Stolen Articles

Discussion in 'Legal Issues' started by ElvisFan, Aug 2, 2005.

  1. #1
    Okay.... over several months now I have noticed that several forums and websites have blatantly stolen articles from my site some even included my images.... (even though I have a copyright signature at my site and my byline on all of my articles)

    However, I have not idea how to contact their host as no amount of emails to the owners is getting any response to remove my articles...

    How do I find the host of a particular site? thanks (details and links please) as I have not done this before... but now I am very angry indeed...

    thanks,
     
    ElvisFan, Aug 2, 2005 IP
  2. e10

    e10 Well-Known Member

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    #2
    Can you not work it out from the nameservers that show in the WHOIS information?
     
    e10, Aug 2, 2005 IP
  3. ElvisFan

    ElvisFan Peon

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    #3
    How do you do that... and what is - WHOIS?

    Have no idea what you are trying to tell me... please more details, thanks
     
    ElvisFan, Aug 2, 2005 IP
  4. nevetS

    nevetS Evolving Dragon

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    #4
    well... the easiest way would be to go to whois.net if you don't have a command line whois on your server or linux box.
     
    nevetS, Aug 2, 2005 IP
  5. Smyrl

    Smyrl Tomato Republic Staff

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    #5
    As e10 suggests find domain name servers, from that work backwards to find host if possible.

    Before contacting host go to waybackmachine and documenet that articles were on your site first if possible. If your site is new, it may not be indexed in waybackmachine. I would suggest you include this is your letter to the host.

    Shannon
     
    Smyrl, Aug 2, 2005 IP
  6. LGRComp

    LGRComp Well-Known Member

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    #6
    You can find a web based whois lookup up here:
    http://www.dnsstuff.com/

    Just type the domain name into the WHOIS Lookup box and and click the WHOIS button. It will tell you who owns the domain, you can use the information in the nameserver section to find out who hosts the site and then try and contact them.

    Good Luck.
     
    LGRComp, Aug 2, 2005 IP
  7. tflight

    tflight Peon

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    #7
    Simply finding the nameserver information won't always work. In many cases people use third party DNS services. In that case the owner of the nameservers doesn't have anything to do with hosting the website.
     
    tflight, Aug 2, 2005 IP
  8. ElvisFan

    ElvisFan Peon

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    #8
    ElvisFan, Aug 2, 2005 IP
  9. flawebworks

    flawebworks Tech Services

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    #9
    No guarantees; that's a 3rd level domain name; which is why you couldn't find any info on the domain name. This is in their source code; might wanna point that out to them when you contact them: Thou Shalt Not Steal - Fifth Commandment From God Are they swiping images directly from you by linking directly to your server? If so; be evil and change the image to reflect something like: Thou shall not steal. The image will come down. Registration Service Provided By: Cornerstone Hosting Services Contact: Visit: http://CornerstoneHosting.com/ Domain name: homewithgod.com Registrant Contact: HomewithGod Christian Resources Jimmy Crow (webmaster@homewithGod.com) +1.9036624360 Fax: +1.9036624000 899 RS CR 1690 Lone Oak, TX 75453-9507 US Administrative Contact: HomewithGod Christian Resources Jimmy Crow (webmaster@homewithGod.com) +1.9036624360 Fax: +1.9036624000 899 RS CR 1690 Lone Oak, TX 75453-9507 US Technical Contact: Cornerstone Hosting Services Jimmy Crow (domains@CornerstoneHosting.com) +1.9036624360 Fax: +1.9036624000 899 RS CR 1690 Lone Oak, TX 75453-9507 US Billing Contact: HomewithGod Christian Resources Jimmy Crow (webmaster@homewithGod.com) +1.9036624360 Fax: +1.9036624000 899 RS CR 1690 Lone Oak, TX 75453-9507 US Status: Locked Name Servers: dns1.name-services.com dns2.name-services.com dns3.name-services.com dns4.name-services.com dns5.name-services.com Creation date: 17 Jan 2000 16:25:00 Expiration date: 17 Jan 2006 16:25:00 OK; why can't I get this post to come out readable????
     
    flawebworks, Aug 2, 2005 IP
  10. ElvisFan

    ElvisFan Peon

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    #10
    Thanks.... I was surprised myself that this is a Christian site... and they even have the nerve to post a copyright at the bottom of the page in which my stolen article appears... It never ceases to amaze me... thanks for all your effort on my behalf

    Here's another... but this time a German forum... again no amount of emails has warrented a reaction... this one even stole my images....

    http://www.elvisclub.de/msg/index.php?act=ST&f=30&t=8837&

    Thanks so much.... I don't even want to do another google search under my name... for fear I will discover even more... makes me wanna cry.... thanks again
     
    ElvisFan, Aug 2, 2005 IP
  11. nevetS

    nevetS Evolving Dragon

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    #11
    The server is hosted at ev1servers.net so there is one place that you can go for resolution.

    OrgAbuseHandle: ABUSE477-ARIN
    OrgAbuseName: ABUSE
    OrgAbusePhone: +1-713-579-2850

    Looks like the server belongs to:
    OrgName: Everyones Internet, Inc.
    OrgID: EVRY
    Address: 390 Benmar
    Address: Suite 200
    City: Houston
    StateProv: TX
    PostalCode: 77060
    Country: US

    http://www.dnsstuff.com/tools/whois.ch?ip=216.40.233.48

    inbound links seem to be pretty worthless, although since there are only two domains it may be worth investigating those to find out more info on who this is.

    From the ev1 web site:

    Hosted Domain Account: You may not use your hosted domain site to publish material, which EV1® determines, at its sole discretion, to be unlawful, indecent or objectionable. For purposes of this policy, "material" refers to all forms of communications including narrative descriptions, graphics (including photographs, illustrations, images, drawings, logos), executable programs, video recordings, and audio recordings. NO ADULT orientated material may be stored in your hosted domain site or displayed on your hosted domain pages.

    Illegal use: Use of the EV1® service to transmit any material (by e-mail, uploading, posting or otherwise) that, intentionally or unintentionally, violates any applicable local, state, national, or international law, or any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.

    so it looks like they have policies in place to handle this situation.
     
    nevetS, Aug 3, 2005 IP
  12. heavensgates

    heavensgates Guest

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    #12
    Hi all, I'm the webmaster of Heavens Gates, Remembering The 50s,
    Love Always, Patsy Cline and Back 2 The 50s with Elvis.

    As I explained to Lea, that site is no more used and can only be found on I assume on some search engines. I was new then and thought if I gave credit to the author on a subject that all would be OK, but know now from a couple years on the net, that written permission is required. We live and learn.

    Also if you look at any of my sites, you will find on all pages an email link near the bottom to contact me and also a guestbook.

    God Bless,
    John
    http://www.heavens-gates.com
    http://www.rememberingthe50s.com
    http://www.elvis-tcb.com
    http://www.patsy-cline.us
     
    heavensgates, Aug 17, 2005 IP
  13. mcfox

    mcfox Wind Maker

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    #13
    Elvisfan -- if people are hotlinking to your images -- i.e. linking to the images on your server, you can have some fun by altering your site slightly.

    Change your pages to a new url for your images - best to put them into a different folder, and then replace the images that are getting hotlinked with something a bit less ... um, tasteful than before.

    I've known people to change the images for p0rn, including big 'STOLEN FROM ...' letters stamped across it, or if eBay is where the images are being displayed, something completely inappropriate to the sale.
     
    mcfox, Aug 18, 2005 IP
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  14. PhilEsq

    PhilEsq Peon

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    #14
    Many websites have been copying and posting my articles with the signature block, but without live links. In the past, it wasn't worth my time to pursue these violations. But now, I am frequently seeing my articles posted on websites with my name changed to indicate the author is someone else! Obviously, this is particularly annoying. I am no longer posting articles with article distributing web sites.

    Many of the web sites posting the articles are requiring time consuming work before they will take it down. Others are in foreign countries and may even be posting it themselves. I may soon start seeking damages from the websites which require too much effort to prove or which refuse to delete the post or delete the poster's account.

    One of the article directories, which posted my article with my name changed to someone else as the author, is in Egypt with the domain ALNINGA(.com).
     
    PhilEsq, Feb 11, 2007 IP
  15. kokopoko

    kokopoko Active Member

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    #15
    I have this happen all the time with articles I submit to directories. No one adds my backlink per the copyright and I've given up trying to enforce it. Now I add a backlink in the article itself to my site. So if they usually delete the author bio part, I still have a backlink.

    Christine
     
    kokopoko, Feb 11, 2007 IP