Somone copied my site and now is listed in ODP

Let me start off by saying that I'm not writing to beg for my site to be included.. I want to just clarify an issue that has risen.

I've spent the last 3 years building software and content to become a pioneer in my niche. I think I've submitted my site a while back but never heard from you guys.. (no big deal). My content/design/process is a first in the industry and has made my business very successful in my niche and in turn ranks very well due to the buzz it creates (first or second on almost every major search engine for all my keywords).

Anyhow the issue I wanted to bring up is that there is a competing site that blatantly copied my content/design/interface. This is a brand new site and is now listed in ODP.

Again I'm not writing cuz of sour grapes... (honestly I can care less to be included and rather focus my time more on my visitors.. no offense). I am concerned how ODP can list this site and put it in a position of trust based on copied content.

I know that ODP is not a moderator of who is the rightful owner of content (i'm in the process of cease and desist letters / digital millenium act letters to the host for this). But I would think at the very least.. an editor for the category he/she is changing take a few moments to check whether a site like this exists already.. if he/she did check using any major search engine my site would very likely come up.

As you seem to already know, Editors are not the Internet Police. Editors find and list sites that fit the editing guidelines and provide unique content to the category they are working in. They check the sites to make sure they are listable in accordance to the guidelines and they check the quality of the content the site provides to the category.

They are not comparing that site to other sites that are not yet discovered or listed. Rather they are looking to see if the site offers content that is relevant and unique to the category. Who came first, isn't something that is going to be investigated during the typical review process.

What you can do:

1. If you feel there has been editorial abuse, navigate to the category and file an abuse report.
2. If you haven't already done so, you can suggest your site to the category for consideration. If the site is listable, meets the criteria for inclusion in the category, and offers good, unique content, it may be included as well or instead.

If the site is truly in some violation and becomes non-functioning or changes content significantly, it will be reviewed and proper action taken at that time.

Hi Shadow,

Thanks for the response. I don't expect any editor to be an internet cop and understand that you don't know of every site out there to be able to compare it.

My concern is more since my site was already previously submitted a few months prior to the listing of the site in question. How is that site gets included? The obvious answer is probably that editors views on sites vary so one reviewing my site may not like it while another may (so the submission guidlines are kinda grey).. or maybe you guys dont review sites in cronological order?

any how its no big deal.. i got a reply today from their hosting provider that they are taking down that site if the owner does not remove the copied content. so all is well. Thanks for your time.

beardman said:

or maybe you guys dont review sites in cronological order?

Click to expand...

An editor can review sites cronological but most don't.

any how its no big deal.. i got a reply today from their hosting provider that they are taking down that site if the owner does not remove the copied content. so all is well. Thanks for your time.

Click to expand...

If the site is down you can help us by sending an update request for that site. Just go to the category it is listed in and click the "update listing" link at the top of the page. And yes, you can send update requests for sites that you don't own.