Question about reporting someone for a copyright violation - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Mölyapina · #1 06-02-2014, 03:46 PM

I'm trying to ask a question here without giving away any specifics, so sorry about that.

Let's say that I have become aware that someone is pirating information from a source online and republishing it without permission, blatantly violating a TOU agreement that reads as such:

"The information on this website is not to be resold, bartered, copied or transferred without the express written consent of [Censored]."

Let's say I also have a very strong suspicion that this same entity is potentially pirating stuff from either an online publication (kind of like an e-book) and/or a book contained on a disk drive.

My question is: what do you think my legal responsibilities are regarding reporting this stealing to the entity from whom the information is being stolen? How about my moral responsibilities?

I've been asking different folks I know and have gotten some useful insight but no real resolution.

kmaysob · #2 06-02-2014, 07:42 PM

stay out of it?

barry12345 · #3 06-02-2014, 08:02 PM

I think the usual solution is the owner of the material has to take the issue to court. Some self standing venues might otherwise deny future access but that is a long shot to me.

If you really own something you have to defend it. Costs money usually. You might get a cease and desist order. If ignored it is the courts again. Usually the offender is warned by a legal letter from the true owner of whatever first. Not usually nice situations.

You could ask the owner if he is aware of what is occurring. That to me is about all you could do. You do not have to identify yourself. Just get some details to him or her.

MagicBus · #4 06-02-2014, 10:05 PM

I used to work in publishing. Part of my job was to patrol for this sort of thing. Copyright violation really does impact and hurt small publishers. Much of my work dealing with copyright violation started with tips from the general public.

I'd consider reporting this to the copyright owner and letting them deal with it. This is one of the big reasons I don't work in publishing anymore.

link · #5 06-02-2014, 10:14 PM

The info at the other end of the following link may help. It describes how to notify an ISP if there is suspected copyright infringement...

How to Send a DMCA Takedown Notice | Black Star Rising

spdrun · #6 06-02-2014, 10:32 PM

Report to the copyright holder, don't get the booberment involved or go heavy-handed on the site unless it can be established that it matters to the copyright holder.

link · #7 06-02-2014, 11:40 PM

ask not what your country can do for you....

elchivito · #8 06-03-2014, 02:17 AM

Start by asking the individual who you think is stealing intellectual property if they have written permission to use the work. If you don't like their answer, let the copyright holder know the pertinent details and let them handle it. I have several blogs that have copyright warnings on them. I once found an entire page, nearly a thousand words and photos copied and reposted on a forum I belong to. The discussion on that forum had to do with a specific dairy goat illness that I had written about and a treatment I described. The person who copied my blog had found it and didn't know its author (me) was a member of that forum. It was done innocently and no big deal. But I contacted her and asked her to post a link instead. She was mortified and apologized all over the place.

JB3 · #9 06-03-2014, 06:42 AM

just forward the info to the copywrite holder and forget about it. as said earlier, if you hold a copywrite or patent, you have to proactively fight for it by stamping out this kind of theft.

when i was doing internet industrial product sales, we had this rash of threatening emails and calls from this company that was claiming some pictures we had on our website were their intellectual property and they intended to sue us unless they were paid a licensing fee.

the pictures were of obscure fuel filtration products that i had personally taken, and as an authorized licensed reseller of the filter product, we were allowed to do so. this company had a business plan of milking other companies by copying their pics or info, slapping a watermark on the image digitally, and starting the threat process until they got some money. the scams cut both ways you see, we learned that every single tiny pic would have to be watermarked by us to prevent this nonsense.

TheDon · #10 06-03-2014, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jooseppi Luna

I'm trying to ask a question here without giving away any specifics, so sorry about that.

Let's say that I have become aware that someone is pirating information from a source online and republishing it without permission, blatantly violating a TOU agreement that reads as such:

"The information on this website is not to be resold, bartered, copied or transferred without the express written consent of [Censored]."

Let's say I also have a very strong suspicion that this same entity is potentially pirating stuff from either an online publication (kind of like an e-book) and/or a book contained on a disk drive.

My question is: what do you think my legal responsibilities are regarding reporting this stealing to the entity from whom the information is being stolen? How about my moral responsibilities?

I've been asking different folks I know and have gotten some useful insight but no real resolution.

You could, I don't t know, flag the post and or PM a moderator....