Tribute Technology Expert Sheds Light on Obituary Piracy Epidemic

February 14, 2024

Tribute Technology’s Chief Customer Officer Courtney Gould Miller was recently asked to speak about the challenges for funeral homes amidst rising obituary piracy and aggregator websites for the tech publication, The Verge


Courtney has dealt with obituary piracy in her personal life and knows how devastating it can be for families. One of her family members was killed in a car crash when his family’s vehicle was hit by a driver who was under the influence. 


“When searching for his obituary, I first came across YouTube links that leveraged his name and death just to get traffic to their YouTube and generate ad revenue. I hope our profession can come together to find solutions to stop this abuse of deceased names and likeness,” says Courtney. 


The Verge article profiles a man named Brian who discovered obituary pirates were erroneously reporting that he and his ex-wife died together. 


“[The obituaries] had this real-world impact where at least four people that I know of called [our] mutual friends, and thought that I had died with her, like we had a suicide pact or something,” he said in the article. “It caused extra distress to some of my friends, and that made me really angry.” 


“Funeral homes come to us at MKJ Marketing and Tribute Technology all the time asking what can be done to stop obituary scraping and outrank aggregator websites. This is a challenge we take seriously, and we are actively working on this on behalf of our customers. One of the ways we are doing this is through a new label of ‘Official Obituary’ on the obituary page. I am pleased that The Verge is highlighting this important issue so more families will be aware and work with their local funeral home to share the Official Obituary,” says Courtney. 


Click here to read the entire article. 


July 30, 2026
A year after integrating with Chptr, Tribute Technology customers can now reach a quarter of a billion monthly radio listeners through the same one-click workflow that already powers televised memorial announcements. WAUNAKEE, Wis. — July 30, 2026 — Tribute Technology today announced that its integration with Chptr now extends beyond local television to include radio through Chptr's expanded partnership with iHeartMedia. Already adopted by more than 100 funeral homes, the expanded integration gives funeral homes access to the television and radio audiences most likely to learn about a passing, attend a service, and support grieving families, all through the same one-click obituary workflow. One year ago, Tribute Technology embedded Chptr's broadcast memorial technology directly into its platform, making it possible for funeral homes to transform an obituary into a professionally produced television memorial announcement without leaving the system they already use every day. Today, that same integration includes nationwide radio distribution alongside television, giving funeral homes access to all 210 U.S. television markets and more than 90 percent of U.S. radio stations reaching a quarter of a billion monthly listeners, all without additional software, data entry, or training. More than 100 funeral homes have already enrolled in the new radio service, reflecting the success of Chptr's existing television integration and the continued demand for trusted broadcast memorial announcements. For funeral homes, the value of broadcast isn't simply reach. It's reaching the right audience. Adults 55 and older remain among the most loyal local television viewers, while radio reaches 87% of U.S. adults every week, more than any other single media platform. Together, television and radio continue to be among the nation's most trusted sources of local news and information, making them uniquely effective channels for community memorial announcements. "This is exactly what we look for in a partnership," said J.B. Showalter, Senior Vice President of Partnerships at Chptr. "Tribute Technology already sits inside the daily workflow of thousands of funeral homes. Bringing our production platform, media partnerships, and nationwide television and radio distribution into that same workflow means families get a meaningful new way to share the news of a passing, without asking funeral professionals to change how they already serve families." For families, the expanded integration means memorial announcements can now reach more of the people whose lives were touched through the trusted local media they already know. For funeral homes, it provides another meaningful way to serve families while reinforcing their role as a trusted community resource. "Over the last year, we've seen that families truly value having their loved one's obituary shared on local television," said ​Anthony Harris, Location Manager at Oak Hill Funeral and Cremation Services. "No single place reaches everyone. Some people watch the news. Others hear the local radio station on the way to work. Adding radio gives us another trusted way to help families reach more of the people who would want to know. It's another meaningful service we can provide with every arrangement." The addition of radio builds on a year of successful television distribution through the existing Tribute Technology integration. "Our responsibility is to continually strengthen the platform funeral homes depend on every day," said Craig Greenseid, CEO of Tribute Technology. "When we can bring meaningful new capabilities into that workflow without adding complexity, our customers benefit. Expanding our integration with Chptr is another example of our commitment to helping funeral professionals better serve families through the technology they already trust." The expanded integration is now available to all Tribute Technology customers. Learn more at Tribute Spotlights | TV Obituaries | Tribute Technology .  About Tribute Technology Tribute Technology is a leading provider of software and services for the death care profession, helping funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, and online publishers better serve families through connected technology. Its integrated platform simplifies operations, strengthens family engagement, and powers one of North America's largest digital obituary networks. More than 9,000 funeral homes rely on Tribute Technology solutions to support the families they serve. About Chptr Founded in 2020 and headquartered in New York, Chptr is building the distribution network for community storytelling. The company's Broadcast, Social, Video, and Slideshows offerings help funeral homes extend the reach of remembrance, connecting families with the communities that knew and cared about their loved ones. By partnering with funeral homes and media organizations, Chptr ensures life's most meaningful stories reach the people who matter most while keeping funeral professionals at the center of the experience.
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