In today’s digital world, content holds both creative and financial value. However, rather than receiving the respect it deserves, creative content is often stolen by platforms that market themselves as news hubs, profiting from it without providing any compensation or credit to the original author. This content frequently originates from ordinary individuals who share an episode or thought on a personal initiative. While content may be shared in a public space, this does not mean it is devoid of copyright considerations.

It is crucial to distinguish between theft and sharing. When content is distributed fairly meaning through a native share that maintains a direct link to the original source, it can offer a return to the creative author by increasing their exposure and attracting new audiences to their platforms. However, when platforms or individuals republish someone else’s work, present it as their own, and remove the link to the original content, this constitutes intellectual and creative property theft. This methodology has become increasingly common among platforms that brand themselves as news agencies, routinely stealing third-party content and publishing it as-is on their sites. The more reactions the content generates, the more these platforms can monetise.

It remains a mystery how so many people allow these platforms to use their work, some even celebrating the fact that their content has been “featured” on a popular site, without receiving any compensation. These platforms generate significant profits through advertisements that rely on the volume of hits and views on their published content, including stolen material. Meanwhile, the original sources are left empty-handed.

This is not only unfair but also fosters a culture in which digital content is seen as freely available to everyone, when in reality, every piece of content requires time, talent, and effort to be created and communicated. It is time for a serious discussion on how to put an end to this exploitation and ensure that all creators of original content receive what they rightfully deserve, both in credit and fair compensation.

Please note that if someone steals your content, you can file a copyright claim with the platform or take legal action.

Iċċelebrat is-serq ta’ kontenut diġitali

Fid-dinja diġitali tal-lum, il-kontenut huwa valur, kreattiv kif ukoll finanzjarju. Madankollu, ħafna drabi, minflok ma jingħata r-rispett li jistħoqqlu, il-kontenut kreattiv jispiċċa jiġi misruq minn pjattaformi li jbiegħu lilhom infushom bħala kamra tal-aħbarijiet li jikkapitalizzaw fuqu mingħajr ma jagħtu kumpens jew kreditu lill-awtur oriġinali. Dan il-kontenut ħafna drabi jkun xogħol ta’ nies komuni li jaqsmu episodju jew xi ħsieb fuq inizjattiva personali. Għalkemm maqsum fi spazju pubbliku ma jfissirx li dan il-kontenut ma hemmx drittijiet tal-awtur fuqu.

Huwa importanti nagħmlu distinzjoni bejn serq u “sharing”. Meta kontenut jiġi mqassam b’mod ġust – jiġifieri permezz ta’ share li żżomm ħolqa diretta mas-sors oriġinali – dan jista’ joffri ritorn lill-awtur kreattiv billi jżid l-espożizzjoni tiegħu u jattira udjenzi ġodda lejn il-pjattaformi tiegħu. Iżda meta pjattaformi jew individwi jippubblikaw xogħol ta’ ħaddieħor mill-ġdid, jippreżentawh bħala tagħhom u jeliminaw il-ħolqa lejn il-kontenut oriġinali, din hija forma ta’ serq ta’ proprjetà intelletwali u kreattiva. Din il-metodoloġija saret popolari ħafna ma’ pjattaformi li jippreżentaw ruħhom bħala kmamar tal-aħbarijet, li ta kuljum jisirqu kontenut ta’ terzi u jippubblikawh tale kwale fis-siti tagħhom. Aktar ma l-kontenut jiġġeneralhom reazzjonijiet, aktar ikunu jistgħu jimmonetizzaw.

Huwa misteru kif ħafna nies jippermettu lil dawn il-pjattaformi jużaw xogħolhom, anzi, f’xi każijiet, saħansitra jifirħu li x-xogħol tagħhom ġie “rilevat” minn xi sit popolari, mingħajr ma jirċievu kumpens lura. Dawn il-pjattaformi jagħmlu profitti kbar permezz ta’ riklami li jaslu għandhom sforz l-ammont ta’ hits u views fuq kontenut inkluż dak misruq li jippubblikaw. Sadattnt imma, is-sorsi oriġinali jitħallew b’idejhom vojta.

Dan mhux biss inġust, imma joħloq kultura fejn ix-xogħol fuq mezzi diġitali jitqies bħala xi ħaġa disponibbli b’xejn għal kulħadd, meta fil-fatt, kull biċċa kontenut teħtieġ ħin, talent u sforz biex tinħoloq u tiġi kkomunikata. Nixtieq li nibdew diskussjoni serja sabiex dan l-abbuż jieqaf u kull min jiġġenera kontenut oriġinali jiġi mogħti dak li ħaqqu – kemm f’kreditu kif ukoll f’kumpensi xierqa.

Jekk xi ħadd jisraq il-kontenut tiegħek, tista’ tressaq talba ta’ copyright mal-pjattaforma jew tieħu azzjoni legali.