Busting Online Copyright Thieves by: Jim Edwards

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How safe is anyone's copyright online? 

Well imagine my surprise when I clicked on a website link to 
discover that someone had not only copied my website to 
their server - but was selling my ebook and undercutting me 
in the process! Some dishonest person operating from Eastern 
Europe had literally stolen my entire business and I 
discovered it only by sheer luck. 

After some very lengthy and threatening emails I got them 
shut down, but the question remains, how safe is your 
copyright online and what can you do to protect it? 

Traditionally written works have enjoyed copyright 
protection not only through the rule of law, but also 
because of the physical difficulty in stealing another 
person's work. Let's face it, photocopying a 200 page book 
rates about as much fun as watching paint dry and at 5 cents 
a page you're talking a quick ten dollar printing bill. 

If you steal someone's book, print up a thousand copies and 
try to get it onto the local bookstore's shelves, the 
chances of getting caught rank pretty high. 

But the online world has changed those rules and physical 
safeguards significantly. The Internet, email and the Web 
make it easier than ever to steal someone else's work. With 
the most basic skills and a few mouse clicks, someone can 
take your book, your website, and along with it weeks, 
months, and even years of your hard work. 

Though intellectual property and international copyright 
laws apply to online works, enforcement of those laws is 
expensive and, in many cases, hard to enforce. 

Well don't despair, you do have options if you find someone 
has violated your copyright online. Anytime I find someone 
violating my copyright, which isn't very often, I take these 
three steps in rapid-fire fashion. 

First, make 100% sure the other person realizes they have 
violated your copyright. You can send them a nice but firm 
note telling them to stop whatever activity violates your 
copyright. If that doesn't work move on to step two. 

Second, once you know with 100% certainty they understand 
they have violated your copyright, yet refuse to respond or 
stop, you need to shut them down by eliminating their 
ability to do business! 

Send them an email with a carbon copy sent to their Internet 
Service Provider (ISP), their credit card processor, their 
web hosting company, and even the company that sold them 
their domain name. 

Finally, follow this email up with a hard copy letter to 
each party sent via registered mail. In the email and letter 
detail exactly how they have blatantly violated your 
copyright and you want them to desist immediately. 

By taking this approach you can often just bypass the 
offending party because the companies enabling them to 
transact business don't want any trouble. If you can show 
copyright violation they will shut the perpetrator down to 
avoid getting sued themselves. 

Though not foolproof, this strategy can help you when facing 
down a blatant online copyright violator. Just remember to 
act quickly, thoroughly and don't hesitate to contact your 
attorney for advice. 

Author's Note: By no means let this article dampen your 
enthusiasm for operating your business or selling your ebook 
online! 

In my opinion there is no better way to make a living! 

Your copyright is basically as safe online as it is offline. 
However, if a sneak thief entered your home - you'd call the 
cops. Well, now you know what to do if a sneak thief ever 
gives you trouble online! 

You can also get more information about copyright law by 
going to http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/ 


About the author:
Jim Edwards, a.k.a. TheNetReporter.com, is a syndicated 
newspaper columnist, nationally recognized speaker, author, 
and web developer. Owner of nine (9) successful e-businesses 
as well as a professional consulting firm, Jim's writing 
comes straight off the front lines of the Internet and e-commerce. 

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