Blog Update
Dear readers,
This is a bit off topic, but I like to keep everyone informed of any changes I do on this blog. I have recently had to protect my articles from theft with Copyscape protection. It appears that several other website, a few owned by agents based on the Costa del Sol or Southern Spain have been misappropriating my articles for their own gains without permission. They should at least have had the decency of crediting the author and the source of the article. But I guess there is no honour amongst thieves.
So for anyone who does read one of my articles and wishes to put it on their blog/website, I would be honoured. Please just have the decency to give my name as author and a link to the original article. Maybe a brief email to me aswell. It is always nice to get a pat on the back.
Regards
Andrew Belles
Andrew,
Just popped in to have a look at the site, I didn’t realise that you had been attacked by Pirates as well, I hope that you managed to sucessfully repel the boarders.
A Cynic in Spain
Hi Cynic,
we shall see. Havee reported the site, and have left a comment on the blog.
Well it looks like i managed to ‘repel the pirates’ and the other site has been blocked/banned.
Welcome to the club Andrew!
We’ve also been forced to introduce Copyscape protection in all our articles as we too have fallen victims of plagiarism, even from fellow lawyers! Only last year three different lawyers, this year only one so far as well as a myriad of other websites.
I share your predicament.
Incidentally Plagio is a pursuable crime in Spain, just so you know, and the wording of the article doesn’t have to be identical as its subject to Intellectual Property Law.
Regards,
Raymundo
Hi Raymundo,
thanks for the information.
What do you mean by identical exactly? In my case the ‘plagio’ was literally a copy & paste of content, without credit to the author or a link.
If someone took the general topic and wrote their own version would that still be illegal?
Regards
Andrew
Dear Andrew,
A literal copy leaves no doubt. But plagio can be regarded as well on texts which have been lightly edited or “airbrushed” as I like to say so as to escape detection on google and have them passed on as original intellectual work.
If someone took the general topic and wrote their own version would that still be illegal?
For example let’s say someone took my article on Bank Repossessions in Spain or on Spanish Bank Guarantees and started a blog on the topic, that wouldn’t be illegal Andrew as long as the content was different.
However, if you take my article copy it word for word, or even edit some of it adding a few words and phrases of your own here and there you can still be held responsible. So even tampering the text slightly doesn’t protect you. It has to be considerably altered to be regarded as “unique” bearing almost no resemblance with the original.
I like your blog Andrew, it has interesting topics. Keep up the good work!
Kind regards,
Raymundo
Thank you Raymundo,
that helps clear it up a bit.
I’ve actually just been looking on your site and the name has reminded of another topic I wrote a while back. You might want to refer to it, as your advice would be appreciated.
http://blog.arribaestates.com/2009/01/20/aifos-bankruptcy/
Andrew
And while I have you here Raymundo,
what happens if someone does copy an article without permission but links it to your site and gives credit to you?
Andrew
That happens to me a lot. I just feel flattered and don’t do anything about it in these particular cases.
Besides, if they’ve credited you already as the author and placed a working link you cannot pursue them legally on grounds of plagio. Although you can request to have the article removed from their website as its your (intellectual) property.
Personally I don’t mind anyone using my articles, blog posts and forum posts on their own websites (they don’t have to ask for my permission) providing they always credit me as the author and place a working link back to our law firm’s website.
Kind Regards,
Raymundo
agreed
Andrew