I just got an email for AC stating that it has come their attention that I hired writers to create my content so they banned me.

How does this happen? I had only "one" good writer that up to an hour ago was still writing articles for me...

I smell a rat.

Thats messed up. Who else did you tell?

The good thing is that you can just make another account. Did you have a high clout level?

Originally Posted by NIghtShade

I just got an email for AC stating that it has come their attention that I hired writers to create my content so they banned me.

How does this happen? I had only "one" good writer that up to an hour ago was still writing articles for me...

I smell a rat.

That sucks. I think you do have a rat. Out of curiosity, how much content were you pumping out?

Ughhh, sorry to hear that Nightshade. My first guess would be that the cackling hens we've been referring to in the "AC Forums" thread reported you. If they latch onto someone they feel is rewriting content they will go out of their way to narc you off to AC.

Sad, but true.

Explode the name of your writer here so other will avoid his/her service. What's his paypa*l id? It'll be possible to know if he is on that site and is, indeed, a rat.

Most of those writers will simply use the same PP id on both those sites. Just look for the name on AC after you pay him, or better still, you can even ask for "his PP id before you send him samples so that you can pay him immediately when he dispatches his first set to you." Then check your target site for the name. A rat will be trapped instantly with this.

Use the following to find if the name is present on A*C. Use either surround quotes or no surrounding quotes. Or use both.

Code:

site:associatedcontent.com fname lname

change the fname, lname to his actual fname lname if they are present in the PP id he gives you, or use whatever part of his name he gives.

Who cares who wrote the content as long as it's original. That's just dumb.

Unless you specifically told the outsourced writer where your articles were going to, I don't know how the writer could have reported you. I guess they could have saved a copy of their work and checked for it later to see where it was being posted. Not a very smart person if they hope to keep clients.

Hopefully, you don't use the same user name's on both AC and BHW. Using different names makes it difficult to pinpoint you as the person.

I'm really curious to know how AC found out, but I still stick to my viewpoint that it doesn't matter who wrote the content as long as it's original content. Total BS what happened to you.

Whether its right or not isnt in question. Its against their TOS.

If it were me I'd make sure to only hire people with established track records at GAF....it would be way too easy for 2 or 3 AC soccer moms to get a hair up their butt, sit at GAF for a few days and nail dozens of outsourcers when their sample piece gets published at AC. It seems like a waste of time to me, but I could totally see it happening.

I'm interested in knowing how many articles the "rewriter" did for you Nightshade. If it's one of the cackling hens trying to screw with you, I don't see them doing a bunch of rewrites at $1-$2 per just to try to get you banned. A few rewrites sure, but yeah, fill us in on that if you would.

Exactly what is it that it is against their TOS?

Here's the thing (right or wrong - no sarcasm meant): The only difference between a freelancer and an employee writing your articles is that the freelancer is an independent contractor.

Are you telling me that AC has in their TOS that an employee cannot create my articles for my business (no matter what my business is)? No, of course not.

Other than tax purposes, benefits, paperwork, etc., what's the difference between a freelancer creating the content and an employee? Absolutely none!

I know it's their show, but it doesn't mean it's right. And it's not! All that should matter is that the content is unique and that YOU HAVE FULL RIGHTS TO THE CONTENT. Nothing else matters, period!

Posted via Mobile Device

Id fight it......tell them to show you proof....

Everything written in their TOS and other pages about the rules matters. It's clearly written there and you are obliged to provide them more information, including your ownership of the content if they need it.

Code:

You may Post only User Content which you own, have created 
or which you have clear permission to Post.

The above is not a simple statement as it sounds! (There could be more statements like it specifically addressing your case which I may not be aware of). Find the above statement on their site. It clearly means that if they suspect you have not created the content, or don't have clear permission to post, then they can remove it and ask for more information.

They can even ban you if you haven't given them an understanding that the content (you got written from another person) is not wholly created by you.

You still have / don't have sufficient legal paperwork to display the full ownership of the content.

If you don't have the complete ownership, it's putting them in a soup with the original writer, who incidentally hasn't 'signed' their contract. This can be a long legal process with the original writer who can demand full compensation for 'stealing' his original work. The court will need sufficient paperwork to prove that they indeed have the authority from the original writer, and not someone who has stolen content / hired another person to write on his behalf / or whatever. The company only wants to deal with the original writer for many such issues.

So, if they get a "written" complaint / proof from some "writer" who shows that, for example, even though you've gotten the content from that writer BUT without the written consent of the full transfer of ownership, then they have every right to believe the "original writer", do the necessary investigation, and can ban you straight away for at least a breech of contract or whatever.

They of course don't have the obligation to tell you every reason behind the rejection. They have given you an explanation which they can defend any time successfully with "proofs".

Can you really prove the full ownership of the content if they ask for it? For example, in this particular case, the content is still unpublished, right? So how can anyone else show them the same content (or a very similar content) and also give them the name of who is going to publish it? If they get this type of proof, then find that you have already submitted the content written by a third party and haven't provided that information with the proof of your ownership, you are in deep trouble and also have put them in future trouble unnecessarily.

I'm not a lawyer, but I understand these things lot better. I also have over 2 decades of experience in the field of computers and have seen such things happen to lot of large companies. Why do you think they have a billion-words TOS and still have other pages of rules, special conditions, and whatnots? To simply save their hide when they get into trouble for any reason. Take a great advice in this matter from a real lawyer though.

That's a nice post...

All content (or anything that you have created for you) should clearly state that all rights transfer to you and that the creator forfeits all such rights.

You can then have them indicate in their PMs that they consent to the terms.

Keep that on file.

At that point, how you go about proving that the consent was for specific pieces of work would be something that needs to be further worked out.

I'm just brainstorming here... the problem raises an interesting and probably semi-complex issue.

The person who contracted the work out has a right to protect their interests as well... I guess you really have to protect yourself in advance.

Anybody have any solutions to protect us from asswipe freelancers who try to do something like this?

You can definitely find how to get the FULL transfer of ownership if you G it. Then find more! Learn everything on this topic -- it would not take a couple or hours or a little more, and will save you a lot of trouble down the line! They (AC in this case) want you to have complete ownership which you should be able to provide them if needed. Content has legal complexities and everyone must have all the necessary documents handy in such circumstances. Get the full ownership from your writers and you'd be safe, IMO.

I think they say that it has to be produced by you because it could open them up to liability fro 3rd parties as mentioned above.

also...I really wouldnt try and fight AC. 1) you arent going to win, they could care less about any 1 writer unless you're one of their "preferential treatment" writers that none of us are. 2) All they have to do is google a few keywords in your article to find the existing articlethat was rewritten. They specifically say they can ban for rewriting in the TOS.

All of this can be aleviated by double checking your writers and making sure they arent AC "spies" (lol). And worst case,

Code:

start a new account

.

wow, you can literally get anybody banned from ac, can't you?

hi my name is ____ and i have been writing articles for ________ AC contributer.

Here is my proof: copy of user's articles

i hope its not that easy! If thats the case theres some people at the AC forums id like to see banned...

now if they show AC an article thats in the submission process or even worse, one thats being published in the next few days....probably a dead giveaway.

Originally Posted by livinitup0

i hope its not that easy! If thats the case theres some people at the AC forums id like to see banned...

now if they show AC an article thats in the submission process or even worse, one thats being published in the next few days....probably a dead giveaway.

probly a good idea to keep your ac accounts hidden from your writers then, huh?

Definitely, but again, all they have to do is Copyscape or search Google and find where their rewrites got published. To be honest, I'm not so sure it was the actual writer in this case. If one of the cackling hens complain to AC that they "think" you're hiring writers and doing rewrites, this is what can happen. Those nutjobs pride themselves on it.

sorry for the dp

There is a very very simple solution to this problem... Get your writers to sign a contract - copy a contract from another content company if you must as they are rock solid, send it to all your writers and have them physically sign it (no electronic stuff) and scan it and send it back to you. A legally binding contract will cover you on this issue because otherwise anyone could sue folks like AC, Demand or Internet Brands etc...

Here's an idea... keep a low profile over at the AC forums if you think that may be the source of the problem. You should keep a low profile there anyways maybe?

tbh ive messed around in the forum over there and I really see no point in it. Its just a lot of "hey im awesome look at my articles" and bickering between their regulars.

I've never been to the AC forums before but hearing some stuff about it really doesn't inspire me to go. lol

Originally Posted by livinitup0

i hope its not that easy! If thats the case theres some people at the AC forums id like to see banned...

now if they show AC an article thats in the submission process or even worse, one thats being published in the next few days....probably a dead giveaway.

Well.....I guess you could do this with anybody....you can copy/paste their articles in a word documents....zipem up...
Posted via Mobile Device

Originally Posted by PoolShark

Here's an idea... keep a low profile over at the AC forums if you think that may be the source of the problem. You should keep a low profile there anyways maybe?

Yeah, I never post there at all. I keep an eye on updates from the AC staff and that's about it other than checking titles to see if they're talking about BHW.

It could be maybe your articles, maybe one article your referring yourself as a women,and the other you are referring yourself to man.If you put 2 and 2 together its obvious you arent the one writing the articles..just my 2cents

Articles sholdn't be written from a first person perspective anyways.

I think there was another member who was after Red's methods (GA*F) and who had to 'stop' when his A*C account was mentioned bluntly. May be, some one from A*C has taken hint from him or from his thread and has planted people to trap our members who are using GA*F. Just my 2 cents. I still think it was a trap by the writer.

Originally Posted by redtide1969

To be honest, I'm not so sure it was the actual writer in this case. If one of the cackling hens complain to AC that they "think" you're hiring writers and doing rewrites, this is what can happen. Those nutjobs pride themselves on it.

Thats what I think. I didn't deal with the GAF cr@p. I had a legit writer working for me and up to the ban they were asking for more work. I was having the person do 10 a day. I specifically said you transfer the rights to me anyway, not that it makes a difference because they just want to get paid.

I believe that they saw a new account putting out a certain amount of high quality niche specific articles and were probably aware I came from here. They have to have caught on already.

Im done with AC, its honestly to much work and to much of a hassle for a small amount of money.