Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Web Design and Content : DotDomein.com stealing designs

[DeltaAnime]

Hello everyone,

Figured i'd bring this up here since worldstream won't enforce anything with it. Yesterday we got informed on MSN that dotdomein.com lifted our design. After a quick check, as anyone can see, it's obviously true!

Our original site: http://frantech.ca
Stolen site: http://dotdomein.com

At this point we've emailed worldstream pointing it out and they've forwarded it to the owners. The owner has emailed us today with the following:

Hello,

Pretty funny claming us that we steal your website.

We are going to take further steps to take Frantech down since it is a copy of our website.

Thank you for understanding.

Yours sincerely,

S. Scholte
DotDomein

I'm quite confused to say the least considering I have the PSD's of the design on my desktop right here

Francisco

[lobrc]

Well unless they've used it on a previous domain they aren't going to get very far as their domain was registered in 2011-02-13 (11 days ago) according to DomainTools.com

They're obviously blushing to try and get you to give up. Anyway best of luck

[Hsunami]

Judging from his/her response, it could be that s/he paid someone to create the site and has no idea it was lifted from yours. Otherwise, s/he's just a terrible person.

Good luck getting this resolved.

[DeltaAnime]

All of the content is lifted as well is the interesting part

The only parts changed were the EUR signs but the TOS and AUP are lifted 100% as well as a few other pages near 100% as well.

Francisco

[Rapid2214]

Banner Home - DotDom - If-Modified-Since:Mon, 14 Feb 2011 20:11:46 GMT
Banner Home - FranTech - If-Modified-Since:Mon, 31 May 2010 16:15:55 GMT

All of Frantech's last modded are in May 2010, where as DotDom, is in Feb 2011.

Not conclusive but definitely convincing, that it is indeed your site.

[Aldryic C'boas]

@Rapid2214;

Fran's design is, as usual, rock solid. The only public page of that site that sees regular updates is when I'm expanding on our Terms of Service. The rest we haven't really had to change since the site launched.

[Hsunami]

Originally Posted by DeltaAnime

All of the content is lifted as well is the interesting part

The only parts changed were the EUR signs but the TOS and AUP are lifted 100% as well as a few other pages near 100% as well.

Francisco

Yeah... just noticed that as well. Definitely not giving these guys the benefit of the doubt.

[DeanHarper]

I cannot believe some people. Fair enough they have the cheek to lift the design and use it as their own, but then to go and tell you that you must be out of your mind to think they stole it. Wow.

Also, if they did get it done by a designer who sold it to them as his own I'd suggest pursuing the contact if they provide you with one

However, it would not usually be a designer that created the TOS for the company would it? I wouldn't want to be liable for creating anything legal for any of my customers anyway!

Good luck,
Dean.

[Aldryic C'boas]

Dean;

There's plenty of sites out there that offer guidance and templates when it comes to a TOS. That's why many companies' Terms look strikingly similar as far as layout

But you're 100% right. If you hire an outside designer, you're not going to pay the extra buck to sit an explain to a guy all of your rules and regs just so he can do a minor static HTML insert for you

[bear]

Originally Posted by DeanHarper

I cannot believe some people. Fair enough they have the cheek to lift the design and use it as their own, but then to go and tell you that you must be out of your mind to think they stole it.

Once caught someone who copied my somewhat unique textual content verbatim, changing only the business name. When confronted, he stated he wrote it, and that he'd come and physically harm me for accusing him of theft. I showed proof of mine predating his by a long period, there was nothing he could to.
Cheek indeed.

[supers]

Sir,

This was a stand-alone message and has nothing to do with the abuse ticket.

We are just informing you regarding your infringement practices of our content wich we do not tolerate.

Our copyright is clearly listed at [our site] thus:
"Copyright © 2011 DotDomein. All Rights Reserved.".

Thanks for understanding.

Yours sincerely,

S. Scholte
<<Signature to be setup in your profile>>

[DeltaAnime]

Originally Posted by supers

Sir,

This was a stand-alone message and has nothing to do with the abuse ticket.

We are just informing you regarding your infringement practices of our content wich we do not tolerate.

Our copyright is clearly listed at [our site] thus:
"Copyright © 2011 DotDomein. All Rights Reserved.".

Thanks for understanding.

Yours sincerely,

S. Scholte
<<Signature to be setup in your profile>>

Content that many has proven is ours?

Francisco

[Aldryic C'boas]

Mr Scholte;

You are more than welcome to attempt to prove ownership of this content. My writing style is rather unique, however, and you will have a rather difficult time finding another company with a "tl;dr" section in their TOS, let alone proving that I took this concept from you.

Perhaps, for clarity, I could dig up a few old threads to link you to where clients complained quite loudly about specific passages when I caught them on an infraction?

[craig joe]

just let them be,
i have a feeling it could be one of your ex-customer,

they are worshiped you by duplicating your site,

just like that directspace affiliate thingy

[Sparrow-Sean]

My Norton does not like your site Fran
http://www.screen-shot.net/ss/094761567294412893.png

Viruses (what's this?) Threats found: 2

Here is a complete list: (for more information about a specific threat, click on the Threat Name below)
Threat Name: Trojan.Gen File name: c:\program files\swag ragnarok online\swagro patcher.exe Location: http://swag-ro.frantech.ca/SwagRO%20v.1.exe

Threat Name: Trojan.Gen File name: c:\program files\swag-ro v.1\swagro patcher.exe Location: http://swag-ro.frantech.ca/SwagROV.1.exe