In our line of business ripping is a real risk but for the most part we have been very blessed. However we recently had a run in with a host that decided to lift one of our demos and put it on their site. What made it peculiar was not that he lifted it but that he had quite an attitude when confronted about it.

Essentially our latest friend reasoned that since he lifted a demo straight from us and it referenced us at the end we ought to be overjoyed at his theft and should allow its free use. Later he had the chutzpah to question our business ethics in complaining openly that it was not removed after we waited weeks for compliance.

We exerted enough pressure on his business to have him take it down (but he still is using Demodemo videos - one of which we know for certain he is not allowed to use) but it made me wonder how many hosts actually believe that everything in regard to hosting software should be free

So what of it? does the free control panel, free support desk, free reseller hosting crowd think that all software for their business ought to be free? From some of the threads on WHT I think theres a sector that does and I'd loved to hear rom those who say Yes and those who say Nay.

Not that we are considering that business model any time soon :)

I typically operate by the motto "Why pay for it if you don't have to."

With that being said, I personally always look for good free software when I can use it such as a free forum or helpdesk. I have to ask myself is it really worth adding another $80, $100, $150 or more to the budget when I can use something that might function differently but get the exact same job done? Do my clients really care if it's IPB, SMF, vB, MyBB, etc? Some might, but most won't as long as they get the support they want through it.

On certain software it might be but on others it might not be. I don't have a problem paying out where I need to. I recognize that free software can only go so far and that the best quality software is generally paid. That's why I've spent money for various aspects of my business and will continue to do so. Safety and security, especially with sensitive information, should be a priority and generally free software is not as safe.

I think webhosting has a problem and will continue to have a proble m with people who want something for very little or nothing. This affects all aspects of hosting, shared, reseller, dedicated and so on. There will also be that certain unethical sector that will downright steal, lie and cheat to get money. You find this in virtually any industry. However, I will say that this sector is in the minority and most people who are serious about a business know when it's time to pay.

demostorm, you should have a blacklisted hosting companies section.
I do have one on my forums. So far theres only one person whos got the audacity to pull a fast one on us. His company name and URL was posted and that blacklist page which get spidered by Google pretty often.
A search on his company on the net by his potential customers will return that page.
Any serious self-respecting company wouldnt do that.
You are most probably dealing with a kiddie host who can't afford even a $10 tutorial and going to go down under in no time anyway.

We did better than that. It was a Soholaunch Set he lifted. He also linked back to the forum on Soholaunch for his support and we posted a blurb there. Thats when he magically responded (with all kinds of nonsense) and the offending material was removed within an hour.

Thing is he wasn't a kiddie host and he's been around for years. Theres another post on WHT in 2003 where he ripped someone else's FAQ.

I do get the impression that there are a few hosts out there that are almost offended at having to pay for anything in regard to their business (besides the $10 reseller account).

You can always tell the "takers" from the "creators," can'tcha? ;)

I use many wonderful GPL tools in business, but I am not one to rip content or items without permission. I've been a writer since the day I could first hold a pen, and as a writer, I *bristle* when other people steal my work. I put a lot of effort into it, I own it, and I'm proud of it. If someone wants to use it, they had doggone better ask for permission...

But the takers... well they haven't contributed squat, so maybe they don't understand the pride and energy and work that goes into it. Obviously they don't value and respect it to the level that we creators do, hence they take it without regard to our wishes.

Go get 'em, bud.

:D Bailey

There are always (too many) 'takers' in the world. I am a 'giver' and give to the point of always being virtually bankrupt at all times. I may not be super profitable or rich, but my soul feels great! I do allow myself to maintain a small amount of pity for the takers in the world, but only a very small amount.

The only thing takers are interested in contributing, is into their own bank accounts. Sad, very sad world we live in.

Originally posted by Roy@ENHOST
demostorm, you should have a blacklisted hosting companies section.
Heh, I have a Wall Of Shame. And I have no problem adding offenders to it. They deserve to be outed.

demostorm, you state that this character now is displaying stolen demodemo product. I would appreciate knowing who this person is so that I can go after him. If you feel it is inappropriate to post publicly, please PM me.

Vito

Will do. I was hoping you'd come along. He was linking to your demos from another site and claimed he had permission which was flat out and openly denied by the site in question, Checked and he has yet to comply.

Slightly different scenario but he has been informed and doesn't seem to care. I have found that some people really don't understand that linking to a site for your own financial benefit while denying the demo provider their financial benefit is shady as well.

Hey guys Joe Lain from Soholaunch. I was under the impression that this issue was solved. We had a discussion about this on our forums and I thought the "offender" had taken these tutorials down. Since this is not the case we have changed the path to these files, for the time being, and are working on a script to make sure the referring page to these demos is our own. :)

That's a good idea, never really thought of the outcome from search engines. I like that :)

I will be using that from now on.

Originally posted by Roy@ENHOST
demostorm, you should have a blacklisted hosting companies section.
I do have one on my forums. So far theres only one person whos got the audacity to pull a fast one on us. His company name and URL was posted and that blacklist page which get spidered by Google pretty often.
A search on his company on the net by his potential customers will return that page.
Any serious self-respecting company wouldnt do that.
You are most probably dealing with a kiddie host who can't afford even a $10 tutorial and going to go down under in no time anyway.

Go get 'em guys. Great to see y'all working together on this!!!!

:lovewht:

:D Bailey