Beware of Copycat Bloggers

One of the things I usually do when I login to my dashboard is to check on-site stats. While I was browsing Shortstat, I found a site that was relatively new. I mean, it was the first time for this site to show up on my stats. Curiously, I clicked on the URL and was brought to this blog.

I found out that it was a tech blog owned by a Malaysian blogger. As I browsed thru the first few entries, there was nothing unusual about it. The regular tech news and stuff. Then when I reached the 3rd and 4th posts, I was surprised to see that both were about two topics that I also blogged about a week ago, Kool IM & Blogmusik.

So what I did was I went and read the full entry for each post. First was the Kool IM post. I was very surprised to read that the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs were exactly the same as my own post, verbatim! Then I went to the next post, about Blogmusik. This entry was totally copied from my post. No paraphrases, quotes or anything. Not even a trackback for that post. But at the end of the entry, he posted a link to the source, which of course was no other than my blog.

UPDATE: I decided to show you a comparison of my entries and the other guy’s entries.

Kool IM

Me:

Kool IM is the latest thing in web chat services.

What is it you say? Kool IM is an Ajax instant messaging client that works with major instant messaging services that allow logging onto AOL, ICQ, Yahoo! Messenger, MSN Messenger, Google Talk & Jabber, eliminating the need for an instant-messaging client on the user’s computer. The most popular web instant messaging clients are Meebo and eBuddy. While other competitors include ILoveIM and Mabber.

Kool IM integrates features from Meebo and eBuddy. It uses a pop-up window for the buddy list and for chatting like eBuddy. Like Meebo it allows users to create accounts, so you won’t have to login every time for each service.

I tried it out earlier and it was okay. Personally, I still prefer Meebo for one major reason, “pop-ups”. I hate pop-ups. Most browsers try to eliminate pop-up windows. In Meebo you have your buddy list and chat windows integrated inside the same browser window and you can drag them around or resize them.

These things are helpful especially if you’re in the office or the machine you’re using doesn’t allow you to install an instant messenger client. One example is a computer lab whereas a simple user, you don’t have access to install programs. Just launch a web browser, type in the URL, log in to your accounts and you’re good to go!

Blogger guy:

Now, you do not need to open every single messenger if you gonna chat with your friends with different software (instant messaging client). With Kool IM, you can make them into one. Save space, save memory, and save time too. Why not have a try ?!

Kool IM is an Ajax instant messaging client that works with major instant messaging services that allow logging onto AOL, ICQ, Yahoo! Messenger, MSN Messenger, Google Talk & Jabber, eliminating the need for an instant-messaging client on the user’s computer. The most popular web instant messaging clients are Meebo and eBuddy. While other competitors include ILoveIM and Mabber.

Kool IM integrates features from Meebo and eBuddy. It uses a pop-up window for the buddy list and for chatting like eBuddy. Like Meebo it allows users to create accounts, so you won’t have to login every time for each service.

Blogmusik

Me:

Blogmusik is a new site that allows you to listen to on-demand songs online for FREE!

Blogmusik uses a Flash-based virtual player that looks exactly like an iPod and works exactly like one. It includes a Play/Pause button, Skip button (Previous track and Next track), Volume control, a Playlist button to access your saved playlists, and an option to share it with a friend. You can also change the player’s skin to black or white. Regular users can only listen to songs one at a time. While registered users can create/save playlists and save songs into each playlist.

The site can be accessed in two languages, English and French. To register, just provide an email address and password. Once you’ve done that, you’ll see a menu on top. Click on New Playlist and type a name for that playlist. Now that you have a playlist, you can start adding songs to it. To search for songs, type on the space provided right below the virtual iPod. Type in the name of the artist or title of any song, click OK and it will show you the search results on the right side of the player. Look for the song that you like and click on Save and choose which playlist you want to save it to. Repeat the same steps to add other songs. In your playlist, use your mouse wheel to scroll thru the songs. Registered users can also manage their playlists (delete songs, change song order). I was hoping that they’d let the users, edit the file name of the song because some of the files had very long names and had some extra info that I wanted to edit.

Blogmusik is still in its Beta version so expect some bugs and improvements in the near future. Also, be aware that the site opens a pop-up every few minutes or after every song. I have no problem with it because Firefox blocks it right away. If your browser doesn’t automatically block it, you might have to do it manually because if you don’t, you’ll have a lot of pop-ups while you’re listening to the songs.

Note: Earphones not included. Hehe

Blogger guy:

Blogmusik is a new site that allows you to listen to on-demand songs online for FREE! Blogmusik uses a Flash-based virtual player that looks exactly like an iPod and works exactly like one. It includes a Play/Pause button, Skip button (Previous track and Next track), Volume control, a Playlist button to access your saved playlists, and an option to share it with a friend. You can also change the player’s skin to black or white. Regular users can only listen to songs one at a time. While registered users can create/save playlists and save songs into each playlist.

The site can be accessed in two languages, English and French. To register, just provide an email address and password. Once you’ve done that, you’ll see a menu on top. Click on New Playlist and type a name for that playlist. Now that you have a playlist, you can start adding songs to it. To search for songs, type on the space provided right below the virtual iPod. Type in the name of the artist or title of any song, click OK and it will show you the search results on the right side of the player. Look for the song that you like and click on Save and choose which playlist you want to save it to. Repeat the same steps to add other songs. In your playlist, use your mouse wheel to scroll thru the songs. Registered users can also manage their playlists (delete songs, change song order). I was hoping that they’d let the users, edit the file name of the song because some of the files had very long names and had some extra info that I wanted to edit.

Blogmusik is still in its Beta version so expect some bugs and improvements in the near future. Also, be aware that the site opens a pop-up every few minutes or after every song. I have no problem with it because Firefox blocks it right away. If your browser doesn’t automatically block it, you might have to do it manually because if you don’t you’ll have a lot of pop-ups while you’re listening to the songs.

I didn’t expect that someone would even bother to do this. Now I know how Cathy felt when this happened to her (although hers was a bit different because the copycat blogger was using her RSS feeds). I’m not gonna post his URL here because it’s just gonna drive site traffic to his blog. Hehe. You can send me an email and I’ll give you the URL. Btw, I already sent an email to that guy and asked if he could change his entries and make it more like his own work or at least quote me. We’ll see if he replies and does something about it. I’ll keep you guys posted.

Anyone of you guys ever have the same experience as this? What did you do after you learned about it? Did the copycat blogger remove the post that was plagiarized? Please share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

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10 Comments

  1. @juls – yeah, a quote would do as long as it's not quoting the whole thing. hehe

    @JC – thanks for the wonderful insights on this matter.

    @gbert – well, each person has his/her principles and points of view.

    @eric – pati typos ba? hehe. syempre, nakakasama ng loob yon. pinagpaguran mo, pinagisipan mo ng husto at pinagukulan mo ng panahon tapos basta-basta na lang kokopyahin. i didn't demand, i asked him nicely. :)

    @paul – yup, if you want to copy something from someone, you need to ask permission first. sikat? i don't think so. but if my blog became popular because of this then i won't complain. hehe

    @cruise – siguro nga. hehe

  2. two things… i think it's not right to copy as in the entire entry and the fact that he didnt ask for your permission…

    on the other side… at least mas sikat na blog mo… hehehe

    God bless!

  3. mmmmm na ganyan na din ako… I had written an article last time tapos kinopya lang word for word, PATI MGA TYPOS!

    i demanded na tanggalin nila yung post, or acknowledge na ako ang source, luckily, they take of the post.

    may isa (isa lang ba? o baka madami na at hindi ko lang alam!) akong pic na post sa isang blog,

    ang sakit ng feeling pag nakitang kinopya lang ang trabaho mo. di ba? ako nag byabyahe ako kung saan blood sweat and tears ang puhunan . tapos sila kopya lang.

    :(

    i suggest u demand din to acknowledge u as the sourse, or tell them to remove the post.

  4. it seems this malaysian blogger got hooked on your write-ups and to copy them is to literally do so… very pathetic, really… there's no point blogging if it's only copied… whew!

  5. JC John SESE Cunetasays:

    It's becoming common these days, people think they can get away with it and people think there's nothing we can do about it. I've seen a lot of my posts, researches, articles, and whatnot copied by other people especially in the local gaming industry. They call it "their own". What's worst? They will come to my sites and post stuff claiming I stole their work. *whistles*

    If they want something they can just ask for it. And usually, I mention if a work of mine can be claimed by others as their own, unless otherwise stated, it means I do not want to see copycats.

    Especially with bloggers. I can't help but noticed that many bloggers are copying the whole posts, the main reason is to keep an archive copy, because it was from a "news site" who as we know deletes their posts after a month or so. But without a proper note or disclaimer if you will, I agree, that's a bad practice.

    But the question still lingers, are bloggers journalists? If we are not, then that explains why people don't respect rules the journalists have. :)

  6. at least he could do is quote you… that's what i usually do if i want to get things verbatim, I quote the person w/ the link… that way, people know it's not mine…

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