Monday, October 22, 2007

Blog Concern and Question

I found out tonight that my blog has been copied verbatim—pictures, verbiage (as best I can tell), layout, the whole nine yards and translated into German (I think it's German) to sell pharmaceutical drugs I suspect are bogus. Even my blog title was translated to “Junie Mond.” It's a total mirror image except with the drug stuff added.

This was discovered because of a new authority rating given to me by Technorati. I went to see what this was about and was shocked to make this discovery.

Do ya’ll know what this means? Have you heard of this happening before? I can’t read German so I’m not quite sure what the purpose of this is but no one asked nor did I give my permission to do this.


Graphic from Karen at The Graphics Fairy.

Just to be safe as well as clear (I’m putting the old CYA adage into effect) anything I post on my blog originated by me or my husband is covered under U.S. Copyright laws and is not to be used, copied, or otherwise altered without our explicit permission.

I do not sell pharmaceuticals of any sort nor authorize my name, writing, or pictures to be used in association with such activities.

I’m going to be calm and not imagine the police showing up on my doorstep.
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15 comments:

  1. KristiOctober 22, 2007 at 9:32 PM

    I have a LiveJournal that was copied verbatim to a BlogSpot blog. I had accidentally typed in the wrong address when I was tired and mixed up my LJ username with blogspot. My husband sent me an email about how to deal with something like this. I was concerned about all the legal fees so I didn't do anything. But you might want to? I will forward the email to you.
    P.S. Now I make all my LJ posts private so only my LJ friends can read them.

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  2. KristiOctober 22, 2007 at 9:39 PM

    I sent you an email, but if it doesn't go through, the info is basically here:

    http://lorelle.wordpress.com/2006/04/10/what-do-you-do-when-someone-steals-your-content/

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  3. Mrs.KwittyOctober 22, 2007 at 10:21 PM

    How awful JunieMoon, I feel sick for you. Good luck.
    Hugs, Karen

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  4. AnonymousOctober 23, 2007 at 12:34 AM

    OMGoodness. Why?! Let us know what you find out. So sorry. I used to sell on eBay and had my photos and descriptions copied quite often and it wasn't flattering in the least.

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  5. JoannaOctober 23, 2007 at 1:17 AM

    What the heck???? Unbelievable! I haven't heard of this happening, but what do I know? So sorry this has happened to you.

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  6. UnknownOctober 23, 2007 at 4:45 AM

    Oh Junie! Are you serious? How awful...there as to be something to be done! There must! I loved all your posts. I went back to read the ones I had missed and catch up. I love the teatowels your friend made you! You do have a bunch of talented friends dear June!

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  7. AnonymousOctober 23, 2007 at 8:47 AM

    That's so weird! I've never heard of that happening either. And I'm not sure I'd even know where to look if it DID happen to me. Good luck with sorting it all out. What is WRONG with people anyway?!

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  8. Lisa ClarkeOctober 23, 2007 at 10:34 AM

    I wonder if they are using your RSS feed to automatically copy your content? I've seen that happen. If you were using Wordpress, you could install a plugin that adds a disclaimer to your feed stating you were the owner and that if the reader was seeing that message anywhere other than a feed reader that it had been stolen from you. I haven't had this problem yet (that I know of) but I am planning on installing the plugin anyway. I don't know if blogger has any tools like that, but maybe their tech support could shed some light.

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  9. Yummers!October 23, 2007 at 10:43 AM

    We go about our daily blogging to all the lovely people who have become friends, never thinking that some idiot is lurking out there... sick, sick, sick.

    Sorry it happened to you, June.
    Joni

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  10. LenaOctober 23, 2007 at 2:35 PM

    I haven't heard of this before either. How scary that must feel. I hope that it doesn't cause more problems for you.
    Take care sweetie. I'm sending good thoughts your way.

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  11. dottycookieOctober 23, 2007 at 2:54 PM

    Oh how awful! I'm so sorry that you've had to deal with this :-(

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  12. AliOctober 24, 2007 at 3:53 PM

    Nasty. And so annoying that sorting the resulting mess out takes time away from things I'm sure you'd rather be doing.

    But rest assured. We know there is only one true Junie Moon.

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  13. karlascottage.typepad.comOctober 24, 2007 at 10:42 PM

    I have never heard of anything like that, it is terrible!!! Let us know if you hear more!

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  14. wardstormsOctober 24, 2007 at 11:19 PM

    I have never heard of this...how strange. Please keep us updated on what you find out about this.

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  15. Lilli in VancouverOctober 28, 2007 at 1:35 PM

    Oh Dear, how upsetting.

    I checked out the German site and it looks like they steal content in order to get people to visit the site and read their ads. It's a common practice, and they likely subscribe to an automated program that goes around the internet, collecting data. Basically, they're following a formula that is supposed to make them money.

    Check out your rights with Blogspot. The offending site is Blogspot too. My hubby says if you look at #6 on their 'Terms of Service' page, you can see what can/can't be done. It looks like there might be a possibility if you complain about the German site violating 'terms of service'. But if you want them to pursue 'copyright infringement', you're talking lots of money. Anyway, have a look at their terms, and Best of Luck!

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