If you've posted content on the web, you've probably had your articles stolen and posted on another site. Often, the thief will claim that he wrote the brilliant article you paid for or wrote. The gall of these people!

I've had it happen to me so many times I can't count them all. Time to fight back, everybody! There are some ways that you can thwart content thieves and even get their sites shut down.

The No Copy Code

The No Copy Code keeps people from being able to copy and paste your articles or blogs. Simply copy and paste this code into your site's HTML and you're golden:

[bctt tweet="Here are ways you can thwart content thieves and even get their sites shut down."]

<script language="JavaScript1.2">

//Disable select-text script (IE4+, NS6+)- By Andy Scott

//Exclusive permission granted to Dynamic Drive to feature script

//Visit http://www.dynamicdrive.com for this script

function disableselect(e){

return false

}

function reEnable(){

return true

}

//if IE4+

document.onselectstart=new Function ("return false")

//if NS6

if (window.sidebar){

document.onmousedown=disableselect

document.onclick=reEnable

}

</script>

<script language=JavaScript> <!-- //Disable right mouse click Script //By Maximus (maximus@nsimail.com) w/ mods by DynamicDrive //For full source code, visit http://www.dynamicdrive.com var message="Function Disabled!"; /////////////////////////////////// function clickIE4(){ if (event.button==2){ alert(message); return false; } } function clickNS4(e){ if (document.layers||document.getElementById&&!document.all){ if (e.which==2||e.which==3){ alert(message); return false; } } } if (document.layers){ document.captureEvents(Event.MOUSEDOWN); document.onmousedown=clickNS4; } else if (document.all&&!document.getElementById) document.oncontextmenu=new Function("alert(message);return false") // --> </script>

Anti-Content Theft PlugIns

An easier thing to do is to simply install a plugin that will prevent content theft. Ther are several good anti-theft plugins out there. Here are a just a few:

• WP Content Copyright and Plagiarism Protection

• WP Content Copy Protection & No Right Click

• Content Copy Protection & Prevent Image Save

What to Do if Your Content has Already Been Stolen?

This first thing you should do when you find out your content has been stolen is to write an email to the website's owner. Here is a sample email template you can use:

Dear (Site's Name) Owner,

It has come to my attention that my article (Name of the article and a link to the article on your site) is posted on your site. You can find it here: (Insert link to the article.)

In accordance with US copyright law, I own all rights to this article. By posting the article without my permission, you are breaking the law. I am sure this is a mistunderstanding. Please, remove my article by (give a deadline.) If the article is not removed by this deadline, I will be filing a complaint with Google and I will be contacting your site host to have your site removed for copyright infringment.

Thank you for your compliance in the matter.

(Signature)

Now, that's the letter that I use and it works pretty well. If you want something a little more intimidating and formal you can use this template by IPWatchdog. This is called a DMCA ( which stands for the Digital Millennium Copyright Act) letter.

Next, follow through with your threats if your article isn't removed. File a copyright complaint with Google. Then, contact the site's host to have the site taken down. To file a complaint with the host, go to WhoIs Lookup to find out details about the site. Then send the details, your information and a DMCA letter, in writing, to the host. Many hosting platforms will have a specific protocol for handling copyright issues, so call or live chat with their customer service to find out what you must do to get the offending site taken down.

I know it sounds like a lot of work, but if more people went after content thieves more people would understand that they can't get away with content theft.