Duplicate/plagiarized content generally refers to the content that is copied from across the domains or within the same domain on different pages. Duplicate content can be of different types, it can be found in terms of text, it can exist in the form of image plagiarism, and it can simply be in the form of video duplication.

Whatever the case is today, we are going to discuss the impacts of duplication of images on a website and also what googles have to say about it. There are many misconceptions about Google’s reaction to duplication, and this is why I want you to read this article until the very end!

Google’s Position on duplication

Google picks the most unique and relative content that matches the user search instinct. Google only provides its users what they are looking for, and in its provision, it tends to add as much unique content as available. Duplicate content bores the audience, and the search engine cannot afford to lose traffic from its interface, and this is why unique content is so much important. Google’s official statement differs from what it practically does. First, you can look at the latest advice from google and then we would tell you guys how the duplication thing works on the web!

Here is what google has to advise its partners:
— According to Google’s policies, there is no penalty for content duplication. This means you won’t be fined or charged a penalty for duplication/plagiarism.
— Google rewards unique content and also the backlinks that are attached to the value content.
— Google always filters plagiarized submissions.
— Duplicate content is the only thing that slows google down while in its hunt for new and unique content.
— XML sitemaps are the helping tools with the help of which Google can find unique content.
— Duplicate content, according to Google, would not be very useful for your market position, and neither spun content would be.
— Google focuses on unique content more to engage users for a longer amount of time.
— Google urges users to add unique content if a user wants to improve the SEO score and wants to rank on the initial SERPs!

A sensible SEO strategy is always the one in which duplication of all kinds is avoided. If you want to rank faster and gain good authority, then you must ensure that your content is unique!

Understating duplication and its effects

Now you might be wondering why Google does not rank duplicate content on the top if it doesn’t penalize or reject it. This is the main misconception that must be cleared so that the users can understand the importance of unique content. Duplicate images or even text is not favored on the top results, and this is because of the following reason that we have explained below!

First, you have to consider two platforms. Consider the first one as A and the second one as B. A is the platform in which you can find unique images and unique content and is ranked among the top of the search results. Now if B would add the same content and duplicate it on their website to achieve the same ranking position, then it would not be catered by the search engine.

Now, this happens because duplicate images or duplicate text can confuse the search engine. The search engine cannot rank two same contents over one another, so it simply filters and de-ranks both of them. The later one suffers more, but the unique content creator also gets into trouble and loss because of this content duplication!

Does Google take into account the date and time of publication?

A very common question indeed, people think that Google takes into account the date and time of publication, and this is why platform A should not be affected. Well, this is true that Google takes into account the date and time of publication, but at the same time, you must also know that these metrics can be catered and this is why Google does not get into complications and de-ranks both of the platforms!

How to rid duplicate images and effects related to it?

If you want to get rid of image duplication, then you need help from reverse image search tools and technology. You can use reverse photo lookup like Duplichecker to find out if someone is copying your images. This image search tool can allow you to search the image URL as well if it is already published online. With a picture search utility, you know about the sites and the pages that are manipulating your content without your permission.

You can contact Google’s copyright infringement chamber and send them the results by reverse image search as evidence of image duplication. You can easily get rid of image duplication by taking this route and can also save yourself from its negative effects and ignorance of Google.

Cover photo by Rajeshwar Bachu on Unsplash