Someone has copied my website

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Someone has copied my website

website copying, content theft

sledge81

12:04 pm on Nov 29, 2010 (gmt 0)

Hello Webmasters,

I'm in a certain dilemma. Since the 28th of Nov, i've been seeing hits to my website from a certain address. When i checked this URL, it was an exact replica of my wordpress self hosted website front page. The .us domain was registered on the 28/11/2010.

The links all seem to point back to my site though, but i'm still concerned about this.

Can I contact the webhost that is hosting this site and inform them? And if any action can be taken? What other measures can I take?

buckworks

1:25 pm on Nov 29, 2010 (gmt 0)

The fact that the other domain is so new suggests the possibility of a technical quirk.

Here's something to check: Do they have the same host as you and does your site happen to have the same IP address as theirs? And, does your domain happen to be the default for the IP?

Sometimes if someone points their DNS at their host but haven't actually set up their site yet (or they used to have a site but took it down), their domain can end up showing the content from the IP's default site.

If that's what's happening, nothing has actually been copied, but the content shows up on more than one domain. Edits made on your own site will show up instantly on the other site too. (Check for that.)

If that's what's happening, it should be easy for your host to fix. It's weird when it happens but it's usually an accidental situation, not someone trying to hurt you or steal your content.

If, on the other hand, the other site has deliberately copied your content and reproduced it elsewhere, then yes you'd have to contact their host and take DMCA action.

sledge81

1:56 pm on Nov 29, 2010 (gmt 0)

Hi Buckworks,

thanks for helping out. I checked and they are on aplus.net.. my webhost is siteground, using network tools I see that the IP's are altogether different too.

I tried changing content (moved the sidebar widgets around as I use Wordpress) and the changes haven't reflected on this mirror site.

So DCMA is the way to go ? I'm a bit confused because only the homepage is copied.. all links etc seem to point back to my server.

Mike_Feury

4:07 am on Dec 13, 2010 (gmt 0)

only the homepage is copied.. all links etc seem to point back to my server.

If your own links are absolute [ie start with "Http..."], you'll see the behavior you describe if the thief didn't change the page after stealing it.

alika

4:53 pm on Jan 10, 2011 (gmt 0)

Do the DMCA. Start with the host. They're typically quicker to respond than search engines.

The links I use are always absolute, and like you, have catched content thieves this way

sledge81

5:12 pm on Jan 10, 2011 (gmt 0)

Thanks guys.. forgot to update.. contacted the host and sorted things out. Turned out some plugin that I use had an exploit which led to the website duplication.