Website content has been scraped - recommended action

[maxweb]

So whilst searching for link opportunities, I found a website that has scraped content from one of our websites. The website looks pretty low quality and doesn't link back. What would be the recommended course of action?

1. Email them and ask for a link back. I've got a feeling this might not be the best idea. The website does not have much authority (yet) and a link might look a bit dodgy considering the duplicate content

2. Ask them to remove the content. It is duplicate content and could hurt our website.

3. Do nothing. I don't think our website will get penalised for it since it was here first and is in the better quality website. Possibly report them to google for scraping?

What do you guys think?

[94501]

Was your site's scraped content already indexed in Google?

[EGOL]

Most of the time, contacting them is a waste of time.  Being a weasel is their business model.  Weasels usually have hidden domain registration data so finding their contact information is really hard.

If they have republished my content on blogspot, youtube, facebook or other community sites, I simply file a DMCA and the content is usually taken down quickly.

I don't want duplicates of my content on the web, especially not on powerful sites.  Powerful sites are generally more responsible than Joe Schmoe working in his basement.  Often just an email to them with "copyright infringement on yourdamndomain.com will get your content taken down.  I've called people on the phone to tell them that they have my stuff on their site and that is faster than filling out forms.  Be nice, not threatening and they usually comply if you get them on the phone.

I don't ask for links because I don't want weasels linking to me.

[WilliamKammer]

It's good to be aware of the scrapers to see what they are trying to do with your content, and it can't hurt to ask them to remove it.

Don't ask for a link, you never want links for sites that rely on bad practices like that, it can hurt you.

This is most likely not effect you if left alone. If the scraper is grabbing from source code, then implementing a canonical tag in your content will help Google know where the content came from (but they probably already know).