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A quick rant about stolen content
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Nick
A recent story on JapanSoc was dragged over the coals because it was pretty much a word for word copy of another article. Usually, this kind of duplicate content doesn’t feature much in Google’s rankings, but take a look at this:
![](http://blog.japansoc.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/search_results1-390x500.gif "Search results for \\"Styrofoam dome houses\\"")
The original article by Pink Tentacle is down in 6th position. The “clone” ranks at #1, #2, and is pointed to by JapanSoc at #3 and Digg at #4. If I had written the original article, I would be furious about this.
Other sites carried Pink Tentacle’s story, including the massive Gizmodo.com, but unlike Otaku International, they reworked it completely and then pointed the reader to Pink Tentacle to read more.
A link to the original article is not a licence to copy it. All that does is tell everyone who the article was stolen from. As far as I’m concerned, the purpose of linking to a source is to give credit to the person who did the hard work, and also to direct your readers to more information. It’s also a hat tip, thanking somone for an idea or inspiration.
Hat tip to Shane and Ken for pointing this out.
Get Soc'ing at JapanSoc.com - #1 for Japan blogs, news and people!
![](http://blog.japansoc.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/search_results1.gif "Search results for \\"Styrofoam dome houses\\"")
ShaneS 8:14 am on August 11, 2008 | #
This is a shame and something that I am noticing more and more these days. It’s also a common problem with images that people “borrow” from other sources without permission or even a hat tip. The sad part is that it is very difficult to fight this plagiarism so it is up to individuals like us to decide if we want to support this type of behavior and the sites that sport it.
Thanks for jumping on the bandwagon Nick and Ken. You had the nerve to say what I subtly pointed out.
billywest 2:19 pm on August 11, 2008 | #
This stuff absolutely pisses me off. For the sake of updating a blog, people forget about being original or creative at all. Even if you’re going to rehash the same old story (everyone does this from time to time), put your own spin on it… offer an opinion… get fired up about it or something.
People who have nothing to do other than copy other people’s work and then pass it off as their own for the sake of keeping their blogs fresh should outed and banned from social networking sites.
Jordan 4:32 pm on August 11, 2008 | #
After reading Shane’s comment I realize that I am myself guilty of “borrowing” pictures from major media orgs without acknowledging the source. I asked permission and cited for pictures shot by amateurs, but not for those taken by AP or other agencies in Japan. In that case do you have to ask permission from those press agencies or is it enough to note the origin of the pictures? Chotto hazukashii.
ShaneS 7:17 pm on August 11, 2008 | #
What I understand about images is that you are free to use anything from Wikimeda,Flickr and other sources if the copyright notice allows it. If you search Flickr be sure to use the creative commons filter in the advance search function and then read the details before you use it (and always attribute the image).
I tend to stay away from images by mainstream media as I think it’s generally pretty tough to get those permissions in a timely manner if at all. I don’t think an attribution covers these images from a legal standpoint either but I could be mistaken.
Anyway, that’s my two cents worth on the subject of images…
Jordan 9:14 pm on August 11, 2008 | #
Hmm.. I’m am going to have to look into this a bit more. It is very hard to find good amateur shots during the basho, so relying on the MSM is almost a necessity.
Then there is the issue of video which is a whole other can of worms. I guess I’m going to have to think things over for the next basho. I’m not doing any intellectually dishonest (i.e. copying another blog’s work word for word), but perhaps it is better to hash these things out early on.
Thanks Shane.
Reality Check 9:57 am on August 12, 2008 | #
Why don’t you people get off your moral high horses. I can see if the original was not properly attributed or linked back to. Almost every single bit of content that you will find on almost all blogs and even mainstream sites are rehashed and recycled. The only original would be the person who initially broke the story or news outlets that cover the same story nearly simultaneously from the onset. Everyone else is just a fair use whore.
Oh how creative and original is it interjecting your own personal diarrhea so that it does not look like plagiarism? It is still just a rehashed copy. Reading other peoples opinions on their blogs is like smelling someones else fart. I’d prefer to read the undoctored version. Only social networking bloggers can use this kind of logic to feel less guilty.
If this is all was such a sin as some of you make it out to be, then tell me what the heck is an RSS feed for? There are so called news sites out there which are nothing but an aggregation of feeds from other sites. There are services out there where you can pay to have customized feeds to make it seem like it is original content. Social bookmarking sites like JapanSoc are just an alternative form of linking to content from other sites. Tell me how original is that? You are linking to content not of your own creation and often times these bookmarking sites have a higher ranking than those content they are linking to especially if you modify the summary.
As a matter of fact, I see this same problem here with unintentional collusion because you have the same people linking to and voting up content from the same sites. I consider most social bookmarking sites including JapanSoc as a creative way for the same community of individuals to spam their own content to boost their site rankings. I refer to what you call community a circle jerk. This is why rankings are bogus because those number is usually achieved by creative association as opposed to real originality.
And when has Google page rankings and search engine results any indication of real relevancy? Only if you believe what these so called experts who have a vested interest say. Finding something relevant on a specific Japan related topic returns mostly junk in just the first 10 pages alone. Most every result has been manipulated via creative means under the guise of social networking such as social bookmarkings, trackbacks, blogrolls, or site links usually perpetuated by a wide network of affiliated sites as well as search engine marketing companies that artificially boost up rankings.
Google page rankings are overrated and bogus just as the whole online advertising scheme is one huge scam generating unjustified amounts of money for those who know how to manipulate the system in their favor. Sites like this contribute to that fraud perpetrated by the likes of Google, Yahoo, and other players in the name of ‘online advertising’ because online advertising tends to prey on those who are not technically saavy enough to know how to block out all that garbage.
And finally, Google or other companies like it are massive copyright infringing link and site stealers operating under the guise of search engine portals. Social bookmarking sites are equally as guilty because they operate in the same realm. Anyone who believes in the tripe companies like Google and Yahoo sell and plays a role in them are tools and should not be acting like they are above it. So get off your moral high horses.
Jordan 1:25 pm on August 12, 2008 | #
At least have the courage to put yourself out there a little more than just an anonymous name..
Anyways.. it is kind of hard to defend this:
http://otakuinternational.com/2008/08/apparantly-some-foreigners-are-more-japanese/
http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=4885
Ken Y-N 1:38 pm on August 12, 2008 | #
I’d put money on Reality Check being from OtakuInternational.
Of course, linking has been demonstrated in the courts as being legal, as has been quoting excerpts from other articles, but wholesale copying has never, ever been allowed.
Reality CHeck, read this and educate yourself:
http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html
Jordan, that thieving git from Otaku International in stealing that article straight off Japan Probe, has not even linked back to them!
Hey, how about some community action – lets all blog a story, pointing to this one. Also thumb him down in Stumble Upon, etc, etc.
Nick: Can you ban Otaku International’s URL from submission, or at least add a “plagiarised” flag so we can bury zou136’s stories properly.
ShaneS 1:44 pm on August 12, 2008 | #
Reality check, we all have our own morals that guide us in our lives and in what we blog about. We can choose to support sites, or not, based on our own personal criteria and so can you. While I agree that a lot of news is rehashed over and over, the beauty of blogging is that I get to read other peoples impressions and opinions on the news and I find it frustrating when I see a story that has been duplicated in it’s entirety, whether it is credited or not.
While different blogs and bloggers reach out to different audiences there is really no excuse for stealing content – why not just point it out to the readers rather than copying it (often omitting the fact that it wasn’t written by the blog owner)?
In my opinion, this really isn’t about Google, Yahoo or social bookmarking sites like JapanSoc, it is about morals and ethics. We all have to choose where to draw our line in the sand and as people have said before the internet is open to everyone.
Nick 1:48 pm on August 12, 2008 | #
Yet you subject us to your opinion.
Nick 1:54 pm on August 12, 2008 | #
All in favor of Otaku International being banned from JapanSoc, all links and comments removed, and future submissions from his site disallowed, leave a comment or contact me directly.
Ken, just bury them as “spam”. Ripping content like that makes it a spammy scraper site in my opinion.
billywest 2:43 pm on August 12, 2008 | #
I like the idea of democracy, but I don’t think voting for banning is the best way to go.
Put up a set of criteria for being banned that is clear and easily understandable. Then, if something posted appears to be in violation of the given standards, make an executive decision and ban the user. Or, if you must have concurrence, set up a moderator board of two or three people who have thick skins.
But, I think if you can show a user that he or she has clearly violated the standards set forth, you can ban with a clear conscience.
billywest 2:45 pm on August 12, 2008 | #
By the way, for what it’s worth, I’d bet that Reality Check is the kind of person who likes others to smell his/her farts, but is definitely not one to accept responsibility for dealing them out.
Jordan 2:54 pm on August 12, 2008 | #
I guess the thing that gets me about this is that this individual is actively seeking donations for his “work.” That adds another dimension to this that goes above and beyond simply copypasting someone’s content.
Also, I agree with Billy’s idea of dealing with this problem.
Nick 3:24 pm on August 12, 2008 | #
Billy, you’re right, voting for a banning is not the way to go. Actually, the Terms of Service are quite clear about the criteria for banning:
and…
I might act on this, but before I do anything, I have to go to the clinic to get the results from my stool samples.
Jason 4:03 pm on August 12, 2008 | #
Thanks to @Jordan for pointing me to this post.
I just had a post from my site “stolen” by Otaku International.
Otaku International’s post: http://otakuinternational.com/2008/08/kami-igusa-station-now-has-a-gundam-statue/
My original post: http://jasoncollin.org/2008/08/07/gundam-statue-rises-at-kami-igusa-station/
I was glad to read how annoyed and angry others get when their posts are re-blogged on other sites with little alteration. I can understand an Otaku blog wanting to include references to Gundam, but to include the lead photo AND embed the video in their post, then that leaves no real reason to go to the original post.
If you blog about someone else’s material, I feel it should be a teaser that leads the reader to click on to that original post. Or, your post should build a lot on the original and include its own original media, then it can get away with just referencing your original post on the subject.
A link is not enough to me either if they are using a photo I took the time to compose and edit as well as the video I took the time to edit if it composes the entirety of their post.
Point to me with a link, ok. Take my post and link to me, not ok.
Jason 5:19 pm on August 12, 2008 | #
Here is a follow-up….
I posted a comment saying I didn’t think what Otaku International did was cool, right on the stolen post, and he deleted it! I was polite and said you didn’t add anything to my post, just took all of it, and that at the least you should remove the embedded video.
Now I’m really angry at this dude. I support the most severe action anyone wants to take against the site Otaku International since he denied my polite request to remove my content. That, to me, means he is a thief and knows it.
Jordan 5:40 pm on August 12, 2008 | #
Ugh. That is a shame that he can’t face himself, Jason, but the truth is the truth and we can all see it. It seems he wants to make a living or at least a name for himself by exploiting other peoples’ work. That is a real shame.
Jordan 5:46 pm on August 12, 2008 | #
Dang just missed my chance to edit the last post. Anyways, my suggestion is to bring this up with Peter of Jlist and the other affiliates of Otaku Int. It is ridiculous to think someone could make money off of other people’s work like this.
Nick 6:06 pm on August 12, 2008 | #
As far as JapanSoc goes, I’ve blocked any further submissions from otakuinternational.com. I’ve also taken Ken’s advice and added “Plagiarism” to the list that appears when you click “Bury”.
ShaneS 6:20 pm on August 12, 2008 | #
Three strikes and you’re out! I think that this is a good call Nick.
Jason 8:03 pm on August 12, 2008 | #
UPDATE:
Otaku International, specifically BZou, has now complied with my request to take down the embedded video and the post now looks much more like something I can find acceptable. He changed the formatting and linked to my original post more. It seems our noise here caught his attention.
Ken Y-N 9:24 pm on August 12, 2008 | #
Nick, I know it’s a lot of work, but perhaps soft bans for repeated buries like Digg does would be better. Is there a Pligg plugin that does that? Or it could be based on repeated submissions for a single site, little activity outside that, etc, etc. Voting someone off the ship is only going to end in tears!
Nick 10:01 pm on August 12, 2008 | #
Ken, your expectations of Pligg are far too high. Most “plugins” involve following step by step instructions to modify core files.
Let me just clarify the situation. I haven’t banned anyone. I’ve just blocked any new urls submitted from otakuinternational.com.
From now on, any decisions about blocking sites or banning users will be done in accordance with the Terms of Service. No announcements, no debate, no voting, no gray areas. I regret getting into (starting?) a debate about a user. It’s not very professional, is it?
Ken Y-N 11:05 pm on August 12, 2008 | #
Nick, agreed! One thing I always dislike is rules lawyers, so just ban the people or block the URLs and be done with it!
billywest 2:28 pm on August 13, 2008 | #
Nick,
Not to stir the pot any more than it needs to be, but if BZou apologized and pledged to keep it straight from now on, would you consider lifting the URL block? Say, after a two-week period?
Personally, I hope everyone will be able to make good use out of JapanSoc. Even those who’ve drawn the ire of fellow bloggers deserve a reprieve at some point, do they not?
Jason 2:30 pm on August 13, 2008 | #
@billywest As a “victim” of BZou, if he did what you wrote in your comment, I’d be forgiving. I tried to contact BZou directly, but the contact page on his website failed (captcha problems).
Nick 3:23 pm on August 13, 2008 | #
Sorry guys, but in the spirit of my last comment…
Jason 5:40 pm on August 13, 2008 | #
Just as an addendum, Japundit noticed something with Otaku International also involving possible plagiarism: http://japundit.com/archives/2008/08/13/8817/
And in that post it referenced our discussion here.
Jordan 6:54 pm on August 13, 2008 | #
I saw that too, Jason. I soc’d it. Ha.
http://www.japansoc.com/GeneralJapan/Who_exactly_is_ripping_off_whom/
Heres my comment on his thoughts:
“There is more than enough evidence to suggest that Otaku International has taken from more than just JapanProbe, but we already know that.
I like that Edward did a bit of looking into this and noted the difference in time between the two posts, but I don’t think he accounted for the time difference between the States and Japan. James posted at 6:35 am (4:35 pm Central on the 11th) on the 12th in Japan. Bzou lives in New York so he saw this on the 11th and posted before the end of the day.
I remember checking both sites that day and I am 100% sure that I read James’ post before the exact same post showed up on Otaku International.”
Who exactly is ripping off whom? - Part 2 9:32 pm on August 13, 2008 | #
[...] On another note, Nick Ramsay, the owner of the Japan Soc social bookmarking site, wrote in to point us to an discussion about Otaku International over on their Japan Soc Community Blog. [...]
Ken 3:04 am on August 14, 2008 | #
There are some sites out there that drive me nuts. They’re obviously scraping content just to get search engine hits so people will click on ads. They tend to rip off the first 500 words of a post and sometimes link back to the original. Google seems good at treating them like spammers though.
What really gets me scratching my head is when I see lightly rewritten versions of what I’ve written in MSM pieces.
Jamaipanese 2:21 am on August 15, 2008 | #
i’d be furious too.
The otaku international site is down or not being displayed for me -_-