From one side, it's a common way of getting links. By the other hand it's a complex issue of Google determinig the original source and even with the result on your favor, it could be a matter of domain/page authority on SERPs results. Ths issue is quite similar to the "I rank worse than my scrapers" effect. There is a somehow historical debate on WebmasterWorld from 2003: http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum44/522.htm And a more recent one, almost with the same discussion about ranking lower than the scrapers, WMW, 2010: http://www.webmasterworld.com/google/4182363.htm It may seem that Panda could had solve this issue, but in fact it got worst. There is a very good SEOmoz post about content syndication, scrapers and loosing traffic and SERP position after Panda: http://www.seomoz.org/blog/postpanda-your-original-content-is-being-outranked-by-scrapers-amp-partners Suggestions: If you can ask for a link back... Can you ask for a rel canonical? Implement proper metadata (schema.org) inside your content that points to you on the syndicated content. Use social signals to promote your content just after published by you and before getting to syndicated site (or scrapers). Experiment, Analyze, and decide after that.
