Unless a registered mail comes across my desk, it doesn't exist. Just make sure your whois info is correct, or you can have other problems lol.
LOL, how blind can you people be? If you dont have rights to those games remove them, you should not risk your self with this crap, but honestly i can guarantee that is not from a lawyer. You should do more investigating work and see who is the one who sends you this crap. My self i have been doing illegal activities for the last 25 years, so i know a thing or two about lawyers and things related to crime and punishment. What is best, is that i have never been caught, well close but not quite! If you want to sell illegal stuff, make a IRIS Server in russia, and do a little bit of research and you will be safe. Btw, dont use your real whois info, i know few places where they never ask. PM me if you need advice. Sir. Uuno Turhapuro
revenue phishers - they are looking to see how much the site makes (as per their 3rd condition in the letter). they probably want to see how well that site is doing before they clone it and market it for themselves.
Tell him to send you a proper cease and desist letter in legal document size with a proper company identity printed on it in the mail and then you'll talk.
why do people think that it has to arrive via certified mail for it to be real? A C&D is nothing more than a courtesy letter giving you the option to remove the content before being sued. They don't have to send you a C&D, they could just haul your ass to court. If you ever get a C&D and they're willing to let it go with removal of the violating material, then consider yourself lucky, because it could be entirely worse. I dont think the OP really cares about risking his ass to keep 2 lame games on his site. If you guys want to do that, especially when you know you're in the wrong, then go ahead
There's a potentially monumental difference between being blissfully ignorant and intentionally stupid. Slipxaway practically nailed it. But...it's your respective asses should this sort of thing happen to you. While the case below is "unique" in its own right, the practice of sending C&Ds via email has become more common since then: http://www.bakerbotts.com/infocente....aspx?id=684dd58c-df85-4dbb-88a5-c6611e2ac5ec Chillingeffects.org has lots of samples.
It doesn't seem odd to you that they used the site "contact us" system versus the whois email? That seems rather out of place to me for a lawyer, usually they're resourceful enough to make sure the person they're contacting them is the owner of the domain. To OP: Try calling the phone number they left or somehow verifying that it is indeed a legal firm.
Chuck Norris doesn't own photos that are taken of him. The photographer who took the photo owns it. Well actually, I guess since it's Chuck Norris, he DOES own any photo taken of him
I'm aware the OP stated the other party in question used his contact form. My point is that they're using whatever means necessary to at least get the OP's attention ASAP. There's a risk sending an email directly might get blocked by the OP's ISP or sent straight to the spam folder, so sending their notice via the contact form might stand a better chance of getting their message thru. I got the impression it's legit because the OP stated the IP address is based in Washington. If you note the state listed at the bottom of the email, they do match. Unfortunately it's all the more reason one must be vigilant.
yah if you dont really have the right to have the game up there it may be in your best interest to take it down. But the "famous actor" thing sounds fake..
I agree with turharpuro for the most part but here are my thoughts: 1) These people sound like they manage Chuck's properties. They don't have to be and usually aren't lawyers. 2) The language used suggests they know what they are doing, although they may not be so sophisticated to use the WHOIS information nor might the WHOIS provide real contact info. I'm guessing you don't have a DMCA agent specified either which might also explain why they sent you an email in a contact form. 3) Just because someone sends you a notice via a contact form doesn't mean they aren't serious and won't follow up using other methods. Nor does it mean that you aren't liable until they do. You will be. They will state that you have been involved in distribution of software infringing on Chuck's intellectual property rights and may get nailed for every copy downloaded, even those prior to the warning. It's your duty to know the law. This thread is pretty funny. You think this is revenue phishing by a third party because they are asking you to give them an accounting of all the money you have earned from ONE game? No, they are asking you to plead guilty and tell turn over any money you made from the game and they retain their right to sue you too. I doubt anyone is pulling your leg. Best is to simply deal with it and see whether the information is true. Remove the offending item from your site and hope they never bother calling you back.
If this isn't legit, it's definitely some guy who wants to know how much you're banking from that site. Either way, I would definitely call the number they gave you and verify, just for kicks.