What to Do When Someone Steals Your LinkedIn Content

26 April 2025

Protecting Your LinkedIn Content: My Journey for World Intellectual Property Day

Sadly content theft on LinkedIn is rife.

I thought I'd share my own experience of copyright infringement today on World Intellectual Property Day.

It's been a horrible experience that brought home just how important IP protection really is.

A few weeks ago, I discovered something that every LinkedIn content creator dreads: my original work had been copied. Not just inspired by or similar to - but taken virtually word-for-word, with 80% of the content directly lifted from an email in my LinkedIn nurture sequence.

What made this particularly painful was that the copied content included my personal LinkedIn journey. My unique story, my challenges, and my professional growth on the platform.

This wasn't just general LinkedIn advice that anyone might share; it was my personal narrative, complete with distinctive phrases, emojis, a framework and format.

Some of the stolen copy from my sales funnel sequence

The Emotional Impact of LinkedIn Content Theft

Having your LinkedIn content stolen is deeply unsettling. When that work is your personal professional story, it feels like a violation. I had shared my LinkedIn journey with my audience as a way to connect, to be authentic, and to help others who might be on a similar path with the platform. Seeing those same words - my experiences, my feelings, my growth - claimed by someone else hit harder than I expected.

What followed was equally troubling. When confronted with evidence, including timestamps showing my content predated hers, the response wasn't an apology or acknowledgement. Instead, I faced denial, deflection, and even claims that my professional enquiry constituted "harassment."

How I Addressed the LinkedIn Content Theft

Here's how I navigated this challenging situation:

1. Documentation: I immediately gathered evidence, including timestamps of my original LinkedIn content, screenshots of the copied material, and records showing the person had accessed my emails multiple times (in one case, 17 times for a single email).

2. Direct Communication: I reached out professionally via LinkedIn messaging, clearly stating the copyright concern and requesting removal of the content.

3. Standing Firm: Despite initial denials and attempts to minimise the situation (claiming these were simply "similar experiences") I maintained my position with clear evidence.

4. Focusing on Facts: Throughout the process, I kept focused on the copyright issue rather than getting drawn into emotional exchanges, even when faced with dismissive responses.

5. Community Support: I reached out to my professional community for guidance and support. The response was overwhelming - fellow content creators who understood the value of original work offered advice, solidarity, and professional connections to help address the situation.

Eventually, the blog content was removed, though without acknowledgement of wrongdoing. While this resolved the immediate issue, it highlighted the importance of vigilance in protecting your creative work on LinkedIn.

After investigating I found more examples of theft such as below here 🔽

More plagiarism from my content

Wider Lessons for LinkedIn Content Creators

This experience reinforced several important lessons for anyone creating content on LinkedIn:

✅ Copyright is Automatic: In the UK, copyright protection applies from the moment you create original work. You don't need to register it, even for LinkedIn posts and articles.

✅Evidence Matters: Maintaining records of when you publish LinkedIn content, including timestamps and versions, is invaluable if issues arise. Screenshots of your original posts can be crucial.

✅ Monitor Your Content: Regularly checking for unauthorised use of your LinkedIn material can help catch issues early. This includes monitoring both on and off the platform.

✅ Set up Google Alerts for key phrases unique to your content (such as branded terms or signature story lines). This can help you spot when your words appear elsewhere online.

✅ Use plagiarism detection tools like Copyscape or Grammarly Premium to scan for copies of your posts and articles.

✅ Periodically search LinkedIn using keywords or phrases from your own work to catch near-duplicates posted by others.

✅ Email Tracking Helps: If you share content through email sequences, tracking data can provide valuable evidence of who accessed your content and when.

✅ Know Your Rights: Understanding intellectual property law gives you confidence when addressing potential infringement of your LinkedIn content.

✅Community is Crucial: Don't underestimate the power of your professional network. My community rallied around me with advice, support, and resources when I needed it most.

Instruct a solicitor

Seek Professional Advice When Needed: If you discover your content has been stolen, particularly if it’s part of your paid services, training, or email sequences:

👉Consult a solicitor or IP specialist to understand your options.

👉 Send a Cease and Desist letter if necessary. This is a formal request for the infringing party to remove the copied material and can often resolve situations without needing court action.

👉 Stay professional and factual in all communications — keeping the focus on copyright infringement, not personal grievances.

Why World Intellectual Property Day Matters for LinkedIn Content Creators

This year's World Intellectual Property Day reminds us that IP rights do more than protect individual creators. They foster an environment where creativity and innovation can flourish on platforms like LinkedIn. When professionals know their content is protected, they're more willing to share valuable insights and personal stories.

IP protection isn't just about preventing others from taking what's yours; it's about recognising the value of creative work and ensuring that those who create it can benefit from their efforts and continue contributing to our collective professional knowledge.

For LinkedIn content creators, thought leaders, trainers and businesses alike, IP rights provide the security needed to keep sharing meaningful content that builds their professional brand.

Moving Forward on LinkedIn

While my experience was challenging, it's ultimately strengthened my commitment to creating original LinkedIn content and advocating for its protection.

Until next time, keep protecting your LinkedIn content!