Sounds like somewhat of an odd connection, right? Well, this article from SEO Logic explains. Essentially, search engines don't like identically or overly similar content. So, if they optimize better than you do, then your site may drop in PR drastically if not get blacklisted.

But obviously, since it costs $100 to copywrite a single article or post, it isn't convienable that most of a forum would be copywrited. You could copywrite the graphics if you so desired, but that is still overpriced as hell.

So, what to do? I honestly don't have a good answer, since I hadn't thought too much on the subject. Please, don't suggest the creative commons banner, as those are ignored by all. The first and most obvious thing which jumps out at me is copyscape. But I'm not sure how effective it truely is. And without a legally valid copywrite, a C&D order is not possible.

Unfortunately, most other options involve paranoid behavior. You can disable a right click, but with browsers like Opera, that can be used as a forum spell checker. You can custom build a right-click menu, but the unfamiliar can be off putting. You can watermark images, but it looks bad when you even have to watermark banners and user ranks. You can encrypt your source code, but if you use something like vB or IPB, many hacks have a forced linkback, so its easy to figure outs what's being run and how to exploit it. Plus, that covers style and not actual content. You can mask images, but I'm unsure of how most forum softwares allow you to do that. And, for those with a moderate degree of competence, or who try and steal more than 1 image, they'll notice the identical file names and catch on, finding a way around it. The list goes on, but all those others which I think of are equally ineffective.

So, what is a webmaster to do?

Well, as you might know by now, even if it was economically feasable to register in copyright office every forum page, most of the content, like ideas, opinions or factual information, are not copyrightable. Even so if you've not registered your work you still own the rights of your original work as long as you can prove that you're the original author and the date of first creation. Public registration is needed only for monetary claims AFAIK.

I do use the CC license and banner, not as a protection since I don't believe is it's function, I use it because I do believe it's better to allow some flexibility with the reproduction and distribution rights of your work.

Better than using "paranoid" options, I think educating your visitors about what they can or can't do with your original work is the most sensible option here. Most copyright violations are made out of plain ignorance, since most people tend to believe that because something is published on the internet must be "up for grabs". "Blowing the whistle" seems more effective in the long run against most of the more cinical violators.

Real IP theft is of course more tricky (and expensive) to deal with. Unfortunatelly, small and new websites are the easiest targets. To sue is also out of regular possibilities of most webmasters. Again, apart from public denouncing, seems that most other actions could be completely futile.

Of course, if monetary gain is involved, if you in any way want to have a profit from your intellectual work, then there's no question about it, you MUST register it.

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