Web layout stolen

K

Kevin K

New member
Well thanks to my traffic tracking system on our website I have come to find that someone has stolen our whole layout which we paid to have custom made. On a daily basis we check our referers to keep up on our advertising campaigns and came to find that www.speedhosting.com.au has stolen our exact layout. I mean right down to the specials graphic on the main page that I had my designer made just a week ago.

I have contacted the owner of this site through email and have not yet received a reply. I will be filing a federal copywrite on the website today so i can take leagal action from here foward.

Do you guys have any other ideas on actions to take on this? What can I do to stop this from happening again? I though of excrypting the website, but I am owrried of it having a negative affect on search engine placement. All your feedback would be greatly appreciated.
 
x9 - Don't get frustrated with the theft. Its pretty common. I have seen my templates that we spent thousands of dollars building, offered on e-bay for a few bucks. I have ssen websites using my graphics stolen right from my sites. I have read articles that describes teachers at universities telling students to save a webpage and then just modify it.

More disturbingly I saw CNN defending their theft of someones copyrighted images by claiming that the image appears in googles image search so it must be OK to use it.

The truth is, the law sucks. People are stealing from other countries and you have no recourse against them. The most you can do is send a DMCA notice to the hosting company. They likely will not want the liabilty and remove the offending website. Its simple and cheap and pretty effective.

If you take the legal approach, you will spin your wheels, spend money and get nowhere. Try e-mailing the DMCA notice first. Go to: http://pagebuzz.com/legal-dmca.html for the DMCA articles. You will need to do a google search for info on sending a notice.
 
If someone could help me find the whois information or the server ip this site is on I would appreciate it. I would like to contact the datacenter or company hosting the site and submit a DMCA notice. I am having trouble finding info on this domain due to the wierd .com.au.
 
Thanks much pageBuzz. With your info i was able to search around and find the host for this website. I will be contacting them immediatly.
 
X9, I am very sorry to see this happening, especially to one of HD friends. :)

I know what a feeling it is when you are being ripped off. I sent you the copy of a C&D letter that I've had to send previously to a intellectual property violator, as well as letter to web hosting provider. Feel free to modify them for your needs and use them as you see fit.

In a way it is a great compliment when someone is copying you. Nevertheless, it is no fun when its done this way.

Keep us updated.
 
Artashes said:
X9, I am very sorry to see this happening, especially to one of HD friends. :)

I know what a feeling it is when you are being ripped off. I sent you the copy of a C&D letter that I've had to send previously to a intellectual property violator, as well as letter to web hosting provider. Feel free to modify them for your needs and use them as you see fit.

In a way it is a great compliment when someone is copying you. Nevertheless, it is no fun when its done this way.

Keep us updated.
Click to expand...

Thanks alot Art. I have already sent in the DMCA notice and I will wait to hear back on that. If I do not hear back I will send the forms you gave me and see what kind of action is taken with regards to that.

I know it can be taken as a compliment, but when they copy everything it just gets on my nerves. I mean right down to the specials graphic that was just created. I mean if you are going to steal it, at least make it look like it isn't. The funny thing is that our company name is all over the website. If you look at http://www.speedhosting.com.au/specials.php our little x9 icon is still in place and looking at http://order.speedhosting.com.au/order/orderwiz.php?v=1 they still have our icon in the address bar.
 
Artashes said:
Would have been great if their order links point to your order pages. :D
Click to expand...

Ya if I could only be so lucky. The funny thing is they have a forums setup on their website. I think a little post on the forums might do some good. Let the customers know what kind of company they are dealing with. :forK:
 
Ok I am going to try and post this without pissing my pants in laughter. I ended up getting ahold of the guy on MSN that own the site. After talking to him for awhile he stated that he did not steal the site and bought it form the designer we used. Well after I showed hime that he had our X9 images on there he freaked out. Nothing but appologies and more apologies and took the site down right away.

If you need a good laugh take a look at what he has on the site now:

http://www.speedhosting.com.au/
 
Good God, why would someone post a thing like that! From the looks of it he is a kid: "we'll not be returning..." - what about the customers, if he had any? All was needed is the site design taken down. What did you tell him, X9, and may I send you to do negotiations for me next time? :D
 
Artashes said:
Good God, why would someone post a thing like that! From the looks of it he is a kid: "we'll not be returning..." - what about the customers, if he had any? All was needed is the site design taken down. What did you tell him, X9, and may I send you to do negotiations for me next time? :D
Click to expand...


I theatened him with taking legal action. I told him that he did not remove it i would contact the Federal Copyright Department and have them take action against him. I guess it was just a scare tactic that worked far too well. I am still getting a chuckle about it after all this time. I felt kind of bad because I think I had the kid in tears and peeing his pants he was so scared. Well I am pretty sure he learned his lesson from this. :banned:


Hmm negotiations huh..............
 
I guess Mommy did laundry and he forgot what it feels like to have peed his pants. X9, have at it again. You need to (re)put the fear of God in him.:smash:

Vito
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Supporters

Back
Top