Blogs that use other people's content

[Ms Naughty]

OK... this thread might belong in the linklist section but it's also a bit of a broad topic.

I had a submission to my 4women linklist of a Blogspot blog that primarily featured images, although there were also comments and stories in it.

The blogger had not included any links to say where the photos had come from, so I didn't know if they had been "harvested" from other sites or if they were licensed to the blogger.

An awful lot of sex blogs on the net use other people's photos, but they don't hotlink them, and they'll include a link to where the pic came from.

I recently got some nice traffic from ErosBlog because it linked to one of my sites... and it used one photo from the gallery to do so.

Where do we stand when it comes to this practise? Do we want to stop the unauthorised use of pics like this or do we tolerate it because it brings traffic?

And should linklists (or our own blogs) link to blogs that do it?

[The Other Steve]

Personally I think that anyone who uses a lot of images on a blog is missing the point of blogs.

Blogs are about text and giving people something to read and having the talent and skill to make sales from that text.

More on the focus of your question though, if a link list might be liable for posting a link to a site that uses illegal content why is it any different for a blog?

[RawAlex]

If you are not comfortable where the content for a blog / site / gallery / whatever is coming from, then don't link to it. You should never encourage thieves at any time. There are a number of VERY large sites on the net right now (I won't mention any names, but you Can Jump to your own conclusions) that generate huge traffic and money from purloined, lifted, copied, and basically stolen content. They use the tired old "if this is your and you don't want it here, drop us an email" type excuses for their content. Many of them spray their URL all over videos and pics that are not their own.

Typical of many things on the net, most people know it, most people don't like it, but most people turn a blind eye because "they know the guy" or "they partied with them in vegas" or whatever.

Spam, theft, toolbars, hacking, viruses... it's all the same stuff. Our own tolerance of it makes it painful to watch.

Alex

[Ms Naughty]

To clarify, I was not concerned about legal liabilities, more worried about the ins and outs of encouraging people (via links) who are essentially making use of content which they don't hold the license for.

This is the blog that asked for a link
http://sensualarousal.blogspot.com/
As I said, I don't know if the pics on that blog are hers or someone elses (although the celeb ones are obviously from elsewhere).

And I also wanted to discuss the idea of "fair use". Blogs like Daze Reader will quote several paragraphs from an article to illustrate an entry, and then link to that article. That could be considered to be "fair use". If someone like ErosBlog does a similar thing, but posts a photo as an example, is that "fair use"?

A hardcopy newspaper needs to license any photos it may use to illustrate it's stories. Are we letting blogs off the hook?

[RawAlex]

I looked at that site, and I would say that I am 100% certain that there are images on there used without permission. Further, I am almost certain that they have no model releases or proof of age for these models, and some of them look borderline in age.

I would steer clear of this sort of thing.

Alex

[JenC]

I have a porn blog, I write mostly text on it but when I do put up a few scattered images, I use sponsor content and promote that sponsor. I think it should be the same rules as TGP/Link Lists. It's just common sense.

[Kath]

There are lots of opportunities with blogs today - and it's really growing.

In truth the actual "blog" is supposed to be purely text-based however there are some hybrids and off-shoots out there that utilize images.

Our blog uses images to illustrate webmaster tips and such. It's not a "pure" blog in that sense, but it really gets the job done as a tip-type and industry news type of thing.

Other blog types are moblogs and vblogs that feature photos or video... there are also audio blogs being used that I've seen (but not heard - lol)... so there are a lot of new options/opportunities.

With regard to someone using your images without permission I would agree, the rules should apply like a TGP or something else - but what I would do is to take a page from Lightspeed and instead of freaking out - EMBRACE IT! Put your logo or watermark and URL on every stinking image so even if they don't link it - the surfers will see where they can get more of that cool content. I remember in a newbie seminar years ago Steve said his theory was "why fight it? they're gonna hotlink it anyway - why not make something off it?"

[Kath]

Originally Posted by RawAlex

I looked at that site, and I would say that I am 100% certain that there are images on there used without permission. Further, I am almost certain that they have no model releases or proof of age for these models, and some of them look borderline in age.

I would steer clear of this sort of thing.

Alex

Good point - as with any other traffic trade or alliance - be careful who you work with. You don't want to be associated with someone/something that could potentially bite you in the ass later.

Since the blog thing is so hot right now it might be worth it to make your own fake pic blogs as feeders like freesites and get some traffic in that way.. of course providing proper 2257 info, etc. and other legalities.

It definitely doesn't hurt to try new things - but Alex (as always) makes a great point - it helps to be careful.

[Thumbler]

Some blogs are virtually TGPs - look at the ones on Ask Jolene for example. Maybe one day people will realise that it's text and not pictures that make a blog.

[RawAlex]

Kath, the worst offence of many of the "big" entainment sites is they will strip off the logo (usually by cropping the pic) and then re-logo it with their own name. Not only are they using other people's content, but they are actually taking over "ownership" as well.

There are scumbags out there at all levels, it is quite sad.

Alex

[Ann Omness]

I don't link to blogs that are nothing but pictures because I don't consider them blogs. As far as them using stolen pictures on their blogs, well, I'm not the content police. If I'm SURE it's illegal content (Playboy pics or links to those services designed to steal content), I won't link it. Unless a content producer contacts me complaining about a link, I have no legal liability. If they're concerned about a blog using their content, they can easily bring that blog down using a DMCA notice.

In my own blog, I often quote from news sources and other blogs. I always link to the original source and I've never gotten any complaints from any of them.

[Head Boy]

A lot of blogs are now TGPs, so shouldn't the same rules apply to them - ie no 3rd level domains, no stolen content, no messing with surfers etc.......

Just because blogs are trendy and a site calls itself a blog, it doesn't meant that there isn't some cheater behind it creating a traffic pump or malware installer.

[Ann Omness]

If a blog is a TGP and they submit it to the Blogs category, I won't list it. If they submit it to the TGP category, I'll review it using the normal rules for a TGP.

A lot of people seem to have the misconception that, just because their site was created using blogging software, the search engines will like it. We've all seen the articles about how much the search engines like blogs. It's the text they like. Most blogs have lots of it, updated frequently with new journal entries. A blog that consists of nothing but pictures doesn't get search engine traffic. There's nothing there to index.

[Head Boy]

But I've seen quite a few blogs that have a lot of text, but are just talking about galleries and linking to them. They thrown in a few pics as well. That's really just a tgp imho.

If sponsor hosted sites that are tightly regulated are declined by LLs as free hosted, shouldn't blogs on unregulated 3rd level free hosted domains be declined as well?

[ronnie]

Originally Posted by Head Boy

But I've seen quite a few blogs that have a lot of text, but are just talking about galleries and linking to them. They thrown in a few pics as well. That's really just a tgp imho.

Exactly. Most blogs I've seen lately, are just glorified tgps.

ronnie

[Useless]

Originally Posted by Head Boy

If sponsor hosted sites that are tightly regulated are declined by LLs as free hosted, shouldn't blogs on unregulated 3rd level free hosted domains be declined as well?

I wouldn't list anything that isn't on paid hosting, whether it's a blog, free site, gallery, or a picture of their dog freebasing. If there is one rule that shouldn't be bent, it's the demand for paid hosting. Screw these hobby-hour slip-sloppers who won't pay for hosting.

[Ann Omness]

Everybody's free to make up their own rules regarding the listing of blogs. Or to decide not to list them at all. I would note that the free blog hosting services provide much more than a regular free hosting service. Blog hostings like blogspot and blog-city and several others provide the entire blogging interface. Some of the most popular blogs on the net are hosted on those. I'm not going to reject a recip link on a PR7 page just because it's hosted at blogspot. Would you?

[Mishi]

Originally Posted by Ann Omness

I'm not going to reject a recip link on a PR7 page just because it's hosted at blogspot. Would you?

Off hand, I'm thinking "no."

I don't have a blog category, but bloggers can feel free to submit to the variety/miscellaneous category. If I get enough I'll make a seperate page.

[Mateusz]

Originally Posted by grandmascrotum

Where do we stand when it comes to this practise? Do we want to stop the unauthorised use of pics like this or do we tolerate it because it brings traffic?

Most content licenses don't allow to resell content and IMO 'lending' content for traffic is barter trade which may be judged as reselling.
Anyway... if you may resell pics you own I think your question should be considered AFTER blog owner ask you for permission

[Useless]

Originally Posted by Ann Omness

I'm not going to reject a recip link on a PR7 page just because it's hosted at blogspot. Would you?

I already said I wouldn't.

What are your limitations for listing blogs if you don't care if they are free hosted, you don't care if they are using stolen content, and you don't care if they are even adult-related?

[Kinky]

a lot of cheaters and scammers are jumping on or will be soon jumping on the bandwagon of blogging and pretty soon it will be just as bad as galleries and freesites, and some places are gonna have a bunch of blogs with hundreds of outbound links doing devious shit listed on their sites... scammers jump all over anyting that is free hosted... just my 3 cents

[Head Boy]

I started a couple of blogs, and I may revive one of them. I put them in sub-directories of existing domains that I owned. I preferred to boost my own sites rather than Google. I still find it difficult to put a lot of effort into pushing someone elses domain with a sub-domain unless it's for a throw away traffic pump.

[Ann Omness]

My limitation for listing blogs is actually pretty daunting. It has to really be a blog. A blog is for writing journal entries. It has personality. It requires that you regularly devote some time to writing in it. I doubt if many scammers and cheaters would be willing to maintain a real blog. Personally, I spend about two hours/day on my blog, but I write long entries. I'm willing to give it that much time because it has become my best source for quality traffic over the years. The more you write, the more there is for the search engines to index, the more traffic you get from them.

If a blog is nothing but pictures and links to sponsors, it's not a blog. Even if the author writes reviews of the sites he's advertising, it's not a blog because it doesn't have personality. People like to read interesting blogs. If it's not interesting, it doesn't serve any purpose. I bookmark blogs I like and visit them regularly to see what's new. All readers of blogs do that. If you write stuff that gets you bookmarked, your traffic will keep going up, especially if other bloggers start quoting you and linking to you. A good blog takes a lot of work. It's not a gimmick or a traffic cheat. It must have its own intrinsic value or it won't produce traffic for you.