website copyright

[Clair]

Well, after reading all about it, it's happened to me.

An English couple moved in the village last year, we met, I helped them out for French bits and bobs, they've asked a friend of a friend in the UK to make them a website for studio they're going to let out for pin money.

The website designer has lifted almost all the text from my own website. That also includes a map, which is attributed to me with a link to my website, but on an obscure page about the website designer.

I have just emailed him to let him know that, despite saying he has permission, I never gave it as I had not been asked. I also mention that his acknowledgement is piddly considering that amost all the text is mine, with the exception of a few words here and there.

What next?

Edit: the email to the website designer has just bounced...

[Viv]

I have no idea about protecting copyright other than it sounds expensive.

Do you think they have stolen your words due to their abysmal French?

As bitter a pill as it might be to swallow, why not write something out for them for their own use and then drop the ungrateful b****rds like a hot potato, I think they need you far more than you need them!

I must admit I would strugle to do this, but I think it may be the easiest/ cheapest option

 

[Clair]

[quote user="viva"]Do you think they have stolen your words due to their abysmal French?[/quote]

No, theirs is in English only. They probably couldn't be ars**d to write their own text, so I assume they told this guy to copy and paste...

I tried to call them this afternoon to tell them (kindly) I wished they'd asked me first, but they were out. Just as well, as I would have been nasty... probably...

I'm just annoyed that all my hard work (and it was hard work!) is going to help advertise their place with no effort on their part.

As I cannot seem to be able to get hold of their website guy (and he work for free as a favour), I don't know what else to do. I want them to acknowledge what they've done.

[hastobe]

You could try doing a search for their ISP or the company who

registered their domain name (www.WHOIS.net) and contact them to say

that the site hosted on their server is in breach of copyright. 

You could also try contacting Google (see this thread:

www.webmasterworld.com/forum44/507.htm) who may remove their search

engine listing.

Hastobe

[hastobe]

This link may explain a bit more about the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act ) and the obligations of the ISP...

http://www.chillingeffects.org/dmca512/notice.cgi?NoticeID=538#QID91

It maybe that if you write to them (by email or via 'their' website?) quoting the above legislation and the consequences if they are found to be in breach, that this may be enough to persuade them to either acknowledge your input or to change their site. 

Hastobe

[Mpprh]

Hi

I'm afraid this is commonplace. And, realistically, there is not much you can do about it except ask for a credit.

This website helps you to find who the copiers are : http://www.copyscape.com/

Peter

 

 

 

[Clair]

Thank you all for your input.

This has had a sobering effect on me.

I had not realised how much effort I had put into this until I saw the full text used by someone else.

I have taken heed of your advice and I will firstly approach them and tell them how disappointed I am that they coul do this without even talking to me first. Then I will ask them for a link.

If this does not work, I will act more officially throught their ISP.

On a practical level, I am in the process of adding a copyright logo on all my pages, English and French, and I will update my website.

As I am not very computer literate, can someone tell me of an easy way to mark my pictures?

Peter, do you use a Copyscape banner on your pages?

Many thanks in advance.

[ChezShells]

Hi

Someone had one of my pages on their site a while ago, not just copied text but the whole page, layout, font style etc
Didnt match their own site at all.

Left em to it, see it as a compliment.

There are ways to stop copy and paste and also a way to prevent people from getting source code, the latter is a little complicated to do if you have javascripts but can be done.

 

[Clair]

[quote user="Chezshells"]Someone had one of my pages on their site a while ago, not just copied text but the whole page, layout, font style etc

Didnt match their own site at all. Left em to it, see it as a compliment.[/quote]

I can see where there is a certain form of flattery involved, but would you still feel the same way if this was for direct competition 2km from your own place?

[hastobe]

You can't prevent someone copying your pages using javascript - with a

script there it takes a little longer and you need to be a little more

web savvy - but it can be easily done.

Hastobe

[ChezShells]

[quote user="hastobe"]You can't prevent someone copying your pages using javascript
Hastobe
[/quote]

You can if you use PHP instead.

Okay, someone has copied some of your content but what are the chances of them getting your business, the presentation of your site and the first picture anyone will see should do enough but as well as this it will depend where your site and there site are listed in search engines, if they are listed and near each other its up to you to present your gite website well enough for them not to bother going anywhere else.

[Wendy]

Hi Clair, you've LOTS more patience than me let me tell you! I would, in no uncertain terms, let them know that they have NOT started off life in a French village on the right foot and that they have trodden on the wrong toes. Hmmm, do you know how to make voodoo dolls, I mean the type that you stick pins in?...

[hastobe]

[quote user="Chezshells"]

You can if you use PHP instead.

[/quote]

Using php won't help - php still parses (aka passes) the content of

your page to the browser - where its accessible even with a no right

click javascript.  You just 'view page source', work out the

directory structure and hey presto - you can navigate directly to the

image.  The images have to be displayed using conventional html or

browser based javascript even if the references are constructed from a

SQL call to a database.  Using Flash would make it more difficult but even then...

Hastobe

[Clair]

[quote user="wen"] Hmmm, do you know how to make voodoo dolls, I mean the type that you stick pins in?...[/quote]

[6] No, but I will gladly accept any tips!!!

To hastobe and Chezshells:

So sorry, but your comments, however well meant, are going way over my head!!

I already have "no right click" on all my pages and that clearly did not make any difference... Thanks anyway.

[Mpprh]

[quote user="Clair"]
Peter, do you use a Copyscape banner on your pages?

[/quote]

Hi

no I don't use the banner.

When I come across whole pages, I email them and ask for a credit. Problem is that copiers copy from other copiers and don't know the origin of the material. Also, with 680 pages, it is hard to keep up with it.

Many take a section, and change a few words.

Some copied material from just one of my pages (about wine)  :

http://www.copyscape.com/view.php?o=70176&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cambridgewine.com%2Fcwines.nsf%2FViewCat2%3FOpenForm%26Cat%3DLanguedoc-Roussillon&t=1142713269&s=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.the-languedoc-page.com%2Flanguedoc%2Flanguedoc-wine.htm&w=42&c= 

http://www.copyscape.com/view.php?o=70176&u=http%3A%2F%2Flanguedoc-france.info%2F0414_wine.htm&t=1142713269&s=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.the-languedoc-page.com%2Flanguedoc%2Flanguedoc-wine.htm&w=39&c=

http://www.copyscape.com/view.php?o=70176&u=http%3A%2F%2Fimlive.com%2Fqa%2Fcm%2FTravel%2Feurope__beziers_live_show__beziers_advice.html&t=1142713269&s=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.the-languedoc-page.com%2Flanguedoc%2Flanguedoc-wine.htm&w=35&c=

http://www.copyscape.com/view.php?o=70176&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.noboundaries.typepad.com%2Fwine_club%2F&t=1142713269&s=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.the-languedoc-page.com%2Flanguedoc%2Flanguedoc-wine.htm&w=21&c=

http://www.copyscape.com/view.php?o=70176&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kinry.com%2Ffrance%2Fautignac.htm&t=1142713269&s=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.the-languedoc-page.com%2Flanguedoc%2Flanguedoc-wine.htm&w=18&c=

http://www.copyscape.com/view.php?o=70176&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.languedoc-france.info%2F0414_wine.htm&t=1142713269&s=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.the-languedoc-page.com%2Flanguedoc%2Flanguedoc-wine.htm&w=16&c=

As I said, there is little you can do.

Peter

 

[josa]

As far as a Copyright logo is concerned, in UK law (and I beleive French Law) this is irrelevant, as copyright subsists the moment it is written and does not need any claim on it. (It is needed in the USA).

If the ISP is UK baseed then I would say that the UK would be the correct jurisdiction for any breach of copyright legal action, although it could be quite expensive to bring. You need to look at what are your losses - if substantial, then sue them, if minimal, then write and ask them to desist - I would never recommend litigation (I am a litigation lawyer) but always try to get a reasonable and negotiated conclusion - maybe they did not realise they couldn't explioit your efforts freely?  - just point it out to them and I suspect most people wiould come to a mutually agreeable solution.

Best wishes - JD

[ChezShells]

[quote user="hastobe"][quote user="Chezshells"]

You can if you use PHP instead.

[/quote]

Using php won't help - php still parses (aka passes) the content of your page to the browser - where its accessible even with a no right click javascript.  You just 'view page source', work out the directory structure and hey presto - you can navigate directly to the image.  The images have to be displayed using conventional html or browser based javascript even if the references are constructed from a SQL call to a database.  Using Flash would make it more difficult but even then...

Hastobe
[/quote]
Having only learned how to do a website through moving to France i'm willing to learn all the time

Cheers

[hastobe]

I think this is probably going too far off topic now - so this is last post on this but your photo is is at:

 http://www.design-spider.com/chez

I was just making the point that if someone really wants to get at you

site theny can - whatever scripting you use...Sorry if I was being too

techy clair - my apologies

Hastobe

[ChezShells]

Hmm

DOH!

[ChezShells]

Could always get someone to put a watermark over your pictures like www.chezshells.com/arca1.jpg , bit late now though

Name and shame the site.

Best thing to do is put a watermark on the pictures you have taken other than of your gite, they would be silly to use pictures of the accommodation.

[Clair]

[quote user="Chezshells"]Could always get someone to put a watermark over your pictures like www.chezshells.com/arca1.jpg , bit late now though. Name and shame the site.Best thing to do is put a

watermark on the pictures you have taken other than of your gite, they

would be silly to use pictures of the accommodation.[/quote]

Hi again

I paid a visit to my "friends" this morning to let them what I thought of their website.

They appeared to be as surprised as I was, blaming their website designer (who remains out of touch) for the use of my work.

As she is a bit "blonde" (apologies to real blondes, but think ditzy

barmaid)), I tend to believe her, Not so sure about him though...

We spent a while going between the 2 sites and they agree 75% of their website is made up of my work in some form or other (map, text, links...)

I emphasised my disappointment ona friendship basis as well as on a business basis and we agreed they will add a direct link to my website in the form of "For larger bookings or if we are unavailable, we recommend mysite" on their contact page... provided they can get hold of the man to do it...!

One thing's for sure though, they've had their last favour from me.

Edit: thanks for the tip about the watermark overlay. I'll do that next week.

[Paolo]

I think you have been too soft on them. I would have told them to write their own text.

There is another consideration here. Google doesn't like duplicate content. If two pages have the same text, Google only returns one of them in a search. The other is effectively invisible.

Whether it is your site, or your neighbours' which is blanked, this is a compelling reason for them to change their text.

Paolo

[Clair]

[quote user="Paolo"]I think you have been too soft on them. I would have told them to write their own text. There is another consideration here. Google doesn't like duplicate

content. If two pages have the same text, Google only returns one of

them in a search. The other is effectively invisible.Whether it is your site, or your neighbours' which is blanked, this is a compelling reason for them to change their text. Paolo[/quote]

Hi Paolo,

I know what you're saying about "letting them off", but there is nothing I can do to force them to rewrite!

They're dabbling at it, I need the income; so I have suggested a compromise which is more likely to be achieved: they're more likely to add a small paragraph in my favour than to write whole new pages, which they couldn't be ars*d to write in the first place.

I will gradually amend my text, keeping keywords in place and so on...

Thanks for the input anyway. It's been a while since I've laid my hat!