Someone Ripped my Site! What can I do?

[dkr]

I just noticed that someone ripped my site design, and all the content (except probably the games), and made it into a whole new website!

My site: http://www.gangstergamers.com
Ripper site: http://hornygames.org (contains adult material)

The introduction even says 'Welcome to GansterGamers.com'! Banner ads are mine (which is kind of a positive :p), design is mine (although customized a bit), the script license is mine, and I think the site is feeding off of my bandwidth by linking to some of my games (I'm not 100% positive). What can i do about this?

Thank You,
Donny

 

[slipondajimmy]

I would send the owner a letter telling him/her to immediatly stop use of your site design . Also there entire source is loaded with references to the gangster site

/templates/gangster/style.css

the register link goes to your site as well

 

[dkr]

Thanks. I tried searching for the owner's email through whois, but turns out it was a proxified email address. So, I've emailed the host (dreamhost) and see if they can do something about this problem.

Thank you,
Donny

 

[CharlieA]

Ughh, that sucks. Try complaining to their host.

 

[ofclean]

Their site explodes in firefox, while yours is fine.

How did you find this? You are lucky you caught it early.

 

[BeZazz]

i think you have done the right thing by contacting their host

a few things i would consider adding / adjusting your htaccess file to try to prevent hot linking

also i would seriously consider changing the name of some of the images referenced in your code, then with the original named files
1) change the pics to something less desirable/disgusting
2) place text on the image saying something like, i stole this image etc
3) if you can afford the bandwidth get a LARGE file and rename it to the image name and see how long it takes his site to load

but thats just what i would do..

their host should shut down the site ASAP considering it is so obvious they have stolen your code

 

[HomerJSimpson]

hmn..its seen like you both using the same game script

 

[ihatebeans]

hmn..its seen like you both using the same game script

No, he totally ripped the source code because everything is the same All links point to his site and all text says his site

 

[dkr]

Thanks guys. I got a reply from dreamhost today :S:

Thank you for writing. We are always willing to assist copyright owners guard their
content and remove it from infringing websites, but we need to receive these
complaints in the form of a formal Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) notice.
This is a legal document that assures that you are the owner of the copyright and
asserts your rights over the specific content involved.

.....

Hmm.. is it really that complicated?

Thank You,
Donny

 

[tristanperry]

Nope, it sounds like they're just being lazy (to me)? Hosts can pull websites down at the first sort of complaint, DreamHost seem like they're just being lazy/annoying.

Their coding is odd... their login box simply doesn't work.. try contacting them directly, and keep trying to contact DreamHost and see if you can stop them being lazy and making things more complicated than they need to be.

 

[dkr]

Ok I just replied with a more 'direct' message. Hope they will actually look at the site this time.

Thank You,
Donny

 

[tristanperry]

Best of luck I hope you get somewhere with your query. In my experience, hosts pull websites down without following some copyright law/complaint.. (Freewebs is a good example of this - I've had two sites shut down within a week for copying one of my site's contents). I hope that DreamHost are more helpful this time around. Keep us posted!

 

[AzN]

I sent you a very good DMCA draft that will take down any infringements efficiently.
Good luck and regards,
Sonny Van

 

[Damion]

Hi Donny,

Here is a link to a extensive guide what to do...

What to do when someone steals your Content

Which will guide you through all the steps you can take to take action.

*Hint*
(Such a guide should be stickied in my opinion)

 

[akoon]

lol the domain is kinda of funny, but the site owner is a retard for attempting such thing. what a lazy idiot,

 

[Matthew.]

You have been given all the correct advice, however for the future I would suggest reading:

DMCA Action - A General Guide to Taking Action Against Site Rippers using DMCA Law! by Dan Richard (Pixel2Life.com owner).

Detailed and well explained article about DMCA and how to use it.

Matt
(I also backup Damion's idea of making a sticky about his link, including this one as well)

 

[Corky]

People are idiots. I can't believe that are this low to rip another person's site. I know it happens a lot but this is just stupid.

Wouldn't you think it would take more time ripping the site then developing your own?

Possibly just using a nice arcade script thats free or very affordable.

 

[dkr]

I actually am getting some decent traffic from their website :P. Although, what I'm worried about is the duplicate use of my game script license :S. I've spent good money on this, and don't want it to be taken away because some loser couldn't afford one himself.

Anyways, I got a reply from DreamHost:
Taking content off a website we host can put us in a potentially legally liable
position. Because of this, we require a formal DMCA notice. I am not a legal
professional so I cannot give you advice on how to draw up a DMCA notice -- all I
can do is advise you to consult with an attorney if you are unable to draw up a
proper DMCA notice of your own resources.

Asian, I think I'll just forward your PM to them. See what happens .

 

[Matthew.]

I actually am getting some decent traffic from their website :P. Although, what I'm worried about is the duplicate use of my game script license :S. I've spent good money on this, and don't want it to be taken away because some loser couldn't afford one himself.

Anyways, I got a reply from DreamHost:
Taking content off a website we host can put us in a potentially legally liable
position. Because of this, we require a formal DMCA notice. I am not a legal
professional so I cannot give you advice on how to draw up a DMCA notice -- all I
can do is advise you to consult with an attorney if you are unable to draw up a
proper DMCA notice of your own resources.

Asian, I think I'll just forward your PM to them. See what happens .

Follow the link to Dan Richard's website i provided above, he has put a template or sorts for people to follow.

Matt

 

[dkr]

I got a reply from dreamhost :S:

> DMCA NOTIFICATION OF COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT
>
> Date: 18 March 2007
>
> Greetings
>
> I am an agent authorized to act on behalf of Kinkarso.com who
> exclusively own the design and content used on hornygames.org.
>
> I can find no record of authorized use for this
> location http://www.hornygames.org
>
> Please suspend/remove the GUI and files and prevent future abuse.
>
> Formality:
>
> In accordance with the provisions the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of
> 1998
>
> Please expeditiously \"take down\" or \"block access\" to the infringing
> material and take appropriate action against the customer to prevent future
> abuse.
>
> Declaration:
>
> I, the undersigned, CERTIFY UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY that I am an agent
> authorized to act on behalf of the owner of certain intellectual property
> rights, said exclusive owners being named:
>
> Kinkarso.com, Canada
>
> I have a good faith belief that the items or materials listed below are not
> authorized by the above intellectual property owners, their agents, or the
> law and therefore infringe their rights.
>
> I further aver that the information contained in the Notice is accurate.
>
> I may be contacted at:
> *********@kinkarso.com
>
> Truthfully,
> ********

The DMCA law does not provide for removal of entire websites; it provides only for
removal of content which you own the copyright to. To effectively do this, you need
to explicitly delineate the files that comprise the content you own and/or describe
in detail specifically which content you own. Since you have not specifically
identified the infringing material, there is nothing I can suspend here.

Again, please seek the assistance of a competent intellectual property attorney if
you need assistance drawing up a proper DMCA or identifying which content you own
the copyrights to.

--

- Karl F., Abuse Coordinator

- DreamHost Web Hosting - http://www.dreamhost.com/