How Safe is Your Online Freelance and Creative Content?

Writing and Copyright

Every time you post something online you run the risk that someone will scrape your content and use it as their own. Whether you publish your poetry, stories, or stuff about writing and the writing life you should have a notice somewhere on your site that states the copyright is yours. 

I have recently taken to charting the process of writing a noir novel as I go through it on my website and post snippets of the text. There is a risk that someone will adapt that stuff for their own use, that's okay if they give credit. I also publish some of my poetry or rhymes really, not the serious stuff. 

Stealing the work of someone else is a crime, but when it is online the waters become a bit muddied. It is not copyright theft after a certain number of years or if the other writer gives you credit, either by a mention or with a link.

The headline of this post How Safe is Your Online Freelance and Creative Content? is not totally my own creation, it is adapted from some advice given by Jon Morrow over at Copyblogger regarding headlines. There are some things you can do if you think your work has been stolen but can't afford the huge fees that lawyers command. 

Dealing with Online Copyright Infringement

If you see your work published elsewhere without accreditation you could try being nicey nice and contacting the owner of the site and ask them either to take the content down or to give you accreditation either by naming you as the author, or adding a link back to your site.

Most reasonable writers and web owners will be apologetic and agree to the above, problem solved. If you cannot settle the use of your work in this way, then you may have to get tough. There are some online tools to help you find any infringements of your copyright, and how to deal with it.

Due to the amount of online theft and fraud there are now websites where you can name and shame whoever has stolen your work - if you don't want to do this then post something on your site stating that you have written original copy.

No Copyright on Ideas

It is impossible to copyright ideas and for the most part no two people's interpretation of an idea is the same. This became really apparent to me when I joined a writing class, no matter what topic the tutor gave out, when everyone read out their work, they all had a different take on the same idea.