Can You Get Sued for Spun Content? Legal Risks Explained

Introduction

Content spinning—rewriting existing articles using automated tools or manual methods—is a common but controversial practice. Many use it to save time, cut costs, or generate bulk content for SEO. However, the legal risks are often overlooked.

While spun content isn’t always illegal, it can lead to serious consequences, including lawsuits for copyright infringement, plagiarism, or breach of contract. If you’re wondering, “Is article spinning legal?”—the answer isn’t black and white. This guide breaks down the legal risks, real-world cases, and how to protect yourself.

What Is Spun Content?

Spun content is created by taking an original article and rewriting it—either manually or with tools like Spinbot, WordAI, or TheBestSpinner—to produce a “new” version. The goal is to avoid duplicate content penalties while reusing ideas.

Spun Content vs. Plagiarism vs. Paraphrasing

• Spinning = Using software to rewrite content (often poorly).

• Plagiarism = Copying content word-for-word without credit.

• Paraphrasing = Manually rewriting in your own words (more ethical).

While paraphrasing can be legal, spinning often crosses into copyright infringement because it relies too heavily on the original work.

Legal Risks of Using Spun Content

Using spun content can expose you to lawsuits, penalties, and reputation damage. Here’s how:

A. Copyright Infringement

Original content is protected by law. If your spun version is too similar, the author can sue under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Courts assess:

• Substantial similarity (Is the structure/meaning the same?)

• Derivative work (Did you just tweak a few words?)

Example: In Feist v. Rural Telephone, the Supreme Court ruled that even factual content has copyright protection if creatively arranged.

B. Plagiarism & Professional Consequences

• Google penalizes spun content (Panda update targets low-quality pages).

• Academic/job repercussions—losing credibility or employment.

• Clients may sue if they paid for “original” work but received spun content.

C. Breach of Contract

If a client or employer expects 100% original content and you deliver spun articles, they can sue for:

• Fraud (misrepresenting work)

• Breach of agreement (violating terms)

D. Defamation & Misinformation

Badly spun content can distort facts, leading to:

• False claims (e.g., medical/legal advice)

• Defamation lawsuits if it harms someone’s reputation

When Can You Get Sued for Spun Content?

You’re most at risk if:

✅ The original author files a DMCA complaint (Google may de-index your content).
✅ A client discovers you used spinning tools (breach of contract).
✅ Your content causes financial harm (e.g., false product reviews).
✅ You copy competitive industries (legal, medical, finance content).

Related Legal Questions:

• Can I get sued for fanfiction? (Yes, if it’s too similar to original books/movies.)

• Can you sue someone for posting something online? (Yes, if it’s defamatory or stolen.)

• Do YouTubers get sued for copyright? (Frequently—see “Fair Use” battles.)

Defenses Against Spun Content Lawsuits

If accused, you might argue:

✔ Fair Use (if used for commentary, parody, or education).
✔ Independent creation (you wrote it without copying).
✔ Licensed material (you had permission to modify the content).

However, Fair Use is narrow—spinning for profit rarely qualifies.

How to Avoid Legal Trouble with Spun Content

A. Avoid Copyrighted Material

• Don’t spin articles without permission.

• Use public domain or Creative Commons sources.

B. Use Plagiarism Checkers

Tools like Copyscape, Grammarly, or Turnitin can detect similarities.

C. Rewrite Manually (Don’t Rely on AI)

• AI tools (like ChatGPT) can produce unoriginal or false content.

• Can you get sued for using AI-generated images? Yes—if they copy protected art.

D. Disclose Sources When Paraphrasing

• Give credit to avoid plagiarism claims.

E. Stick to Original Research

• Conduct interviews, surveys, or expert analysis instead of rewriting.

Real-World Cases & Precedents

• Google’s Panda Update – Penalized thousands of sites using spun content.

• News Aggregator Lawsuits – Sites like HuffPost faced suits for rewriting stories.

• Freelancer Disputes – Writers sued for delivering spun content instead of original work.

Related Cases:

• Can you sue YouTube for deleting videos? (Yes, if it breaches terms.)

• Can you sue someone for slander? (Yes—if they spread false spoken statements.)

Conclusion

Spun content might seem like a shortcut, but the risks—lawsuits, penalties, lost credibility—far outweigh the benefits. Always:

• Write original content

• Check for plagiarism

• Respect copyright laws

If you’ve used spinning tools before, audit your content now to avoid legal trouble.

Need legal-safe content? Try manual rewriting or hire professional writers instead of relying on spinners.

Raj Patel

Raj blends SEO mastery with real-world freelance grit. From keyword to conversion, his expert writing helps readers and businesses win in today’s digital battlefield. Authentic. Sharp. Proven.