Will I get penalized by Google if I use free copy (wikipedia, for example) for web page content? And, if so, how much altering is necessary to make it 'my own?'

It can create dupe content issues. You also cant keep anyone from using it in the same manner. If you are going to use wiki content, you need to understand the conditions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Copyrights

__________________
Bob

Thanks for the reply. That answers the question regarding altering (I won't!) the text, but how about using the text from wikipedia (for example), with the necessary acknowledgements,- would I get penalized by Google?

Depends on exactly how you use it. Generally, you won't be penalized... your page will simply be filtered out. So while it won't necessarily hurt you... it won't help you, either.

__________________
---cK

CK Chung is an independent SEO consultant who provides premium Holistic SEO services, including services specific to Real Estate SEO. You can find his alter-ego, Kid Disco, spouting off on his SEO blog at SEOdisco.

It depends on your definition of "penalty" - if you created a site with nothing but copied content from sources with much more authority than you, certainly Google would see your content as duplicate and choose to list the authority site as opposed to yours.

That is a sort of penalty is it not? basically, if you want to rank well, write it yourself.

__________________
Want to save up to 50% off Real estate webmasters product websites & common upgrades? Check out my latest blog post regarding our end of the year sale.

Thanks and I hope I am not beating a dead horse, but I am new to the whole SEO and real estate thing, so please bare with me! If I choose a source with whom I am not in competition with (wikipedia is a perfect example) for real estate, then Google wouldn’t have a ‘choice.’ What I am trying to accomplish is adding content to my city pages on subjects such as history, climate, demographics, etc., to build volume in the site. If copy were properly done and credited, does Google penalize for duplicate copy? I realize if it were illegal copy, the story would be different, but in this case, the copy would be legal. I hope I’m not treading on a ‘sacred cow’ by mentioning the idea of copying content!

The right thing to do is use Wiki etc as a source of reference and WRITE THE COPY YOURSELF - that way there are no issues in terms of duplicate content, AND you get to put your own personal touch on your content.

Quite frankly, there is no excuse for laziness, and copy pasting content from free resources is laziness, bottom line.

__________________
Want to save up to 50% off Real estate webmasters product websites & common upgrades? Check out my latest blog post regarding our end of the year sale.

I’m not lazy, just looking for an expedient way to add content. If I have two hours a day to work on this thing, I can certainly get more done copying free information, than I can rewriting what is perfectly fine (and in most cases, intended for public distribution). I want to be legal, and I do not want to be penalized by Google. My question still remains in regards to Google penalizing duplicate copy. If I’ve touched a raw nerve, then I will drop the subject.

I wouldn't call it a penalty.

Exactly... but you're not really being punished for having duplicate content. You're simply ranked where you should be.

You won't be penalized, but if you are adding duplicate content with hopes of increasing your rankings... it won't. In my opinion, any time you use to add duplicate content to your site is worse than being lazy... it's a waste of time.

__________________
---cK

CK Chung is an independent SEO consultant who provides premium Holistic SEO services, including services specific to Real Estate SEO. You can find his alter-ego, Kid Disco, spouting off on his SEO blog at SEOdisco.

Ok, enough said. I will not do it! This morning, I gave my daughter ads to circulate around her college for writers. I realize the content will have to be edited for SEO, but at least the bulk of the writing will be done. Any additional suggestions would be much appreciated.