I'm getting tired of people stealing my website...

I

imported_Picus

New member
This month I've had to contact three different detailers about copying parts of my website verbatim, along with hot linking pictures. I'd like some insight on how people can think this is ok, and what you guys generally do in these situations. One of the offending sites removed the content, the other two have not.
 
Depending on what kind of access you have to your server and what OS it runs there are ways to prevent or at least make it very difficult to hotlink images from your website.



There is no way though to prevent them from stealing your images and hosting them somewhere else. Once your page loads in the browser the images will be in the browser cache so those java tricks to prevent right clicking are pretty much useless for that.



prevent hotlink - Google Search



Another trick that I have seen used effectively is to slice up the images into four or more equal parts and put them together again using a table. That way when they try and steal your image or even hotlink to it they will only get a piece of it unless they get the corresponding table html. Obviously though since they are too lazy to create their own content, they are likely too lazy to go through the hassle of trying to use your images with this method.
 
I used to have my pictures stolen all of the time by other vendors. Come to find out they where not stealing them but getting them from a manufacturer who stole them from me. LOL
 
Another very effective means of making it hard to steal content is to develop your site using Flash or something similar. It will make it VERY difficult for the casual thief to steal your content images and text...
 
is it copy writed? I know it sounds weird but if it is theres alot, if its not im sure other then these games, but at the end of the day thats what they are
 
Thanks for the tips guys. I built my site to be simple and easy, I considered flash but I don't want to alienate some of my clientèle. Of course, that wouldn't protect text either. My entire site is copyrighted, all images and text were created by me (as was all the code), so I guess my only option is to find it when it happens and ask to take it down, then have my lawyer write a letter.



I do watermark all photos, but did not to the images I created for educational purposes. I will. Thanks for the idea. :)



FWIW, I believe there is a site builder building these generic sites for detailers and using the same stolen content from me. I'd love to find out who the guy is and what he's being paid for these stolen sites.
 
There's really not a whole lot you can do. The recommendations here are mostly what I would recommend as well. Make sure you have a copyright on all pages, watermark your photos, etc. Making it a Flash site will not deter anyone intent on stealing your content.

Regardless of the steps you take to protect your site, if it appears in my browser, I can grab it.



I would recommend getting a lawyer to draw up a boilerplate warning letter that you can modify for each time you send it out. More than likely, people that do this don't think anyone will go to the trouble of hiring a lawyer and will scare off at the first sign of trouble. For those that don't, you have to weigh the cost of the lawyer vs. people stealing your stuff.



I would also recommend you keep copies of all pages that you alter from here on out so that you have a paper trail of changes and when they occurred in case you ever ended up in court.
 
Have you tried contacting the ISP's/web hosts of the people that won't take the stolen content down? Most ISP's/web hosts are very sensitive to copyright issues; they don't want to get copyright lawyer letters and are quick to take down offending content.



Wow, I can't imagine how angry that would make me... having people steal my content/pictures and using them for their own benefit.



Any chance you could post links to the offending sites so we can visit them and make our feelings known to the site admins?
 
Thanks again guys. I am going to have my lawyer draft a letter. Superbee - I am going to try to deal with it legally, and if that doesn't work I'll let you guys have at 'em. :)
 
stiffdogg06 said:
All you gotta do to get around that is highlight image and push CTRL + C = to copy. CTRL + V = To Paste.:heelclick
Click to expand...



Or just hit the right click key on your keyboard.



Or just go to view webpage info in firefox (in toolbar menu).



Or just go to view source in firefox (in toolbar menu).



Shall I go on? :chuckle:
 
I don't know if others are using my pictures and copy without my permission but I have had a few Autopians ask my permission to use my copy as a basis for their's.



Have you thought about using a small, tactical nuke?
 
i would update the hotlinks pics to something...um...less than desirable for them. see how long they keep trying to use your pics via hotlinks when tubgirl shows up on their sites! hahahahaha :nervous:
 
paradigm said:
i would update the hotlinks pics to something...um...less than desirable for them. see how long they keep trying to use your pics via hotlinks when tubgirl shows up on their sites! hahahahaha :nervous:
Click to expand...



That actually might make me laugh if I saw it. :spit:



is that wrong?:grinno:



- Andrew
 
paradigm said:
i would update the hotlinks pics to something...um...less than desirable for them. see how long they keep trying to use your pics via hotlinks when tubgirl shows up on their sites! hahahahaha :nervous:
Click to expand...



That would be great. tubgirl, lemon party and goatsc.ex! Maybe even 2girls1cup. No, you really, really don't want to know.



I know someone who does that with links he posts on another board I go to. Hotlink it to another site and you get a huge suprise. :nervous2:
 
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