Nairobi Now normally cares about one thing only: posting arts and cultural events that we believe deserve more publicity in Nairobi.
Most event organisers contact us asking to promote an event. Occasionally, we find out about events through other websites, write about them and link to the original source.
You can imagine our disappointment when we found out that the 5 most recent entries on Nairobi Now feature on Eat Out’s mobile website [update: Eat Out no longer uses our content, just see the pictures below] – but without any mention of our blog. In fact, they appear on a page titled “Eat Out on Twitter”. Though it is an honour to be featured so prominently on such a useful service, it is also wrong on many levels. This is what we don’t like:
- There is no mention of the source, nor of the author of the blog posts. Readers on Eat Out are fooled into believing this is a service provided by Eat Out itself.
- We were not asked our permission for use of our content. Permission that we would have probably granted, maybe in exchange for some visibility.
- The arrogance of calling their page Eat Out on Twitter – how about calling it Nairobi Now, for example?
- It is not a coincidence that this is happening to a blog. Do you think Eat Out would have done the same with arts & entertainment content posted by, for example, Kenya Buzz or Up Nairobi – websites that actually have advertising partnerships with Eat Out?
Here is some evidence collected today, Friday 17th 2012.
You can also compare pictures of the three latest posts published on Nairobi Now and on “Eat Out on Twitter”.
Probably this very post will end up on their page too 🙂
So, the bottom line of this story is: Nairobi Now and all Kenyan blogs deserve to be taken seriously. And to be treated fairly. Behind their posts, there is a lot of creative work. Whether writing a review, editing press releases, selecting what to publish and what not to publish, fact-checking to avoid confusion or adding links to relevant digital media, we add value to the arts world. We certainly do not deserve to have our content be reused by Eat Out – or anyone else – without prior agreement and mention of the actual source.
If you like Nairobi Now, support our work and believe in the power of blogs, share this post, comment with your views and ask Eat Out to use our content fairly from now on – or to stop using it immediately otherwise!
Update: As some of you might have noticed, Eat Out has changed the link in their mobile site, now actually pointing to their twitter account. Someone asked why didn’t we just contact them in private first. The reason is simple: this is not about Nairobi Now – this is about all blogs, easily abused in the digital economy. Thank Eat Out for stopping to steal our content – although we wished you had asked us in the first place, and we would have all benefited.
Second update: We have now had a very positive conversation with Eat Out. We are happy to accept their apologies and to look into ways for us to collaborate. Hopefully this story can teach us how to better engage in partnerships online. Nairobi Now is happy to expand the reach of its content and to increase the visibility of the events we are selecting and promoting. All we ask is to always agree on the modalities for collaboration. For anyone who would like to partner with us, get in touch at nairobinow at gmail dot com.
firstly we’d like to apologise for the over sight. We have a direct feed from your rss as we really value your content and efforts. Our intention was not to steal content. Regardless we can remove your feed but would rather have you receive acknowledgement. Weve been trying to get in touch with no luck. Would yoy mind contacting us.
thanks for contacting us. you can imagine our surprise when there was no link nor any mention of “Nairobi Now” in that feed. we would love to discuss this with you. should we just email info at eatout? or you can reach us at nairobinow at gmail dot com
I get Eat out and Nairobi Now updates regularly. I am not sure how Eat Out got my e-mail address. I did volunteer my e-mail address to Nairobi Now however. That is another problem right there…
@shecyclesnairobi sorry to hear about this – Nairobi Now never gives out email addresses to third parties, so I can assure you it didn’t come from us!
@shecyclesnairobi If you receive emails from Eat Out Kenya you may have given it when making a reservation online or over the phone with us.
With regards to the content that appeared on our site – I believe that we have explained that. However that said should you have an RSS Feed that I would suggest that you state the name of your website on every post like most RSS feeds do.
Please also note that the main purpose of your blog is to publicize events, and the more avenues they appear in, the better viewership will be received.
Thank you for updating your post. Please contact us should you have any further comments.
@Eat Out Kenya
Thanks for your advice, but I think that blaming it on our naming conventions on the RSS is a bit excessive. As for publicizing events, yes – of course we are very happy to increase the visibility of our posts, but not at all costs. As discussed in a wonderful POWO meeting last July, this is the classic dilemma of online poets, whose poems end up on a newspaper without prior consent. Of course they might benefit – but who benefits the most?
@Eatout stop stealing content. Why do you do that? No amount of explanation can justify such thievery. We thought you are original but all you do is steal other peoples ideas! Nairobi Now has worked tirelessly to bring us this important information, we don’t need you regurgitating the same. Respect intellectual property, you are really lucky this matter didn’t end up in court. Grow up!
Thieves!
Its a shame that eat out is feigning not being able to get in touch with you yet, they have gotten in touch with you now (hey look, we can leave a comment).
They have been making money off your content without the common decency to acknowledge you as the source.
If I were you, I’d not even bother making a deal with them for them to really learn a lesson. They would be forced to remove ‘their’ mobile content(coz they have nothing to offer anymore) Nairobi now has the ability to come up with a phone app for eating out, yeah and call it ‘eating out’. Anyway, I am mean like that. All the best though. I am glad you learnt about this and now they have to deal with you.
@Kenyanpoet you make very valid points, and I agree with you on most things. What I really want is bloggers to be protected from such injustice in the future. We’ll let you all know how this unfolds. Have a great POWO tomorrow by the way, wish I could be there!
Pole Sana, Nairobi Now! Kenyans just steal content and re-produce somewhere else without even a second thought! I have seen an illustration that was published in UP Nairobi blatantly stolen by The Star and re-produced daily, exactly the same!
@shecyclesnairobi – you’re not the first to complain about EatOut getting your email add….I have a feeling that EatOut use a spider to go into my system and pick email addresses because work colleagues who don’t even live in Nairobi started receiving EatOut newsletters from nowhere! Hmmm….very dodgy!