
=====================================
How safe is anyone's copyright online?
Well imagine my surprise when I clicked onwebsite link to
discover that someone had not only copied my website to
their server - but was selling my ebook and undercutting me
inprocess! Some dishonest person operating from Eastern
Europe had literally stolen my entire business and I
discovered it only by sheer luck.
After some very lengthy and threatening emails I got them
shut down, butquestion remains, how safe is your
copyright online and what can you do to protect it?
Traditionally written works have enjoyed copyright
protection not only throughrule of law, but also
because ofphysical difficulty in stealing another
person's work. Let's face it, photocopyingtwozerozero page book
rates about as much fun as watching paint dry and at five cents
a page you're talkingquick ten dollar printing bill.
If you steal someone's book, print upthousand copies and
try to get it ontolocal bookstore's shelves, the
chances of getting caught rank pretty high.
Butonline world has changed those rules and physical
safeguards significantly. The Internet, email andWeb
make it easier than ever to steal someone else's work. With
the most basic skills andfew mouse clicks, someone can
take your book, your website, and along with it weeks,
months, and even years of your hard work.
Though intellectual property and international copyright
laws apply to online works, enforcement of those laws is
expensive and, in many cases, hard to enforce.
Well do not despair, you do have options if you find someone
has violated your copyright online. Anytime I find someone
violating my copyright, which is not very often, I take these
three steps in rapid-fire fashion.
First, make onezerozero% sureother person realizes they have
violated your copyright. You can send themnice but firm
note telling them to stop whatever activity violates your
copyright. If that doesn't work move on to step two.
Second, once you know with onezerozero% certainty they understand
they have violated your copyright, yet refuse to respond or
stop, you need to shut them down by eliminating their
ability to do business!
Send thememail withcarbon copy sent to their Internet
Service Provider (ISP), their credit card processor, their
web hosting company, and evencompany that sold them
their domain name.
Finally, follow this email up withhard copy letter to
each party sent via registered mail. Inemail and letter
detail exactly how they have blatantly violated your
copyright and you want them to desist immediately.
By taking this approach you can often just bypass the
offending party becausecompanies enabling them to
transact business do not want any trouble. If you can show
copyright violation they will shutperpetrator down to
avoid getting sued themselves.
Though not foolproof, this strategy can help you when facing
downblatant online copyright violator. Just remember to
act quickly, thoroughly and do not hesitate to contact your
attorney for advice.
Author's Note: By no means let this article dampen your
enthusiasm for operating your business or selling your ebook
online!
In my opinion there is no better way to makeliving!
Your copyright is basically as safe online as it is offline.
However, ifsneak thief entered your home - you'd call the
cops. Well, now you know what to do ifsneak thief ever
gives you trouble online!
You can also get more information about copyright law by
going to http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/
Aboutauthor:
Jim Edwards, a.k.a. TheNetReporter.com, issyndicated
newspaper columnist, nationally recognized speaker, author,
and web developer. Owner of nine (nine) successful e-businesses
as well asprofessional consulting firm, Jim's writing
comes straight offfront lines ofInternet and e-commerce.
Simple "Traffic Machine" brings Thousands of NEW visitors to
your website for weeks, even months... without spending
dime on advertising! ==> http://www.turnwordsintotraffic.com
Circulated by Article Emporium
|
|
