Writing blog posts and producing visual content takes time, effort, and creativity – that’s why you get paid for it. So what happens when someone steals your work and claims it as their own?
Content theft can hurt your brand, traffic, and even income, whether it’s text getting Ctrl+C’d or a photo being used without permission. In this guide, you’ll learn what to do when your travel content gets stolen – and how to protect yourself moving forward.
What is content theft?
Content theft is when someone takes your original work without your permission.
Here’s how it might show up in the travel niche:
- Direct copying: Someone copies your blog post or re-uploads your photos without credit.
- Reposting without credit: Your Instagram photos are shared on another account without tags or links back to you.
- Idea theft: A YouTube creator watches your video (e.g., “10 Essential Packing Tips for Europe”) and then creates a similar video using your exact tips and examples without acknowledgement.
- Scraped content: Your website’s content, including images and text, is pulled by bots and reposted on spammy sites.
- Uncredited use of videos: A brand or page uses your footage in its content without asking or crediting you.
- Template theft: Unique formats, layouts, or interactive features (like travel itineraries or custom widgets) are copied and passed off as someone else’s innovation.
How stolen content impacts SEO
Content theft can lead to decreased visibility and traffic. Here’s how:
- Duplicate content issues: When your original content appears on multiple sites without proper attribution, search engines may struggle to determine the original source, which is recognized as the most reliable. You risk taking a hit to your rankings if your site isn’t recognized as the original.
- Domain authority: Established sites that steal your content might have more authority in the eyes of search engines. This can boost the stolen version’s ranking over yours.
- Better optimization: Content thieves often optimize the stolen version with additional keywords, internal links, or backlinks, improving performance.
- Indexing speed: If a thief’s site gets indexed faster than yours, their version might appear in search results first, making it harder for yours to catch up.
- User suspicions: Visitors who see the same content on multiple sites may question which one to trust. If they don’t choose your site, engagement metrics can drop.
AI adds its own twist. Tools like ChatGPT and Jasper.ai have made it easier for people to rewrite and camouflage stolen content, causing SEO issues like those listed above.
These tools can rephrase stolen content so effectively that it often slips past plagiarism detectors. The original ideas remain intact, but the wording changes enough to make the theft (as well as your ownership) harder to prove. Visual content is not immune, either.
The impact on your SEO can be significant. AI-rewritten content can rank higher than the original, destroying traffic and hurting the creator’s credibility.
Maria, Always Pack Tissues:
I have worked hard to identify my brand with only real stories from my travels, never utilizing AI to generate material, prompts, anything. If you see something from Always Pack Tissues, I want it to be synonymous with authenticity. If there’s a copycat AI mimicking my content, I would hope that it will be evident to my readers.
But, this is a real fear we all need to be aware of. AI tools, despite my opinions on utilizing them, aren’t disappearing anytime soon, so we need to at least arm ourselves with knowledge and build a reputable foundation as an authentic voice on the internet.
How stolen content impacts social media visibility
Content theft isn’t just an SEO problem; it can also hurt your presence on social media.
- Viral potential of stolen content: Popular stolen content often goes viral faster because it’s shared by large networks or reposted on high-traffic accounts. If a well-followed page posts your work, they may get the credit and exposure instead of you.
- Engagement metrics: Social media algorithms prioritize content with higher engagement (likes, comments, and shares). Stolen versions may rack up these metrics faster, especially if posted on accounts with active audiences, further amplifying their reach.
- Algorithm bias: Social media platforms prioritize engaging content, no matter where it comes from. If stolen content gains traction, algorithms may amplify it, making it harder for the original creator to regain visibility.
How to prevent your content from being stolen
Here are a couple of strategies you can use to deter content thieves.
- Add watermarks to your photos and videos: Watermarking your content gives you a way to prove it’s yours, even if someone tries to use it without permission. Canva makes watermarking simple and customizable, and Digimarc is another service that can help.
Maria, Always Pack Tissues:
Honestly, there are a lot of bloggers who have stood in the exact same spot in Thailand, or who have snagged a photo of the sunset over the exact same beach as another blogger, and sometimes it can be really tricky to determine if the content captured is their own, or if your photo has been snatched. I made the regretful mistake of assuming one of my photos had been stolen and still carry my tail between my legs over the embarrassing incident when I approached the person about it.
Don’t make assumptions either way – whether that means assuming someone stole your stuff, or that the content you are seeing is even theirs (heck, it could be AI generated!). Stop the guessing games – with watermarks, there is no question who the content belongs to. At a minimum, safeguard the photos you are really proud of.
- Enable pingbacks and trackbacks: Turn on pingbacks and trackbacks to get notified when other websites link to your content. This shows you who’s referencing your work and can alert you to potential unauthorized uses.
- Use a DMCA badge: Adding a DMCA.com badge to your site shows that your content is legally protected. If your badge-protected content is stolen, the company will issue a takedown notice (though, unfortunately, there’s no guarantee the thieves will take their page down).
- Add a copyright notice: A simple copyright line in your site’s footer lets visitors know your work is legally protected. Something like “© [Your Name/Website], All Rights Reserved” is both a warning and a reminder.
How to detect if your content has been stolen
There are a few ways to monitor for stolen content.
- Manual searches: Use search engines to look for unique phrases from your blog posts or captions (use quotation marks). This can help you locate exact matches.
Maria, Always Pack Tissues:
I actually found that one of my blog posts was scraped head to toe, including my affiliate links, and I couldn’t believe it! Some spammy site overseas had taken my entire post and copied it, and the only way I found it was manually searching through my latest backlinks on Semrush. The site URL looked weird, so I clicked out to it and was flabbergasted to see my photos, my face, my words, and my content on the screen.
- Google Alerts: Setting up alerts for key phrases from your content can help, but it’s not perfect. If Google finds those phrases on other sites, it can alert you, but it might miss reworded or partially copied content.
- Reverse image search: To find out if your photos are being used without permission, try Google Images or TinEye. Simply upload your image or paste its URL; these tools will show where it appears online.
- Plagiarism checkers: Tools like Copyscape or Grammarly’s Plagiarism Checker can scan the web to find exact or near-duplicate copies of your blog posts or captions.
What to do if your content is stolen
1. Document the infringement
If you find stolen content, start by collecting evidence. Take screenshots showing the unauthorized use, including the URL and date. For images or videos, download the stolen version and compare it to your originals. This proof is key for filing a takedown request or pursuing legal action, as it strengthens your case against the infringer or platform.
2. Identify the offender
To target the right person or platform, you need to find out who’s behind the stolen content. Use tools like Whoisto check the website’s registration details, which often include the owner’s contact information. Check the site for a contact form or email address. Look for profiles or usernames connected to the stolen post on social media.
3. Contact the infringer directly
Before filing formal complaints, try reaching out directly to the person responsible. Send a polite but firm email or message explaining the situation, sharing proof of your ownership, and asking them to remove the content. Many cases are resolved this way, as some offenders may not fully understand the legal consequences. A clear and respectful message often settles the issue without escalating.
Maria, Always Pack Tissues:
I contacted the infringer directly, with a weak reply from them about how glad they were I stumbled on their webpage. Umm…what? So I took to some trusted Facebook groups to find out my options for next steps.
4. File a DMCA takedown notice
If the person or site doesn’t cooperate, take the next step by filing a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown notice. Identify the hosting provider of the offending site using tools like HostingChecker. Most providers offer forms specifically for DMCA requests. Be sure to include all necessary details, like proof of ownership and links to original and stolen content. This process can get stolen material removed from websites and search engines, especially in clear copyright infringement cases.
5. Report to social media platforms
File a report to have the stolen material removed. Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook have built-in tools for reporting copyright violations. Each platform has its own process, but you’ll generally need proof of ownership. Removing stolen content from public view protects your brand and minimizes damage.
6. Consider legal action
Legal options include sending a cease-and-desist letter, filing a copyright claim, or even pursuing a lawsuit to recover damages. While this process can take time and money, it’s a solid way to protect your work in severe cases. Many content thieves stop when faced with legal action, so this can be a practical last step.
Maria, Always Pack Tissues:
I was told there was a seventh option – although some may not agree – simply to “do nothing.” I know a lot of people have lost their faith in Google, but we’ve all seen the strides they’ve made in filtering out the junk on the internet.
Like I said before, if you have an authentic voice, your readers will know it, and so should Google. In fact, a trusted peer in the industry told me when my content was scraped – “Congratulations, you’ve made it!” I had to laugh. So I guess I’m officially part of a very unlucky club? I took this comment with a long breath and a sigh and did nothing. In truth, I haven’t thought about it again. But, if you need resolution, and I completely understand why you would want to, Travelpayouts has your back with detailed suggestions below.
Platform-specific advice
Has your work been stolen? Here’s what to do, based on where it’s being hosted.
Websites
- Find the website’s contact information: Look for a “Contact” or “About” page on the site hosting your stolen content. If unavailable, use a tool like Whois to find the domain owner’s email.
- Send a direct request: Write a polite but firm email explaining the theft, providing evidence (like links to your original content) and asking them to remove it within a specific timeframe.
- File a DMCA takedown request: If they don’t respond, identify the website’s hosting provider using a tool like HostingChecker.
- Visit the hosting provider’s website and locate their DMCA complaint form.
- Include details such as your original URL, the infringing URL, and proof of ownership.
- Request removal from Google Search: Go to the Google DMCA Complaint Form and submit the necessary information to de-index the infringing content from search results.
TikTok
- Locate the stolen content: Open the TikTok video and tap the Share icon. Copy the link to the offending video.
- Submit a DMCA takedown request: TikTok’s formal process requires filing a copyright infringement report. It must include your contact information, the type of copyrighted work, evidence, and additional materials.
- Monitor for updates: TikTok will notify you once they review your claim, which may take a few days.
- Find the stolen content: Take a screenshot or save the link to the post that uses your work without permission.
- Submit a copyright claim form: If the in-app report doesn’t work, use Instagram’s Copyright Report Form.
- Provide the URLs of the stolen content and your original content.
- Attach proof of ownership, like your original files or timestamps.
YouTube
- Locate the stolen video: Open the offending video, click Share, and copy the link.
- Use YouTube’s copyright tool: If you’re part of the YouTube Partner Program, use the Copyright Match Tool in YouTube Studio. It scans for duplicates of your content.
- File a copyright complaint: If you aren’t part of the Partner Program, you can still file a complaint using YouTube’s Copyright Infringement Form.
- Provide the URLs of the stolen and original videos and evidence of ownership.
- Wait for a resolution: YouTube usually processes claims within ten business days. If your claim is valid, the stolen content will be removed.
- Find the stolen pin: Open the pin that uses your content and copy its URL.
- Report the pin:
- Click the … icon on the pin.
- Select Report pin > This infringes my copyright.
- File a copyright infringement notification: A new page should open. Fill out the form, providing the URLs of the stolen and original content along with proof of ownership.
- If the in-app report doesn’t resolve the issue, visit Pinterest’s DMCA Page.
- Monitor the outcome: Pinterest will review the claim and notify you once the pin is removed.
Active defense
Keeping your content safe online requires more than tools that help you react – you need to stay one step ahead of thieves. Or even several steps: combine and layer your strategies to make their lives as hard as possible, and stay vigilant. With consistent effort, you can reduce the risk and remain in control of your work.
