6 Reasons Why Copying From a Web Page Is a Bad Idea
In an age when anyone can take advantage of multiple free services to create websites, the pursuit of worthwhile content raises the question of whether it's ever right to copy from other sites. While cutting and pasting an article or picture from another person's page seems a quick way to fill up your own site, it's neither legally nor morally advisable. Copying material can have negative consequences for you and the original owner.
Other People Are Reading
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It's Theft
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When someone creates an original piece of work, whether it's a photo, a design or written content, he automatically owns the copyright. It is what the law calls his "intellectual property." If you copy it without his permission, you are committing plagiarism and violating copyright. Not only is it dishonest and morally wrong, but the creator can sue you for stealing his work.
Your Host May Penalize You
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Even if the owner of the material you copied doesn't take action, service providers you rely on might penalize you. If your Web hosting provider suspects you've stolen content, for example, it may suspend your account. By plagiarizing, you are probably breaking the terms and conditions of other outside services you use, such as advertising and affiliate programs.
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It Lowers Your Search Engine Ranking
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Although few search engines reveal exactly how they rank pages in search results, most consider the uniqueness of your content. Each time an article or chunk of text is duplicated, the lower it is likely to rank in results. If your aim is to gain an audience and get revenue, search engine optimization, or SEO, needs to be foremost in your marketing strategy, and lazily copying content compromises its effectiveness.
Your Audience Doesn't Like It
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Copying material from elsewhere may get your website some traffic in the short term, but in the long-term, people who read your website will realize it's not unique or useful. Quality content is a major driving factor for your audience. If it doesn't stand out from comparable sites on the Internet, readers will have no reason to return.
It Harms Your Reputation
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If you make a living as a Web content provider, designer or developer, copying from other websites damages your professional reputation. Even if you avoid the legal consequences, you may find word gets around and your practices hurt your future career. Potential clients and associates won't want to do business with you, and future employers may think twice about hiring you after seeing evidence of your dishonesty.
It Hurts Others
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By using material someone else has worked hard to create, you're depriving them of a potential source of income. For every visitor who comes to your website to read an illegitimately copied article, you take away a visitor from a legitimate website. Authors may rely directly on website hits to generate residual income. The impact is not only financial; the original author deserves the credit and reputation boost that comes from a well-crafted piece of work, and by copying, you detract from her hard work and the respect she -- not you -- has earned.
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References
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
