[ The purpose of this post is to spread brand awareness and highlight deceptive strategies adopted by few companies who don't have any creativity. Few people are tarnishing the image of country known for great achievers. Indian companies are well known for their quality work, but few people are just copying the concepts and contents of fellow Indians, who did tons of hardwork to create great concepts.]

India controls nearly 50% of all global outsourcing, however they are also charged with serious allegations: content theft. There have been numerous claims against Indian companies for stealing content, some directly from other blogs or websites for the sole purpose of duplicating content without needing to write original content, others for more sinister reasons.

Some Indian outsourcing companies are guilty of content theft simply because they are trying to put other companies out of business. Content theft is officially known as plagiarism, and not only is it morally and ethically wrong; it’s also a crime.

Though Internet laws are changing continually, many people don’t realize that as soon as someone writes copy or content, they immediately own the copywriters for that work. That means that if you write something in your blog or on your website, you don’t have to seek a copyright from the government, it is yours. So what is a writer supposed to do when they discover that their content is being blatantly stolen and resold by companies?

It is not against the law to reuse someone’s content, it is against the law to reuse content and not give credit to the rightful owner. Not only are Indian companies reposting other people’s content in other places, they are appearing in wide known arenas as well. Movies, newspapers, magazines, are common sites for plagiarism, but maybe the biggest surprise of all, was seeing the release of Yahoo India facing accusations of plagiarism as soon as it was revealed.

Now certainly, it may be one thing for a small blogger to fight accusations of plagiarism, but when a company as large as Yahoo India is charged with plagiarism, surely the problem is out of control.

The best thing that you can do to protect yourself from content theft, is to understand copyright laws.

Companies and individual writers need to understand the laws regarding the Internet and copyrights. It would be nice to believe that all of the guilty parties were acting on misguided notions, and maybe some of them are, maybe some companies sincerely believe that they can legally recopy another website verbatim, and present it as their own, but its doubtful. Most companies and individuals are stealing content because they are unscrupulous. There is a high demand for content, and it is easier for these companies to simply steal it then create it. However, this is not a simple issue, this is a legal issue, and must be dressed accordingly.

Fight for your Right to Your Content

Your content is yours. From the moment you create it and display it for the world to see, it is your content, and yours alone. Yes, it may be disheartening to visit a site such as Yahoo India or another major company’s website and discover that your content is being displayed in all of its glory and there has been no mention of you as author, but it is more than your pride that should be affected.

If you come across your content displayed on another site, in a magazine, or in a newspaper and you have not been credited for your contribution at the very least, or paid for rights to use the piece then you are a victim of a crime. Your property is protected as Intellectual Property, and if someone steals your content, you may press charges. The Internet has made data readily available, and as more companies and individuals continue to cross the line of fair use to copyright infringement, more cases will be filed in a court of law.

What you can Do!

• Don’t keep quiet! If a company or individual has stolen your content speak up.

• Send a Cease and Desist! Tell the company or individual they must “cease and desist” use of your content at once.

• Press legal charges.

In Conclusion

Intellectual Property is being stolen every day. If you are a victim of this action, realize that someone has committed a crime and you are a victim. Do not sit back quietly and let this continue. Speak up for yourself and your rights and take legal action if necessary.

Popularity: 6% [?]