A:M/C (Private)Board copied/plagerized

[RM]

Forum URL: cometonarnia.proboards76.com

I do not know if this is the correct place to post this, so my apologies in advance. Several months ago I designed a website based on Narnia. Just today, in another website, I discovered an advertisement for another board; however, the advertiser used nearly the exact same advertisement that my board has, including the mini banner, hosted by my RogueLeader105 photobucket account (as you can see in the mini banner code).
The ad can be found here: fourcatclans.proboards26.com/index.cgi?board=paths&action=display&thread=1144522744&page=1

So I investigated and went to this site (http://narniawonders.proboards98.com/index.cgi]link), which was apparently created only two weeks ago. The content is identical, with only a few alterations. The board titles, descriptions, site name, background, banner and mini banner, categories, etc, are all the same, except for the first two categories. On further investigation, the administrator is also using the same avatar and signature as one of the admins on my Narnia site (High King Peter, also played by me as well as Aslan). These images were created by my friend, and as you can see they are used in Peter's account on my website.

I do hope this matter can be resolved. I have given the site administrator no indication that I have discovered this.

[Craig]

Hi,

Firstly, regarding the images, have you asked for them to be removed? Some people do not realise that this is wrong (hard to believe, but yeah, it is), that that is your first call of action. If you do that via a PM on the message board, let me know what the account name was, so i can see warning was given, and failure to remove the images within 72 hours come back and see me and action will be taken.

Craig

[RM]

Okay, I will do that. What about the content, such as the board descriptions and welcome table?

[Craig]

martinthewarrior said:

Okay, I will do that. What about the content, such as the board descriptions and welcome table?

Unfortunately, as far as i am aware, those are un-copyrightable and are probably used numerous times throughtout the net (variants of the text), you can request he change them. If i am wrong about that, feel free to correct me, but that is my understanding of the law.

Craig

[RM]

I have PMed the owner of the site under the user name 'kiyune'. My concern with the images is because I created them (of course the images themselves from the movie I did not), but I made them into images to use on my site. The gradients were created by a friend, the buttons were designed by myself as well.

[Craig]

martinthewarrior said:

I have PMed the owner of the site under the user name 'kiyune'. My concern with the images is because I created them (of course the images themselves from the movie I did not), but I made them into images to use on my site. The gradients were created by a friend, the buttons were designed by myself as well.

Yeah, those are yours, and he should remove. If not in 72 hours let me know.

[RM]

I just checked the site this morning to see if I had a reply, but apparently I am now banned from that website. I tried to go to the main page, and it says: "Sorry, you have been banned from this forum."

My message was in no way antagonistic, merely reminding them that the images had come from another site and they needed to remove them or get permission.

[Craig]

Ok, have you sent in a TOS report?

[RM]

Yes, I did yesterday immediately after posting this.

[Craig]

Ok, coudl you do me one more favour, could you upload an image, say s2.images.proboards.com/buttons/movetopic.gif to the same image host, just as proof. Thanks.

[RM]

Yes, will this do?

http://img./v200/RogueLeader105/goliath.jpg

[ĐR]

martinthewarrior said:

Yes, will this do?

http://img./v200/RogueLeader105/goliath.jpg

No, he wants you to save that image he gave you, of the move topic button, to your host and give him the url to prove that the photobucket account is yours.

[RM]

Ah, thank you for clarifying. Here it is:

http://img./v200/RogueLeader105/movetopic.gif

[RM]

I do hope you don't mind if I bump this, but I filed a TOS violation report two days ago, and have not gotten a result, and this board has not been replied to for 24 hours.

[Storm]

martinthewarrior said:

I do hope you don't mind if I bump this, but I filed a TOS violation report two days ago, and have not gotten a result, and this board has not been replied to for 24 hours.

When I looked at the other board in question, not only are they using your graphics but they are directly linking off of your photobucket account. Here is something that will get their attention. It's a bit crude, but it works. Get a image made that sais theif or to that effect, load it to your photo bucket account and give it the same link address as the ones allready there. Then rename your images in your photobucket account to something else. The theif image will show up at the copy cat board. You could put other images up that will get their attention as well.. But on the weekend the ToS department is closed. Be sure to mention to Craig that are hotlinking from your account.. Talk about just being outright lazy..