Someone Ripped My Site GRRRRR!

phpwiz · Jul 16, 2005

well im not quite sure what to do but i NEED advice about this.

Original: http://hostphase.ca
Ripped: http://free-webster.com

I know that this person rips a lot of peoples templates but if u look at the top where it says free webster u can even see where he ripped it and copy and pasted to put his logo LOL! god damnit this guy is a moron.

-Tyson

Exovian · Jul 16, 2005

Was it a free template, or a unique design? If it was a free template, or even any template for that matter, there is nothing you can do really. If you had it custom made, I smell a lawsuit.

Just my two cents.

vip-ip · Jul 16, 2005

Yes, this is never a good experience for one to experience. You own 100% rights to the template and you're sure you haven't gave the rights to anyone else? If so, look up his WHOIS info to try to contact him. If he doesn't take it down, report it to appropriate abuse departments (ex, his domain registrar).

CrazyTech · Jul 16, 2005

I wouldn't bother going into legal action and spending that money. I'd just simply send an email to his upstream providers (hosting) and tell them that you're considering legal action. I'd also email him and tell him the same. Make it known that you're "thinking" about it and he'll get the message. Especially if an upstream provider gets a notice about it. This is all provided that you have 100% unique rights.

DJ-Sound · Jul 16, 2005

if this is a free or paid template theres nothing you can do, if this is a cutom design that you own rights to then contact his hosting company. If you want to sue this guy and you own rights to this design, actually get it copyrighted* so you can nail them for copyright infringment(sp?)

*assuming you are like ~83% of webmasters who don't actually have a copyright but pretend by posting a false notice.

labrocca · Jul 16, 2005

I had a similar issue here a couple months ago.

This was the best info I could find. It's very helpful.

http://www.seologic.com/faq/copyright.php

phpwiz · Jul 16, 2005

i bought it unique. and i have contacted him, the site aint working right now haha i think he got the idea but if its still there 2morow i will whois his info and call him up, if it gets that far i will contact hostdime (where he colo's at).

vip-ip · Jul 16, 2005

It's up now. Make screenshots while you can

Venolus · Jul 16, 2005

yes, the site is working, but there is also a chance that the designer was a fraud. so think and act well

EbookLover · Jul 16, 2005

xyris said:
yes, the site is working, but there is also a chance that the designer was a fraud. so think and act well

Good call. This is certainly a problem these days. Dishonest programmers and designers are all over those freelance sites.

Exovian said:
If you had it custom made, I smell a lawsuit.

LOL. I doubt it. It'll cost a few thousands of dollars to sue a person over something like this and then another few thousand in time spent. Totally cost-prohibitive.

Wildchild22 · Jul 16, 2005

how did you manage to find the ripped site?

phpwiz · Jul 16, 2005

xyris said:
yes, the site is working, but there is also a chance that the designer was a fraud. so think and act well

No he is not a fraud, if you look closely at the logo and he has just copyed and pasted the background to cover up my logo. also when i got the template it didnt have preload images so i did it myself and its in the source also. go look on free-webster.com. i am ready to call him up soon so i hope he takes it down.

PHP:

<body onLoad="MM_preloadImages

Morph · Jul 16, 2005

My advice: note down some evidence you dont want to be stuck for words on the phone know what to say and give him a ring now!

phpwiz · Jul 16, 2005

i was looking on a forum and i saw he ripped someone else and when i clicked to see is site i saw mine i was like OMFG! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Heres the link (http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?threadid=415427)

Wildchild22 · Jul 16, 2005

wow, i wouldn't know what to think if it was mine and i saw it....

lucky that you found it though

labrocca · Jul 16, 2005

Did you even bother to read the site I posted for you to read?

You are making mistakes. You should NOT contact him. That just gives him notice. You can have him delisted on all the search engines as well as get his host to cancel his account.

GO READ THE LINK I SENT YOU.

phpwiz · Jul 16, 2005

i am reading it right now.

so pretty much email HostDime and tell them that use of the copyrighted materials allegedly infringing web pages is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law. anyone that knows more about this wanna draft somthing up i can work with i have never done this before lol.

thanx for all ur support guys i really appreciate it.

labrocca · Jul 16, 2005

I think at their site they link to examples of some stuff. I am sure they listed DMCA notices which I think is what you need to send.

phpwiz · Jul 16, 2005

im about to go get a copyright thing from http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/copyright/landing_choice.asp.

i hate starting this type of stuff *** **** i HATE RIPPERS!!!!!!!!!

phpwiz · Jul 16, 2005

no, i dunno if i will now, labrocca has a point. i shouldnt give him a warning i should just start emailing out copyright infringment letters to HostDime and search engines.

also here is a conversation log with the designer that i just talked with.

Tyson says:
just a couple questions about the template i bought.

Tyson says:
i am just clarifying that i am the sole owner of the template and it was custom made for me, and u wont sell it again?

Designer says:
true

TWM · Jul 17, 2005

And this designer can be trusted?

Let us know what HostDime said.

Venolus · Jul 17, 2005

If the designer isnt a fraud, then my friend you have a billion solutions to your problem at hand. Act wisely and you can legally do a compromising if he is willing to pay you some lumpsome or just report to the site host and get him kickked out

phpwiz · Jul 17, 2005

its not the money i want its that i dont a site I PAIED for on someone elses site. if i wanted to be unorigional i coulda downloaded some crappy one from boxedart.com. i just hope that this gets settled fast cause i am pretty stressed about it lol.

and ya i do trust the designer, he has really good ratings and he's pretty cool he always askes me if i like new designs he makes etc.

-Tyson

Venolus · Jul 17, 2005

hmm, then you surely can take the legal way and get him kickked out from his host

Someone Ripped My Site GRRRRR!

Established Member

Account Closed

Account Closed

Wordpress & Web Hosting GuyVIP Member

VIP Member

Top Member

Established Member

Account Closed

Established Member

Top Member

Established Member

Established Member

VIP Member

Established Member

Established Member

Top Member

Established Member

Top Member

Established Member

Established Member

Web Marketing SpecialistEstablished Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Similar threads

We're social

Pinned

Appreciation

Agreement