Consent given to use articles but rel=nofollow used for link!!!!!

**Matt Seigneur** · 27-04-05

I was just going through some of the sites that have articles of mine on them and found 1 (there's probably more) that has my bio at the bottom (that's part of the agreement) and the owner has the audacity to use a google rel=nofollow link to my site. So he's using my content (which took ages to write) and can;t even link to my site as a small thank-you!

I'm going to email them but wanted to know what you would do?

**Mogga** · 27-04-05

revoke your permission and change the t&c under which you licence people your content.

**Shane** · 27-04-05

just email and say please update the link to a normal link or permission to use the content will be withdrawn

make it clear in future that "no follow" links are not permitted and in that case content can not be used.

we've just had a cms built where every external link is a no follow link by default unless we choose otherwise but in cases like this he must know he's taking the pi$$

**smn2** · 27-04-05

This sort of thing is bound to happen really,
and will be difficult to police.

Is that ref tag just used by Google?

Steve

PS Which article directory did you use, Matt ?

**Fraser** · 27-04-05

Is that ref tag just used by Google?

No, MSN and Yahoo take note of it as well.

http://www.google.com/googleblog/200...ment-spam.html

**Matt Seigneur** · 27-04-05

quote:
Is that ref tag just used by Google?

No, MSN and Yahoo take note of it as well.

Whoa! i had no idea the other SE's took note of it! Terrible in the wrong hands!

article directory was goarticles.com and/or ezinearticles.com .

i agree it's bound to happen and will be difficult to police but still bloody aggravating!

**Fraser** · 27-04-05

yep it's very useful for countering comment spam in blogs but could end up being a nightmare as more people decide that external links are a bad thing.

**SillyJokes** · 27-04-05

Difficult but mot impossible to police with a tool like
http://www.copyscape.com
which I have used quite a bit to check our content is not being used without our permission

**mibut** · 27-04-05

Nightmare that you have to check the source code to make sure they haven't slipped the tag in.

**Green2K** · 27-04-05

There are bookmarklets available that highlight "nofllow" links... e.g.

This one

There are lots more. Search google for "nofollow bookmarklet"

So, should be easier than checking the code.

Green2K