Look at the many articles on this blog where I quote folks. I highlight the quote in a distinctive format so everyone should “know” that this is a quote and not my words. I give credit, when credit is possible, with a link to the site and the author/site name along with the title. This creates a trackback with WordPress and the site owner gets a notice from me that I’ve included a link to them. They can then visit, and if they don’t like what I said, or how I made use of their content, they can let me know and I can fix it. Another benefit of using WordPress to blog.

A splog takes full feeds from blogs and uses it as a REPLACEMENT for any content on their site. They typically have no original content anywhere on their site. Some even take the stolen feed content and use programs to stick in keywords about their splogging crap they are selling to make it appear like it’s their own, trying to fool search engines. It’s still your content and you have every right to protect it and stop such illegal use.

Some splogs are now using feed excerpts instead of full content use, so they are trying to get around the copyright rules of Fair Use. That’s a harder thing to define but you control how and where your content is used, so you can also help to stop these sites, too.

It’s a good question you asked and one that challenges and confuses many. Thanks for asking and you can find more information on this in What Do You Do When Someone Steals Your Content, One Year Anniversary Review: Splogs – The Dark Side of Blogging, and How To Spot a Splog.

Fantastic blog – very useful for a newbie like me. I have just one query as I am still unsure quite where you stand on this issue.

Are you saying that taking down a news story, correctly attributing and crediting it and the author, then commenting on what is written is Doppleblogging?
Do you regard this practice as plagiarism?

I hasten to add that I am put this query in a gentle, enquiring voice seeking information, not as an aggressive riposte to your comments above. I don’t see myself as a plagiarist nor am I seeking aggrandizement – I just don’t want to be ‘at the party’ wearing a stupid sign across my forehead that I cannot see. I get the point, just looking a bit closer – got me?

[I ask the question because that is essentially what I do with my blog. I use my blog as a form of 'crew-room' running across similar subjects that would crop up in conversation with my colleagues. Using news-feeds provides topical subjects to talk about.]

Al the best, Norman