REI's HikingProject regurgitated my content

#1

Post by myhikesorg » Wed, Nov 06, 2019, 1:29 PM UTC

I run a small independent trail sharing platform for hikers and backpackers, https://myhikes.org. MyHikes obviously has to compete in ranks against the big wigs like AllTrails, HikingProject, TrailLink, etc - which is impossible.

This competition has lead one 'competitor' (I say 'competitor' because I make no money), HikingProject, to publish a trail 2 weeks after I published the same one. That's fine and everything since all public trails are public and people should be able to find that information in multiple places. But, the issue I'm having is the almost verbatim regurgitation of content that they included in text on their platform here: https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7087026/dry-hollow-trail

Compared to my original content published and indexed 12 days prior here: https://myhikes.org/trails/dry-hollow-trail

A lot of this content was difficult to write since I hiked the trail, internalized it, and came up with data that would be relevant to someone who needs minute details - including information that HikingProject should have known if they had any pictures for their content as well.

So the best part about this terrible rewrite of most of my content is that now they rank above me in search. Additionally, they profit off of ads and apparently whoever decided to copy and rewrite my content didn't see the "Donate" button mentioning we run off of basically nothing. No one ever reached out to me to ask if they could use any information on the site, they just read it and rewrote it terribly.

I'm posting this because this is the modern internet. The little guy gets screwed over even when they create something original. HikingProject has a better rank than MyHikes, great... but ffs, can I at least have a rank based on originality AND high quality content?

Re: REI's HikingProject regurgitated my content

#2

Post by aynyc » Wed, Nov 06, 2019, 3:10 PM UTC

Thank google! It used to reward original content, now it's all about users and likes, etc.

Re: REI's HikingProject regurgitated my content

#3

Post by matt_the_bass » Wed, Nov 06, 2019, 3:14 PM UTC

Add a suitable copyright notice to your site then send rei a takedown notice. Better yet ask them for a licensing fee. Maybe they will hire you to write their content. Just be sure that you retain copyright.

You can also add in fake but irrelevant details to your descriptions to prove they took your data. This used to be common on paper road maps. Some include non-existent towns.

Re: REI's HikingProject regurgitated my content

#4

Post by myhikesorg » Wed, Nov 06, 2019, 3:23 PM UTC

matt_the_bass wrote: post #3

Add a suitable copyright notice to your site then send rei a takedown notice. Better yet ask them for a licensing fee. Maybe they will hire you to write their content. Just be sure that you retain copyright. You can also add in fake but irrelevant details to your descriptions to prove they took your data. This used to be common on paper road maps. Some include non-existent towns.

I had the same idea about the fake irrelevant data while trying to fall asleep last night. It's a great idea, but I also don't want to send any unwitting hiker or backpacker down the wrong route or include weird info that doesn't make sense - especially if someone gets lost on the trail and they're trying to decipher my trail notes.

I have contacted REI and submitted takedown requests on Google and Bing as well, but I'm not holding my breath for much. I do include a copyright at the bottom of the page from the site's inception until the current year as well.

It's nice to see that other people support this and don't just see this as me complaining. I truly think the internet is broken, but I'll continue to help build this stupid beast. Thanks for the reply!

Re: REI's HikingProject regurgitated my content

#5

Post by myhikesorg » Wed, Nov 06, 2019, 3:23 PM UTC

aynyc wrote: post #2

Thank google! It used to reward original content, now it's all about users and likes, etc.

Yep and whoever makes them the most money through AdSense!

Re: REI's HikingProject regurgitated my content

#6

Post by matt_the_bass » Wed, Nov 06, 2019, 3:55 PM UTC

myhikesorg wrote: post #4

matt_the_bass wrote: post #3

Add a suitable copyright notice to your site then send rei a takedown notice. Better yet ask them for a licensing fee. Maybe they will hire you to write their content. Just be sure that you retain copyright. You can also add in fake but irrelevant details to your descriptions to prove they took your data. This used to be common on paper road maps. Some include non-existent towns.

I had the same idea about the fake irrelevant data while trying to fall asleep last night. It's a great idea, but I also don't want to send any unwitting hiker or backpacker down the wrong route or include weird info that doesn't make sense - especially if someone gets lost on the trail and they're trying to decipher my trail notes. I have contacted REI and submitted takedown requests on Google and Bing as well, but…

Cool! As for “fake” info, I mean something like “look for the pink rocks next to the waterfall”. Something innocuous but you can point to to prove origin of their content.

Also, I’m a big fan of “if you can’t best ‘em, join ‘em”. I’d try to work out a deal with them rather than just take down your content.

Good luck!

Re: REI's HikingProject regurgitated my content

#7

Post by wcchandler » Wed, Nov 06, 2019, 4:00 PM UTC

I’m an REI member so I may be a little biased but they tend to be pretty respectful to people. You may want to write this up on their forums and see if you can get an admins attention.

Re: REI's HikingProject regurgitated my content

#8

Post by myhikesorg » Wed, Nov 06, 2019, 4:34 PM UTC

wcchandler wrote: post #7

I’m an REI member so I may be a little biased but they tend to be pretty respectful to people. You may want to write this up on their forums and see if you can get an admins attention.

Thanks I'll try that. I'm an REI member too, but may not be much longer.

Re: REI's HikingProject regurgitated my content

#9

Post by maxerickson » Wed, Nov 06, 2019, 4:38 PM UTC

matt_the_bass wrote: post #3

Add a suitable copyright notice to your site then send rei a takedown notice. Better yet ask them for a licensing fee. Maybe they will hire you to write their content. Just be sure that you retain copyright. You can also add in fake but irrelevant details to your descriptions to prove they took your data. This used to be common on paper road maps. Some include non-existent towns.

There likely isn't any need to add a statement about copyright.

Re: REI's HikingProject regurgitated my content

#10

Post by myhikesorg » Wed, Nov 06, 2019, 4:43 PM UTC

matt_the_bass wrote: post #6

myhikesorg wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had the same idea about the fake irrelevant data while trying to fall asleep last night. It's a great idea, but I also don't want to send any unwitting hiker or backpacker down the wrong route or include weird info that doesn't make sense - especially if someone gets lost on the trail and they're trying to decipher my trail notes. I have contacted REI and submitted takedown requests on Google and Bing as well, but…

Cool! As for “fake” info, I mean something like “look for the pink rocks next to the waterfall”. Something innocuous but you can point to to prove origin of their content. Also, I’m a big fan of “if you can’t best ‘em, join ‘em”. I’d try to work out a deal with them rather than just take down your content. Good luck!

True, you make some good points here and thanks a lot!