This morning, one of the members on IWDN posted a link to a really neat site that scours the Internet looking for content ripping. I wanted to try this to see just how well it worked, and after a few failed tries, I remembered the recent discussion about tamranda.com - http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=366642 . So, I gave it a shot.

It saddens me to have to post this, especially after we received such a heartfelt apology from Tamranda the last time he was caught and many assurances he would not steal from other sites again. But, here it is:

http://www.lightningservers.net - Reseller Plans content
http://www.tamranda.com - About Our Services content *rip*

http://www.towerhost.com/company/index.php - Our History content, last paragraph
http://www.tamranda.com/hosting-about.htm - Our History content *rip*

http://www.jodohost.com/whyus.asp - Basically the entire page is ripped
http://www.tamranda.com/hosting-why.htm - Sad, just sad *rip*

Tamranda, the good people of WHT were very kind in their forgiveness of your criminal acts the last time. After much discussion, I also accepted your apologies and took your word that you would not do this again. I feel like a fool for having given you even that much trust. As far as I'm concerned, your professional credibility is now entirely destroyed. Unless you can show somehow that these other sites ripped from you, no apology or promise will convince me you're capable of running a legitimate business.

The site that uncovered this, the holy grail of site ripper exposure, is www.copyscape.com - I suggest everyone go out and check their sites. While looking up Tamranda, I found a disturbing number of sites with duplicate information on them (I didn't take the time to figure out which ones had their info up first, so I'm not reporting them).

Originally posted by the_pm
The site that uncovered this, the holy grail of site ripper exposure, is www.copyscape.com - I suggest everyone go out and check their sites. While looking up Tamranda, I found a disturbing number of sites with duplicate information on them (I didn't take the time to figure out which ones had their info up first, so I'm not reporting them).

My got 20 results... all referalls :p...

Peace,

Looking over the third set of links again, it's possible the verbage was created for datacenter customers to use on their sites. If this is the caseand it can be confirmed, I will gladly take back a portion of my allegations. But the other parts? I can't see how this is acceptable.

No copies this time for our site. Had one last time I used that site, e-mailed them and had the site taken down the same day. Very useful tool!

Wow this kid is sad. Why hasn't anyone called up his parents? I suggest WHT permanently ban his IP.

More:

http://www.towerhost.com/support/presales.php
http://www.tamranda.com/hosting-faq.htm

Did I miss something? Is there some sort of standard verbage hosts are allowed to use? There are a couple other hosts using portions of these FAQs too. Maybe this was made freely available? Someone clue me in, because from a casual Web surfer's perspective, there's a lot of ripping going on...

Interesting, we even have a grammatical error in ours that he copied over.

I will see what we can do about this.

However ours now needs to be changed a bit as our staff has grown, I am not in New Delhi. :)

Hello guys,

We got the layout just a few days back from a designer & im still working on the Textual Content (If you notice it is the same I had on the Previous Site), Just to let you know I had posted about this too on WHT but my post was removed considering it Self Promotion.

You can ask Anon-e-mouse about it too.

It doesnt matter if your working on your own stuff... you get rid of the ripped content RIGHT AWAY.

No excuses, you've ripped and ripped again.

Originally posted by the_pm
Tamranda, the good people of WHT were very kind in their forgiveness of your criminal acts the last time. After much discussion, I also accepted your apologies and took your word that you would not do this again. I feel like a fool for having given you even that much trust. As far as I'm concerned, your professional credibility is now entirely destroyed. Unless you can show somehow that these other sites ripped from you, no apology or promise will convince me you're capable of running a legitimate business.


I really learned a lesson from it, If possible Please check the Cache of my previous designs, They had the Same content, As I had told you before, I had lots of ripped content :( (& Im ashamed of it) & This time I had hired a Designer to Design my Site. He finished Designing the Site some days back & I have started the Work on textual content too.

I typed: webhostingtalk.com
.... found some... :angel: :liplick: :nuts:
it's a good tool.

Originally posted by UH-Matt
It doesnt matter if your working on your own stuff... you get rid of the ripped content RIGHT AWAY.

No excuses, you've ripped and ripped again.

Sure, I can remove it now. Once I replace the Text you might not be able to match it with the text of previous Version Sites, So if you want I can paste it here aswell so that you can examine it.

I typed our transit site in and it reported a ripped version... From the other URL we use!!!

Originally posted by Tamranda_Ankit
I really learned a lesson from it, If possible Please check the Cache of my previous designs, They had the Same content, As I had told you before, I had lots of ripped content :( (& Im ashamed of it) & This time I had hired a Designer to Design my Site. He finished Designing the Site some days back & I have started the Work on textual content too.

1) The last thread that was created exposing your ripping came on January 22, some two months ago. You're telling us you never removed the stolen content? It's been online all this time???

2) Your site has been active in this new layout for at least a few weeks now, not a few days. I know, because I checked in a few times since that last thread. Google's cache shows the new design, which makes it unlikely it's only been in use a few days - possible, but unlikely - about as unlikely as your excuses.

This is sick.

Originally posted by the_pm
2) Your site has been active in this new layout for at least a few weeks now, not a few days. I know, because I checked in a few times since that last thread. Google's cache shows the new design, which makes it unlikely it's only been in use a few days - possible, but unlikely - about as unlikely as your excuses.

This is sick.

Please Trust me, Im not lieing.

The new layout came online on 4th March 2005.

Since then I have been working on the Textual Content. A lot of it has also been changed, & the things you pointed out were left.

Also, the text from http://www.lightningservers.net you were talking about was also ready which I have replaced right now & everything else you mentioned has been removed too. I would be putting up the original Text too very soon, but as said WHT moderators won't allow me to post about it but atleast I can PM you as & when it is done.

Originally posted by JodoHost(Stephen)

However ours now needs to be changed a bit as our staff has grown, I am not in New Delhi. :)

Well, at least this reminds to me to update that page. I haven't updated it in more than a year :)

Ankit, I've replied to your PM. You don't need to message me and you don't need to ask for my trust. That's long gone now. I'm the one who noticed it and felt compelled to make it public, but I'm not the one you continued to rip months after first being exposed. Implore the people who you ripped to trust you. They're the one who are affected by your actions, not me.

I gave you my advice, and I hope you'll take it. For anyone who cares what that advice is, I told Ankit to take down his site, completely, thoroughly cleanse it of any stolen content, and only upload it once it is entirely original regardless of how long it takes. I also suggested he not bother responding further to the accusations which have now been confirmed here until there is no trace of stolen content left. One last thing, expect to be scrutinized when this happens. Expect every word and every image to be checked, and still expect a lot of trust to be lost. Coming clean after one thread is one thing - it is possibly forgivable. Coming clean after two threads does little to reverse the damage to your reputation, at least for me.

Good luck.

Originally posted by the_pm
Ankit, I've replied to your PM. You don't need to message me and you don't need to ask for my trust. That's long gone now. I'm the one who noticed it and felt compelled to make it public, but I'm not the one you continued to rip months after first being exposed. Implore the people who you ripped to trust you. They're the one who are affected by your actions, not me.

I gave you my advice, and I hope you'll take it. For anyone who cares what that advice is, I told Ankit to take down his site, completely, thoroughly cleanse it of any stolen content, and only upload it once it is entirely original regardless of how long it takes. I also suggested he not bother responding further to the accusations which have now been confirmed here until there is no trace of stolen content left. One last thing, expect to be scrutinized when this happens. Expect every word and every image to be checked, and still expect a lot of trust to be lost. Coming clean after one thread is one thing - it is possibly forgivable. Coming clean after two threads does little to reverse the damage to your reputation, at least for me.

Good luck.

Thats not a really logical advise.... A Person who ripped your content would be crazy to take his site down just to change it, they would rather leave unchanged instead.!

Peace,

I would also like to point out that he is running IPB 1.3.1... which isn't free now unless you were currently running it before IPB started to be a pay only forum software. In other words the copy that hes running is illegal.

Originally posted by azizny
Thats not a really logical advise.... A Person who ripped your content would be crazy to take his site down just to change it, they would rather leave unchanged instead.!

Peace,

When first I was accused of it, I had instantly removed the site & had put up a old layout which was not so good which contained the ripped textual content too.

In the meantime, I hired a designer to get my Design done & since his job was to just design the Images & make a good Design, He actully had put the same text onto the new Design & as a result the new layout got the same Text.

I did realize it but was in a hurry to change the layout & had put the new layout (which now contained the ripped content) online. I do realize it was a big mistake i had made.

But while the Layout has been up, I did updated all the ripped content but still a little was left.

As far as I know all of it has been removed now at last , If you can give me 10 more hours, I'll make sure each & every word on the site is not ripped & reply back here.

Duh. Just can't see a reason for publishing a site you're still working at. Take it down, rework, then upload...

Also, it's kinda funny to tell that several paragraphs worth of text take 2 or 3 weeks to make up.

Originally posted by Yaroslav
Duh. Just can't see a reason for publishing a site you're still working at. Take it down, rework, then upload...

Also, it's kinda funny to tell that several paragraphs worth of text take 2 or 3 weeks to make up.
Hello,

It took so much time since I had been quite busy with some other works too, & I do understand I made a big Mistake.

However, All of it has been removed now, & as I said above if you can give me a 10 hours & I'll review each & every word on the site.

Copyscape is a fun website. Check out:

http://www.dailywebhost.com/testimonials.htm (first testimonial)
http://www.ev1servers.net/english/aboutus/testi.asp (Aww, look, Matt wrote EV1Servers a testimonial too!)

It's amazing how many web hosts steal those EV1 (or other large provider) testimonials.

The dailywebhost company even got the name wrong -- they put Loren, which is the testimonial below that one on the EV1 page. Shame on these copycats.

Originally posted by Simpli-Erica
Copyscape is a fun website. Check out:

It indeed is good, also for me (a ripper), Its helping me find If I still have any ripped content on my Site.

Please remove your copied content you used from Tower Host immediately.

Originally posted by Ramprage
Please remove your copied content you used from Tower Host immediately.

Maybe I'm just dense, but I don't see any similarity between the two.

http://www.towerhost.com/company/index.php - Our History content, last paragraph
http://www.tamranda.com/hosting-about.htm - Our History content *rip*

uh-oh, tower host is on to you! :P

btw, you seemed to avoid me after I pointed out the illegal IPB you're running.

Kerry, I noticed your post, Once Im damn sure I got no ripped stuff which will be done within the next 10 hours, It will be the next thing im upto.

I'll get a converter to convert the Forum to phpbb.

@Ramprage :: You don't have to say "Please", just order me to do so, Anyways Im on it, just to let you know, I had some more ripped content from your site & some images (images had been removed long back) , which has been removed.

Originally posted by virginia
Maybe I'm just dense, but I don't see any similarity between the two.

http://www.towerhost.com/company/index.php - Our History content, last paragraph
http://www.tamranda.com/hosting-about.htm - Our History content *rip*

I have been working on it & as a result "Our History" has been removed, a new Original Version would be there shortly.

Originally posted by virginia
Maybe I'm just dense, but I don't see any similarity between the two.

http://www.towerhost.com/company/index.php - Our History content, last paragraph
http://www.tamranda.com/hosting-about.htm - Our History content *rip*
It's been removed, but if you want to see what it said, read the Our History part of this post: http://www.findspforums.com/showthread.php?t=17185

That content was copy/pasted from their Web site into HostHideout - Ankit's since then removed the offending portion. Compare it to the text on Tower Host - the similarities will be obvious :) A little creative Google searching might yield a cached version of the page.

I never knew of copyscape, big thanks!

Kerry, seriously, who cares about running an older version of IPB? Especially one as old as 1.3.1.

Also, Fantastico still has it in the list of scripts to install, along with the license agreement:

PRICING
Personal and Non-Profit Users: $0.00
Corporate Users: $0.00

OPTIONAL SERVICES
Priority Support: $65.00 per year [info]
Copyright Output Removal: $99.00 [info]
Installation Service: $35.00 [info]
Convert from another product: $50.00 [info]

LICENSE
Invision Power Services (IPS) grants you a non-exclusive license to use the Software if you follow all restrictions in all sections of this Agreement.

Important: Invision Board is NOT an open source software product. You must follow the limitations in this software agreement. We offer specific permission to customise the code for your own needs later in this agreement.
Technical support and related services are available to those following this Agreement with no charge on www.invisionboard.com and its related partner sites. IPS reserves the right to limit or refuse free technical support and related services in any form for any reason.

If you do not wish to be under the free support limitations, you must purchase a priority support service agreement. Priority support can be purchased through the member center on the Invision Board web site under the advanced services section.

SCOPE OF GRANT
You may:
use the Software on one or more computers
copy the Software for archival purposes, provided any copy must contain all of the original Software's proprietary notices
customise the software's design and operation to suit the internal needs of your web site [info]
produce and distribute modification instructions, Skin packs, or Language packs provided that they contain notification that the Skin and Language packs were exported from and originally created by Invision Board and/or IPS. The modifications instructions you personally create are not owned by IPS so long as they contain no proprietary coding from Invision Board. [info]
create applications which interface with the operation of the Software provided said application is an original work [info]
You may not:
permit other individuals to use the Software except under the terms listed above
reverse engineer, disassemble, or create derivative works based on the Software for distribution or usage outside your web site excluding those applications described above [info]
use the Software in such as way as to condone or encourage terrorism, promote or provide pirated software, or any other form of illegal or damaging activity
modify and/or remove any copyright notices or labels on the Software on each page and in the header of each script source file [info]
distribute the software without written consent from IPS [info]
distribute or modify proprietary graphics, HTML, or CSS packaged with the Software for use in other Software applications or web sites without written permission from IPS

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY
The Software is provided on an "AS IS" basis, without warranty of any kind, including without limitation the warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement. The entire risk as to the quality and performance of the Software is borne by you. Should the Software prove defective, you and not IPS assume the entire cost of any service and repair. In addition, the security mechanisms implemented by IPS software have inherent limitations, and you must determine that the Software sufficiently meets your requirements. This disclaimer of warranty constitutes an essential part of the agreement.

TITLE
Title, ownership rights, and intellectual property rights in the Software shall remain with IPS. The Software is protected by copyright laws and treaties. Title and related rights in the content accessed through the Software is the property of the applicable content owner and may be protected by applicable law. This License gives you no rights to such content.

TERMINATION
This Agreement will terminate automatically if you fail to comply with the limitations described herein. On termination, you must destroy all copies of the Software within 48 hours.

MISCELLANEOUS
IPS reserves the right to publish a selected list of users of the Software. IPS reserves the right to change the terms of this Agreement at any time however those changes are not retroactive to past releases. Changes to the Agreement will be announced via email using the IPS email notification list. Failure to receive notification of a change does not make those changes invalid. A current copy of this Agreement will be available on the Invision Board web site.

Skin packs and Language packs are defined as the group of code, text, and graphics that are exported from the Software using the Administration Control Panel or otherwise obtained from the Software.

Technical support will not be provided for third-party modifications to the Software including modifications to code, Skin packs, and Language packs to any license holder. If the Software is modified using a third-party modification instruction or otherwise, technical support may be refused to any license holder. [info]

PROPRIETARY LABELS
Authorisation to remove copyright notices can be obtained from IPS for a one time fee of $149. This fee authorises you to remove the output of copyright notices, it does not give you authorisation to remove any copyright notices in the script source header files nor any other rights. [info]

MANUFACTURER
Invision Power Services, P.O. Box 24, Evergreen, VA 23939. For questions, write to the above address, email license@invisionboard.com, or call 434-352-9311.

Donations to support continued development are appreciated. Donations are not tax deductible.

So from what I can see, IPB 1.3.1 is still free to use and install.

Honestly you might as well close your web hosting company down because no one here will be foolish enough to go and use your services.

Just my .02 cents.

obviously I cared that he is now using what is considered illegal software. If you think IPB 1.3.1 is free go ahead and ask Invision Power about finding a verison of IPB 1.3.1 and running it.

Just look in Fantastico, its right there...

I pasted the licence, of which it shows the pricing at the top.

thats the old verison of Fantasico... upgrade and you will see its been removed.

Originally posted by Kerry Jones
I would also like to point out that he is running IPB 1.3.1... which isn't free now unless you were currently running it before IPB started to be a pay only forum software. In other words the copy that hes running is illegal.

Originally posted by Kerry Jones
uh-oh, tower host is on to you! :P

btw, you seemed to avoid me after I pointed out the illegal IPB you're running.

It is not illegal so long as he didn't download it from a website other than IPS's company website before it went pay-only.

moving this to web design & content.

Sad to see those things.

I am very very confused :confused: