a very strange message - threaten to be law suit

Discussion in 'Legal Issues' started by smub, Sep 9, 2006.

  1. #1
    First of all here is how it all starts

    i make phpLD templates

    www.domaining.in/downloads/index.html

    all the templates are here



    This case is specifically regarding Explore template


    Let me clear myself, i did not copy his images, nor steal anything from his side. What i did was just copy the design of www.dirmoz.com (Due to everyone was willing to pay for it) So i thought to make it a free source, and help out.

    The owner of dirmoz didn't have any issues with it, and he seemed fine.

    Yet today i got this message



    What am i suppose to do.

    I designed the .psd myself, plus i coded it all by myself, but it just looks like the site of www.dirmoz.com !

    Am i right or should i remove it from the site ???
     
    smub, Sep 9, 2006 IP
  2. epic1231

    epic1231 Peon

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    #2
    Now please take what I say with a grain of salt, I do not have legal information handy but off the top of my head I do not really believe your design is a direct copy of this site.. Although similar is some aspects, the design you have setup is not a direct copy and therefore would not fall under the copyright information he was speaking of.

    At least that is my take on all of this, I maybe wrong, and as I said i do see the similiarties of the two designs but at the same time there are differences in your design from his that does not result in a direct copy in my opinion.
    -Bill
     
    epic1231, Sep 9, 2006 IP
  3. GTech

    GTech Rob Jones for President!

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    #3
    This is simply not true. I did speak with someone on PHPLD a few months ago and did an orange variation of my design for them. I can't imagine this being the same person, as that person showered me with kindness and was quite a nice person.

    Though I recently sold my directory, prior to selling the directory, no one but myself owned the design for dirmoz.com. I challenge anyone to produce any documentation to the contrary. As a courtesty though, you should contact dazed_and_confused on the forum here and get his blessing.

    Have some fun with it, let the guy sue you. If he has any inclination how much it costs to sue someone, especially over something that is not true, you won't be hearing from him.
     
    GTech, Sep 9, 2006 IP
  4. smub

    smub Notable Member

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    #4
    www.theorangepages.com

    yes Gtech

    This is the guy and his signature have this link.

    I am going to contact Dazed right now thanks Gtech, you are a great guy
     
    smub, Sep 9, 2006 IP
  5. GTech

    GTech Rob Jones for President!

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    #5
    Yep, that's the design. I even offered to do the design free, but I think at some point we agreed on $60.00 (I'd have to check the PMs over there). But it was only for the orange variation of the design.
     
    GTech, Sep 9, 2006 IP
  6. smub

    smub Notable Member

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    #6

    So this is funny than. He owns the design in both colors....
     
    smub, Sep 9, 2006 IP
  7. blazinCrazy

    blazinCrazy Peon

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    #7
    haha, I'd tell the dirmoz guy to shove it.

    The designs are similar but they're not similar enough in my eyes. Your web directory template uses a royalty free clipart image for the globe, the fonts are different, the colours are different, the shapes are different, the button labels are different etc..not to mention that both designs suck (sorry but that's my opinion)
     
    blazinCrazy, Sep 9, 2006 IP
  8. GTech

    GTech Rob Jones for President!

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    #8
    No, he does not. I've also screen captured our PMs just in case there is any problem. The orange design, only, is exclusive to him.
     
    GTech, Sep 9, 2006 IP
    smub likes this.
  9. smub

    smub Notable Member

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    #9
    thanks for all the support fellas. Especially to GTech. Honoroy members. ++ Rep to you
     
    smub, Sep 9, 2006 IP
    GTech likes this.
  10. cantufind

    cantufind Banned

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    #10
    I didn't have to respond to this post but felt the need to ensure fair play on all sides and for people to learn that copyright is a complex issue. I looked at the skin that this poster did which was strangely simular to one of my own together with that of the original designer. He had no issue and after having looked at the demo skin this person gives, neither do I now, and even though it goes against the entire ethos of why personal messages are there here is what I wrote to this person called smub; It goes to show that we can all be wrong and that apologies are sometimes needed.

    **********************************************************

    Hi there,

    Thanks for giving me time to look at your site, I looked at the demo. I need to eat humble pie here and apologise as there are differences that make me quite happy to accept it is not a direct copy.

    Please do not think for one second that I was doing anything other than protecting my own property as you should with yours.

    Yours,

    Kevin

    **********************************************************

    For what it's worth Smub, I hope your skin can cope with the growing number of bugs with phpld as mine can't, that's why I'm creating an entirely new directory script that makes others look silly, but hey, I'm openly biased. When it gets released in the next few weeks perhaps you can comment on it and see what I mean.

    To end this, please accept my apologies on public forum, we all have a right to protect and defend as both you and I did. Please do remember to tell people though that it was you who boasted to me about the skin giving the impression you deliberately tried to stir up trouble? Never mind, no harm done, seen it all before. :)

    Kev
     
    cantufind, Sep 10, 2006 IP
  11. Barti1987

    Barti1987 Well-Known Member

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    #11
    As long as you created the design, you can replicate the colors and or layout.

    What you can not do is replicate logos and/or images.

    Again, Layouts/colors CAN'T be copyrighted.

    For example I have a couple of websites that have the same layout as google/yahoo and both can't do nothing about it.

    Peace,
     
    Barti1987, Sep 11, 2006 IP