Duplicate Content from on Competitor's site?

[Dino64]

I've recently discovered large blocks of content on a competitors site that has been copy and pasted from a client's site. From what I know, this will only hurt the competitor and not my client since my guy was the original. Is this true? Is there any risk to my client? Should we take action?

Dino

[Dino64]

Thanks, EGOL. It's definitely weaker, but will ask them to change it.

[EGOL]

...this will only hurt the competitor and not my client...   Is this true?

No

Is there any risk to my client?

Yes

Should we take action?

Maybe

If copied content is placed on a stronger site or simply a site that Google likes better it can...

1. outrank the original site

2. pull traffic away from the original site for primary and long tail keywords

3. acquire links, likes and tweets that should belong to original site

4. cause Panda problems for the original site

So, if the competitor who took the content is strong then your client could have a huge problem.  If the competitor is weak then you probably don't have a problem now but could have one at a future time.

Go out looking at the SERPs for short and long tail keywords to see if this site is competitive.