| There are many ways to get a deal these days, | | | | am finding the content I create being stolen more |
| but before you give in to the temptation to jump | | | | frequently. If I can help spread the word, maybe |
| on board thinking you are saving a lot of money, | | | | we can help reduce the problem. |
| consider things in perspective. If someone walked | | | | There is a growing trend toward outsourcing |
| up to you wearing a trench coat offering a deal | | | | offshore for just about everything. Manufacturers |
| on an expensive watch, your instincts would tell | | | | have struggled with idea theft from offshore |
| you it is most likely stolen. If you bought it | | | | companies for decades, but copyrights and |
| anyway, you would be just as guilty as the thief. | | | | trademarks are more easily enforced. Before you |
| When you are dealing with the Internet, the guys | | | | jump into a great deal by turning to offshore |
| in trench coats can put up a respectable looking | | | | outsourcing, intellectual property rights should be |
| site and make themselves look just like a fine | | | | one of your main concerns. |
| jeweler. If their prices are about the same as | | | | Suppose you had a web site developed in India |
| everyone else, then it may be harder to spot the | | | | (either directly or through a company that uses |
| frauds. When they are offering an incredible deal, | | | | offshore outsourcing), and instead of creating |
| consider it not worth the risk. | | | | original content, they steal it from various sources |
| To make matters worse, endorsements from | | | | and pass it off to you as their own work. It is an |
| respectable sources might not even be enough. | | | | unfortunate reality that offshore sources outside |
| As I write this article, the graphic design industry | | | | of U.S. jurisdiction are also a breeding ground for |
| has made a discovery that has them rightfully | | | | all forms of pirating. |
| outraged. The law is on their side too, so in the | | | | When a copyright owner discovers your site with |
| near future, many unsuspecting businesses are | | | | stolen content, they, or their legal firm Dewey, |
| likely to find themselves faced with expensive | | | | Stickem, & Howe, will contact you about it. |
| lawsuits. | | | | Since prosecuting the offshore company is more |
| A major online logo provider seemed at first to | | | | difficult, and the copyright owner may even be |
| be just an annoyance to respectable graphic | | | | more irate that you used an offshore outsource |
| designers who create logos for businesses. The | | | | to steal their work, you could legally receive the |
| company offers logos for rates that should make | | | | full brunt of their wrath. |
| anyone suspicious, but they managed to get | | | | Copyright and trademark infringement is not |
| some endorsements from sources such as The | | | | flattery to the owners. Original work takes |
| Wall Street Journal. As it turns out, many of the | | | | creativity, thought, effort, research, money, time, |
| logos they are selling are stolen. There is mounting | | | | and other resources. Stealing it is easier, and |
| evidence against them for trademark infringement | | | | buying from a thief is often cheap, but also risky. |
| and the buyers can be held just as liable as the | | | | These thieves are smooth con artists. They may |
| thieves. | | | | appear very professional, but it's because they |
| The growth of the Internet makes this form of | | | | steal from people who are professional. |
| theft more common, but also easier to catch. I | | | | |