What does everyone here think of scraper sites? Is it just wrong? Is it ok? Can money be made?

money? definately
wrong? definately

Depends on the level of data scraped and if it gives a link back and if it's obvious it is a scraper.

As far as I am concerned you can scrape my content till the cows come home as long as I get a link. I mean, I let Google do it. I also let Yahoo and MSN do it, so why not some kid in a bedroom.

But, scraper sites are not for the long term, if you want to make money the best way is to go with original material.

Before the whiter than whites hats come charging in with their scraper sites are evil, pseudo ethical bull****. Remember that Google makes millions and millions of dollars from scraper sites. That is why they exist and it is they that make the ground warm, moist and fertile for the scraper to plant his seed.

So if you want scrapers gone, have a moan at Google.

Originally Posted by lyndoman

Depends on the level of data scraped and if it gives a link back and if it's obvious it is a scraper.

As far as I am concerned you can scrape my content till the cows come home as long as I get a link. I mean, I let Google do it. I also let Yahoo and MSN do it, so why not some kid in a bedroom.

But, scraper sites are not for the long term, if you want to make money the best way is to go with original material.

Before the whiter than whites hats come charging in with their scraper sites are evil, pseudo ethical bull****. Remember that Google makes millions and millions of dollars from scraper sites. That is why they exist and it is they that make the ground warm, moist and fertile for the scraper to plant his seed.

So if you want scrapers gone, have a moan at Google.

Are you saying that it wouldn't be wrong if I made a blog and posted other peoples articles, but gave them a link back :S

hmm ok, I think we need to define a 'scraper' site first:

I thought you ment sites that automatically scrape content from other sites (no rss....) and deliver it on (several) of their own. without a link.

for me scraping is by definition without a link back, else it would be quoting

Automated scrappers sites make some webmasters over 100,000 a month.

Are you saying that it wouldn't be wrong if I made a blog and posted other peoples articles, but gave them a link back :S

what I am saying is if someone scraped my content and republished it with a link back to my site (it happens everyday) I am not going to lose sleep over it.

If you take my content use to make money, without giving me a link back or recognition then I consider it theft. And I will deal with it accordingly.

Automated scrappers sites make some black hatters over 100,000 a month

I know scrapers who make this money and they are very, very happy people. They are actually nice people and not the demonic satanists that most people rant about.

I really don't know what people get so worked up about, none of the scrapers have harmed me, in fact that have boosted my back links. Why would they not sleep at night, there are a lot more evil things in the world than scrapers.

Are you saying if someone paid you $1.2 million a year to run a scraper site that linked back to the source, like most of them do you would say no?

i got a couple of "scraper sites" - but mine link bank, and most of the posts contain ads/backlinks anyways so they're basically gettin free advertisement

Are you saying if someone paid you $1.2 million a year to run a scraper site that linked back to the source, like most of them do you would say no?

One, no one would pay me 1.2 million to admin scrappers, and two, I wouldn't just use scappers to reach 1.2 million.

I must admit, that it is nice to get back links from scrappers. My only beef is that I feel like you should give some type of unique content or service rather then unreadable letter soup.

Maybe it’s me, but I just feel weird reading content regurgitated by a computer.

:yinyang: Peace, not war.

Oh Quizak you deleted your post and things were just starting to get juicey, lol.

My point is, people go on about scrapers but I bet if they could earn that kind of money they would. Of course no one will give you money to run a scraper site, I was just making the point that whilst people say it's bad, they soon change their tune when an obscene amount of cash is up for grabs.

In a way I hate it when morality and ethics are mixed in with stuff like this. Lets save the scorn for the pedos and scammers and leave the poor little fluffy scrapers to get on with it.

But comment spam.... well that's for another thread.

Depends how much you scrape and how relevant it is. Isn't Google search a scraper site? How about MSN search? Or Yahoo search? You get my drift...

Hock

Originally Posted by lyndoman

In a way I hate it when morality and ethics are mixed in with stuff like this. Lets save the scorn for the pedos and scammers and leave the poor little fluffy scrapers to get on with it.

I agree. That is why I ended my last post with PEACE.

Originally Posted by cyberkiller

What does everyone here think of scraper sites? Is it just wrong? Is it ok? Can money be made?

I'm assuming you are talking about creating them...

Financially they are very profitable. On every other level they are empty.

You essentially are in a arms race with google...constantly having your sites de-indexed and trying finding a way to fly under the radar.

Good to try your hand at, put not for a long term strategy.

I can imagine that adjusting the scraping algorithms and the constant effort to stay indexed (and rank visibly) may in a long term be put to better use with different projects.

Originally Posted by Antz

Are you saying that it wouldn't be wrong if I made a blog and posted other peoples articles, but gave them a link back :S

If you took my articles without my permission I would come after you..

But if someone else released their articles under a suitable license (creative commons or GPL or something), maybe?

I think scraping is a good idea to its limits.. just do a summary and give a link back :x

Sorry for the stupid questions...can anyone point me to some examples of scrapper sites? Is the entire site just articles from other sites? I thought you needed permission to use someone else's content. I am trying to understand exactly what they are. Thanks.

Originally Posted by DaveB

Sorry for the stupid questions...can anyone point me to some examples of scrapper sites? Is the entire site just articles from other sites? I thought you needed permission to use someone else's content. I am trying to understand exactly what they are. Thanks.

A scraper site is pretty a much a site that pulls content from another site with ads all over it.

Here's an example of one:
http://www.my-home-loan.com.au/guide...cial-Loan.html

I'm pretty sure you've seen a ton while doing searches on Google and such.

I've had my content pulled before and didnt' know what scraper sites were at the time. Oh well, it doesn't hurt me much. :yes:

Eventually there will probably be so much junk on the web, and so many crummy sites ahead of the good sites on search results, that the whole system will implode and someone will invent something new. Until that happens, enjoy -- but it may not be a good idea to quit your day job.

Originally Posted by Diana Mirkin

Eventually there will probably be so much junk on the web, and so many crummy sites ahead of the good sites on search results, that the whole system will implode and someone will invent something new. Until that happens, enjoy -- but it may not be a good idea to quit your day job.

That's why I don't rely much on search engines to generate traffic for my sites :tooth: