Sooner or later, no matter how much you hate it, some Webmaster is going to use your article and won't include your resource box. Another common practice is that of replacing your HTML link with a text link. Funny thing, when you submitted article, it had a HTML link!

Before jumping gun and coming down hard on offending Webmaster, take time to think. There are many reasons for somebody to do that. It could be lack of experience or ignorance; feeling Web is so big they'll never get caught. Maybe there was something in your resource box they didn't like.

Some Webmasters might feel that your resource box is more of an advertisement than an "About Author" box. It still doesn't make it right and they should contact you to make modifications. I know most Authors would find a way to accommodate such a request; all you got to do is ask! Thanks to Janet Attard of www.businessknowhow.com for pointing that out.

Of course, there are plenty of slick reasons experienced Webmasters won't post your resource box or include a real HTML link. Some feel that giving you a real HTML link will "dilute" their Google Page Rank.

The irony is that most articles are usually placed on a web page with zero ranking! Like song says: "Nothing from nothing leaves nothing." I wish one of those Webmasters would explain steps taken to arrive at such obviously faulty logic ...it sure does escape me! All same, how should you deal with it? Anybody can make a mistake. Is there a sensible course of action that will get best results? At what point should varied responses escalate to next level; what is criteria?

The considerations to resolve your next step are these:

(a) How much damage has unauthorized use of your content done to you? For example, if a Webmaster took content of your index page, that could be considered an action of great damage and require swift and unequivocal action on your part.

Should they take non-essential content, such as your privacy and contact statement, don't sweat it! The content and language used is so generic and commonplace that it will never dilute your Page Ranking on account of duplicate content.

Another thing to consider is amount of time wasted in dealing with matter. Some article writers expect a certain amount of their work pilfered and misused. They consider it a cost of doing business.

(b) Are offending Webmasters willing to fix problem? Are they easy to contact or are they hiding and ignoring you? What degree of communication have you received since your initial contact? Are they blatantly stonewalling you?