When caught red-handed, content thieves on the internet might say this to the author:
“Online resources are public property.”
It’s frustrating to hear, but they’re not entirely wrong. In this digital age, where content is produced in overwhelming quantities, it’s hard to definitively claim originality for anything. At Vietcetera, we understand this, which is why, aside from personal opinions, we also use many external sources to support the viewpoints in our articles.
However, Vietcetera always ensures that if we borrow someone’s perspective, we guide readers to the source of that intellectual property.
The more unique, in-depth, and educational/entertaining a piece of content is, the more likely it is to be stolen. There will always be individuals lurking around looking for ways to snatch the intellectual efforts you spent time researching, analysing, and creating to:
- Attract an audience and rank higher in SEO
- Increase brand visibility
- Boost engagement and generate leads
- Make their platform appear deep and intelligent,
So, here are 4 ways to protect your intellectual property/content, before you create it:
1. Develop a clear and unique personal creative style
This is the most proactive and effective step one can take to protect the originality of their work.
Creating your unique creative style isn’t easy, but it’s like a ‘killing two birds with one stone’ solution. A piece of work with a distinct personality will sustainably and profoundly protect your intellectual property, offer an enjoyable experience to your audience, and push you to level up as a creator.
At this point, your unique style becomes both your spear and your shield. For example, take a look at how veteran filmmakers (like Wes Anderson, Tim Burton,...) build their signature styles in this article.
The only way for your style to become clearly expressed is through practice, practice, and more practice.
Here are some tips for injecting personal flavour into your content (particularly for written work):
- Imagine you're texting or chatting with a friend as you write.
- Pay attention to the exclamations and phrases you often use in real-life conversations and incorporate them into your writing.
- Have a clear point of view when approaching a topic, while also maintaining a relaxed and accepting attitude toward your personality.
2. Use copyright symbols on your platforms ©
Your original content is protected by copyright and the © symbol from the moment you create it.
But not everyone on the internet is aware of their responsibilities toward someone else's intellectual property. That’s why placing a copyright symbol (©) at the bottom of the page is a gentle reminder to the world that the content is owned by you or your organisation.
For visual products (images, videos, illustrations, etc.), use a personal watermark so no one can easily claim your visuals as their own. You can also add a line like:
“Copyrighted work belonging to [X], please do not copy or edit in any form.”
3. Explore plug-in software services for your platform ©
Plug-ins are tools integrated into websites to extend their functionality. Many content creators use platforms like WordPress, which offer plug-ins to help protect their website’s content.
For example, WP Content Copy Protection & No Right Click disables right-clicking and shortcut keys that users might use to copy your content. There are many other plug-ins to help you safeguard your work.
You can also consider using DMCA protection services. The DMCA badge might make would-be thieves hesitate and think twice. More importantly, DMCA services can detect and notify you when your content is being used elsewhere, and in some cases, they can even take down the content from copyright-infringing sites.
4. Refer to copyright laws ©
Almost everything we do is governed by a set of laws that clearly define rights and responsibilities. When it comes to creative work, you should refer to Intellectual Property Law. You don’t have to memorise it, but knowing how to reference it will help you avoid accidentally violating someone else’s intellectual property and protect your own in the process.
Plus, in the event of a dispute, those who understand the law will feel more confident standing their ground.
In Conclusion ©
Seeing the content you put your mind and heart into being copied or distorted is never a pleasant feeling, especially when it’s “accidentally taken” by people in the same field, those you thought were “in the same boat.”
Of course, it’s easy to unintentionally violate someone else’s intellectual property in this vast sea of information. That’s why, if you’re a content creator, it’s important to be open to collaboration, because one day, someone might accuse you of copyright infringement.
There are many more ways to protect your content; the methods above are just some basic steps you can apply easily. We sincerely hope your intellectual property is respected by audiences and protected by you, the creator.
If you have any other great tips, feel free to share them with Vietcetera and fellow creatives in the comments!