Sometimes there's a need to re-publish and promote issues directly affecting our members.  Over the past few months, we've received requests for advice when our members have discovered other DJs copying content from their website.  We've also found quite a few DJs claiming to be a member of the National Association of Disc Jockeys on their website when it either lapsed years ago or they've never actually been a member!

  The NADJ logo is copyrighted and we are contacting website owners to verify their right to use the logo.  In many cases, the polite e-mail has resulted in the logo being removed, but we've also had no reply or action from certain DJs.  Further action will follow in those cases and it is highlighted in this article: Improper Use Of The NADJ Logo

  Some DJs are still using the old NADJ logo on their site and we've asked them to update it and also link it directly to their profile because an active profile on our Find A DJ section verifies that they are a member and have valid, PAT and insurance in place.

  Each Full Member can directly link to their profile by adding their membership number to the logo on their website.  For example, the link would look like this: www.nadj.org.uk/MXXXX (where XXXX is replaced by your three or four digit membership number).  If your membership, PAT or insurance is out of date there will be message showing that it is out of date.  The visitor will then be re-directed to the NADJ front page after 15 seconds.

  We originally published an article in May 2011 to help our members resolve problems with copyright or plagiarism problems.  If you've not seen it before, please read the full version that's available to members only.  Below is the introduction and there's a link to the full article at the bottom.

  There's been a significant increase in DJs copying the content and pictures from the websites belonging to our members.  We have acted on behalf of several NADJ members to stop the copying of their original material by unscrupulous DJs.

  There are two major concerns, one is copyright whereby original material such as photographs taken at an event by the DJ (with the permission of the customer) are being used elsewhere.  The other is the issue of plagiarism that is defined as:

  Our members have tried to resolve their issues in an amicable way, but some website owners simply ignore the request for them to remove the offending content from their website.  However, in every case that the NADJ has been involved in, there has been a positive outcome for our member.

  The NADJ has issued several 'Cease & Desist' letters on behalf of our members who have had their site ripped off by another operator.  Many DJs know the impact that duplicate content can have on their search engine rankings.  Our members are also offended that their time and skill of producing appropriate content for their website is being used by someone less creative.

  We've heard several excuses from the owners of the offending websites, but the most common one is that the work was completed by their web designer and that they had nothing to do with it.  If this is true, the web designer can't be very good at their job if they have to copy the work of others.

  Needless to say, the copying of content, whether that is text or images is an unprofessional act and the NADJ wants to help its members by giving you an outline of what you should do if you find someone has taken your original material.

  To view this 'Members Only' article, please click here: NADJ Guide To Copyright And Plagiarism

 

 

If you would like to add your thoughts, please leave your comments on this article.  If you have been the victim of copyright infringement or plagiarism issues, please let us know, but do not go into the details of who did what.  Naming and shaming is not the purpose of the comments section and any such acts will result in comments being removed.

 

(1) Source: Plagiarism.org - http://www.plagiarism.org/plag_article_what_is_plagiarism.html