Outbound links

[ClareO]

Hi everyone,

Just a quick question about using info/statistics from other sources in my articles.

If I use a quote/piece of info from another online article do I just say where it's from and link to it? Is this acceptable or do you have to get permission? I find the whole permissions thing quite confusing! I know that outbound links are good for SEO so just wanted to check this.

Thanks!

[Rob3]

Thanks, EGOL!

You've been very helpful!

[EGOL]

If they are taking your original content it can be illegal if...

1. they do not have a case for fair use

2. you have not done something to make your content available for other use (such as make it public domain, creative commons, etc.)

Copyright infringement is covered by Federal statute in the United States.  If your content is registered you might have a case to sue, even if no financial damage is suffered.  It can be considered criminal if the infringer is knowing and willful.

I am not an attorney.  I recommend consulting with one if you have copyright problems.

I have done my due diligence and regularly file DMCA's, send informal take down notices, and have my attorney handle situations that might be complex or are against an infringer of note.

[Rob3]

Thank you for your fast response!

Is it actually illegal to do so or is it just frowned upon? I actually compete against some of these sites and it's not just one or two articles, it's the ENTIRE blog (30+ articles).

[EGOL]

Verbatim articles on a website can often outrank the original source, especially if the original source website is not very strong.

If they do it with my content, I will probably file a DMCA with Google and perhaps with their host.

[Rob3]

Hello, EGOL.

I like your detailed answer here! I have seen some blogs copy other entire articles (verbatim, images and all) and then just source the original blog link at the bottom of the article. Unfortunately, these sites rank very well for not doing any REAL work.

Is this something that will eventually come back to bite them or are they just going to get away with it forever? Your expertise is very much appreciated!

Thank you!

[ClareO]

EGOL - thanks so much for this answer. You have really explained this well and put my mind at rest! I will check out the wiki article.

Thanks again.

[EGOL]

Here is how many people handle these...

If you write your own sentence that incorporates a statistic or a fact that is not original to you, then it is proper to attribute that information to your source.  This is usually done in footnote fashion similar to what you see in Wikipedia articles.

This wikipedia article on "citation" is a good place to see examples of how to dot it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citation

Permission is not required if the work is publicly available on a website or in a published book, unless you have agreed to confidentiality of the informaiton.  Just use a footnote and a link to their website or a reference to a printed document.  Instead of a link you can give the full url if you don't want to use a hyperlink.

If you are going to quote verbatim a sentence or two, but not more than that, then placing that verbatim text in

is often done.  This indents the text, separating it from your own, with a footnote number in brackets at the end.  [2]  Permission is not needed for a short quote from a book or from a website (unless there is a confidentiality agreement).  Just make it clear that you have quoted and keep the length of your quote very short - a sentence or two at most.  Many people will also place the

text in italics to really make it clear that you have cited.

How many times can you do this in an article?  If you do it once with a sentence or two it should be fine.  But if you are going to do it multiple times you could run into an infringement problem.  How many times?  I would get permission if I was going to use multiple blockquotes from a single source.

If you have any doubts about using the text of others in references or quotes, then it is best to consult an attorney about the "fair use" part of copyright law.  I am not an attorney and can't give exact answers on this.  In fact, many attorneys will tell you that they can't give exact answers because copyright problems often need to be tested in court in front of a jury.  It is hard or impossible what a jury will return in many situations.