vbseo copyright

I'm just having a few problems installing vbseo - but while doing so, I noticed that there's a big issue with copyright that may need addressing.

Namely, that it looks as if you may be using boards that install vBseo to link bomb for the keyword "search engine optimization"?

I must say, if I were to find this to be true then I could well be demanding a refund for my first purchase - if you want to link bomb for keywords then you do so with free software - I do not expect to pay just to add a third party advertising message on my forums - not least when such a message serves as a great footprint for devaluation of such pages.

The idea of *paying* for a product is definitely at odds with expecting your clients to be link bombing for you, and will definitely not make this package attractive to other SEO companies I know who may otherwise be interested.

There are other mod_rewrite modules out there, but yours was supposed to be of a level of professionalism above others. But IMO you cannot have your cake and eat it, ie, expect that people will pay for your product, but also to pay to include your advertising message.

I have to agree with Brian, I would like to see that changed. I would expect that in the "Lite" version, but not the full paid version. Jelsoft doesnt do that with the VB copyright either.

The specific wording of the link is a little suspect, to be honest.

I have a problem with it as well. Perhaps they could show their good intentions (and marketing savvy) by placing a copyright notice that doesn't actually link (with just their company name, etc). An option should definitely exist for a brand-free version for extra $$.

-V

Well, I'll say my suggestion and leave it at that. They aren't interested in a non-branding option, and I can understand that.

What I would recommend is make the "vBSEO" part of the copyright be the actual link. As it stands, it would be similar to vbulletin having one that read "Forum Software by vBulletin" with the words "Forum Software" being the link to the company website.

I'll leave it at that though.

I've taken this to a private discussion with Brian.

@all - vBSEO has three copyright options available via the config_vbseo.php file (near the bottom). The setting reads as follows:

Code:

// ****** COPYRIGHT NOTICE ****** 
// As per the License Agreement (www.crawlability.com/vbseo/license.html, you may NOT remove the
// copyright notice. Select one of the copyright notices to be displayed in pages enhanced by vBSEO:
//
// 1. Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 2.0
// 2. Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 2.0
// 3. Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 2.0
//
// When this option is set to '0' the system auto-selects a copyright notice for you. Setting this
// option to '1', '2' or '3' will display the copyright notice of your preference.
define('VBSEO_COPYRIGHT', 0);

Each copyright notice accurately describes the service vBSEO provides, we purposely provided the override option for forum admins who prefer an option other than the one auto-selected by the vBSEO script.

I have serious difficulty accepting that a paid product should be used to provide commercial link gain. It feels like it shows a disrespect for customers. I was going to buy three licences without question, but now I have to decide whether paying to help a company link bomb Google is really want I want.

Why can't it just have something as simple as "Powered By: vbSEO" with vbSEO being a link? It still lets people know that your product is in use.

(Still, I won't consider using vbSEO until/unless a completely branding free version is made available. My vBulletin, and all other related products are branding free.)

Bear in mind that the term "vbseo" is barely even recognized by Google as a legitimate word. If you search google for vbseo now, it gets recognized as a spelling error: "Did you mean: video" is displayed !

"Search engine optimization", "Content-relevant urls", and "Search engine friendly urls" accurately describe vBSEO. When I think of link bombing, people linking the term "miserable failure" to George Bush or Michael Moore's home page comes to mind. Using it in this context is very similar to using it in a signature when posting on forums.

Originally Posted by Jonathan

Using it in this context is very similar to using it in a signature when posting on forums.

Forum owners don't have to pay people to come post on their site...in most cases.

I agree with everyone else on this issue. You are expecting people to pay over a good sum of money, yet you also expect them to provide a linkback to your site using your keyword...and to allow totally encoded script to run on their server.

Example: I have released several Styles for vB. They are all free, all I expect back is that people will leave my linkback in the footer. If they choose to remove that, they pay for a Branding Free license and do so.

For those of you wanting a free alternative, I suggest trying out vBRanking, on the org.

I will give Juan and his team credit for something...

They let you know upfront about the copyright. They choose not to use a branding free option for the moment. If I remember correctly vBulletin didn't either except in rare occasions and it was almost 600 dollars. Then they came out with their brand free options.

No one is forcing the product on you. I do wish there was a branding free option...but thats Jaun's parogative.

I'm not trying to take credit away from the team...they have done an amazing job, and I am pleased to have been accepted as a tester all those many releases ago.

Thing is, the subject of this thread is the issue of the Product forcing people to provide Keyword targetted linkbacks when it is a commercial product.

It's interesting to note that the author of vBRanking was someone who, after a failed attempt to become a vBSEO tester, launched vBRanking, and included vBSEO's copyrighted name in his meta tags: http://www.vbseo.com/f2/offtopic-vbu...-released-451/. Not only is this widely considered an unethical SEO practice, but it's illegal. After this was discovered, he quickly altered his site, and changed vBRanking from a paid product to one that requested "donations". It should also be noted that vBRanking is very similar to the numerous free SEO hacks available to the vB community, which don't request donations.

This is just one example of why vBSEO may have decided (especially at first) to not offer a branding-free version.

As for requiring a branded version, a purchase fee, and keyword-targeted linkbacks, yes, I agree -- that's a lot to ask. Overall though, until someone else can come up with a comparable product, it's well worth it.

The beauty of america is that no one is forcing us to buy this product. We know about it up front, so we are free to make an educated decision prior to purchasing. Its not like we are talking about a 'bait and switch' here, which is good.

I dont agree with the policy, and would prefer to see it be more like other commercial vb offerings, I think the benefits of the product outweigh the negatives.

I would prefer branding free options but thats more for my clients sites, they don't want anything appearing at the bottom of their forums/sites and as such we won't/can't use this on their sites until that option is available.