I've noticed that some Turkish guy blatantly copied my website's design and content and created a similar website to target Google's ads. I emailed with that question to Google to help me punish such injustice, but Google's response was quite off-topic and too general. Below is their template-like response. If someone knows how to interpret it, help me out! "Google AdSense is a program for web publishers who want to display advertising on web pages they control. By placing AdSense code on their web pages, the publisher can display text-based Google ads that are relevant to the content readers see on the pages. Publishers, not Google, control what pages have ads and the content of those pages. Google is a provider of information, not a mediator. We serve ads targeted to certain web pages, but we don't control the content of these pages. For these kinds of questions or comments, it is best to directly address the webmaster of the page in question. However, it is our policy to respond to notices of alleged infringement that comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (the text of which can be found at the U.S. Copyright Office website: http://lcWeb.loc.gov/copyright/) and other applicable intellectual property laws. In this case, this means that if we receive proper notice of infringement, we will forward that notice to the responsible web site publisher. To file a notice of infringement with us, you must provide a written communication (by fax or regular mail, not by email) that sets forth the items specified below. Please note that pursuant to that Act, you may be liable to the alleged infringer for damages (including costs and attorneys' fees) if you materially misrepresent that you own an item when you in fact do not. Accordingly, if you are not sure whether you have the right to request removal from our service, we suggest that you first contact an attorney. To expedite our ability to process your request, please use the following format (including section numbers): 1. Identify in sufficient detail the copyrighted work that you believe has been infringed upon. For example, "The copyrighted work at issue is the text that appears on www.google.com/ads." 2. Identify the material that you claim is infringing upon the copyrighted work listed in item #1 above. You must identify each page that allegedly contains infringing material by providing its URL. 3. Provide information reasonably sufficient to permit Google to contact you (email address is preferred). 4. Provide information, if possible, sufficient to permit Google to notify the owner/administrator of the web page that allegedly contains infringing material (email address is preferred). 5. Include the following statement: "I have a good faith belief that use of the copyrighted materials described above on the allegedly infringing web pages is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law." 6. Include the following statement: "I swear, under penalty of perjury consistent with United States Code Title 17, Section 512, that the information in the notification is accurate and that I am the copyright owner or am authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed." 7. Sign the paper. 8. Send the written communication to the following address: Google, Inc. Attn: AdSense Support, DMCA complaints 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway Mountain View CA 94043 OR Fax to: (650) 618-8507, Attn: AdSense Support, DMCA complaints"
Google's response seems pretty on topic to me. When I caught somebody stealing one of my websites, I sent them a cease and desist letter (look for examples on the net). I also noticed that they had copied article from IBM, so I sent an email to IBM alerting them. A few weeks later all of the stolen content was down.
Yeah I don't see the problem.. They told you they don't get in the middle of things, but if you feel someone is infringing on your copyright they tell you how to deal with that through proper channels so they can address it. FYI reposting mail from google is a TOS violation as far as I know, you might want to edit it.
OMFG! What else you expect from G? BTW does 'your website' in question has all original/copyrighted material in it?
They need details mailed(snail-mail) or faxed Pay attention to 1. - 8. and include the section numbers when your answer in 1., 2. and so on, then they will act on it. Pretty clear Details and details again, thats it