My Threads Are Being Stolen By Other Websites From ATS!!

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord
Email sent to their hosting provider.

Greetings...

I'm the CEO of The Above Network, LLC, and authorized by the contributors of AboveTopSecret.com to act on their behalf in the event that copyright infringement is encountered.

A contributor has alerted us to this client site of yours: www.iirobotics.com
Hosted on what appears to be your server here: web2.srv.host-it.co.uk
At IP address: 194.150.252.102

We've been unable to ascertain contact details for this customer of yours as their contact form is not functioning, there are no "administrative" contact options in their forum, and the posted article in question is currently not accepting comments.

The original content, authored by our contributor under the pseudonym "mikesingh" can be found here:
www.abovetopsecret.com...

The plagiarized content on your customer's site is here:
www.iirobotics.com.../

Our clearly posted usage guidelines for the content is linked in the footer of the material, is labeled "copyright & usage," and can be found here:
www.abovetopsecret.com...

Given that your customer has not obliged our simple rules for content sharing, we request that under the cooperative intellectual property laws between the United States and the United Kingdom, you inform your customer to remove the material from their website.

Thank you for your kind attention in this matter.

Thanks Skep! I only hope your message gets through their thick skin!

And thanks to all fellow ATSers for your support!

Mike.

Wow! That’s some good sleuthing by internos, sky, sherpa, noscitare and others!! The guy is from iirobotics, registered on ATS since Jun 2007 as harry2007! Here's the discussion on the thread linked below:

Originally posted by internos
Hi, harry:
is iirobotics.com your website?

Originally posted by Skyfloating
yeah, just what exactly is going on here? iirobotics has been the topic of a copyright-infringement issue at ATS today.

Originally posted by harry20007
Can you give me the link to the copied content... I'll have it removed if it is copied... We offer posters as guests..Its hard to keep \up with whats been posted but i will bring this up in meeting tomorrow and hunt down the offending content and have it removed and also ban the idiot whom put it there.... I post and do some graphics for iiRobnotics and i know the guys admire ABOVE top secret and will have it removed... There are 8 of us based around the world...

Cheers

www.abovetopsecret.com...

So now we know whodunit!! And it’s good he’s realized his mistake!

Once again, THANKS EVERYONE FOR THE SUPPORT!! ATS ROCKS!

I'm glad we got on this quick. And I'm proud of ATS, at every level.

Now we can all sing "I Got Friends In Low Places, where the whiskey..."

Originally posted by NGC2736
This is one of those times I think ATS should get involved on the behalf of a member. You have been done wrong here, and this needs to be stopped before it goes any further.

ATS does take these things seriously . Have no fear .

I'm proud of ATS as well. I wonder what harry20007 was doing all the time while registered for months.

Way to go, guys.

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


Skeptic,

Could you tell us what is the abuse department called? What's the website? Maybe we can report when we find our work plagiarized and they can take part in investigating?

Thanks.

This is why i LOVE ATS!! We have a code of ethics and we ABIDE by them. This is what separates ATS and the other sites!!

Hats off to ATS and the 3 Amigos.

reply to post by TheoOne

Could you tell us what is the abuse department called? What's the website? Maybe we can report when we find our work plagiarized and they can take part in investigating?

I think you will find that the abuse department is not an official internet watchdog, rather a department at each individual Internet Service Provider. Just a clearinghouse for complaints really.

Hope this helps

CT

Just another example of why ATS is so freakin sweet.

Hang in there mike, its how good ideas get spread, people steal them and claim them as thier own.

But i think i may have to side with the virtual 12-guage from texas...

Looks like the site is down now too...

We sure did get em...

reply to post by NGC2736


Just to come up on this... we didnt post this our users post under one alias... Ive said in the my thread that I first heard about this while submitting a story on moon images. I didnt shy away. I asked for the link and finally realized what this was about. I removed the content Banned the idiot. I have No real excuses accept we've been slack. We've stopped all news submissions and are dealing with the problem. I check the submissions for porn or crap and never thought to check the source. This left us wide open to abuse. I hold my hands up and, I have really not been myself lately for private reasons and apologies to the individual whose post got ripped. The site isnt a money making operation.. The robot shop helps us have clear ad free content. The only problem is we should look closer at where this content comes from and not allow users to submit as it would forever to track everything.. We are going to stop people logging in for news submissions. This is suicidal as we dont have the man power to watch the site 24/7. Now I think I covered this if theres any dought look at my thread on Vast structure in king crater.. You will see Time stamped how it unfolded. I ve done what all good webmasters should do when alerted to it. corrected it.

Ive not been rude, discurtious or lied about anything.

For those of you whom still dont believe me. and think i shoulda done something earlier I'll tell you what i was doing over the weekend.

I WAS AT A MEMORIAL FOR MY DEAD STILL BORN SON! SOMETIMES THINGS HAPPEN IN LIFE THAT TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE BALL... I KNOW THIS ISNT WHAT YOU GUYS THOUGHT I WAS DOING BUT LIFE SUCKS!!!!


Now i leave you to continue your back slapping and i'll continue with what interests me. If you have a problem message me.

Peace & Luv to all including the assholes of this world!!!!!!



[edit on 10-12-2007 by harry20007]

reply to post by harry20007


Friend, you have my sympathy for your loss. I too have lost loved ones, and I am fully aware of just how much it can effect one's life.

But you know as well as I do, that if we break laws and say it was because of personal problems, we've still done a wrong.

Now you corrected the problem. I think what many here wondered about was cyber sincerity. We've all gotten Nigerian letters, and we seldom put much faith in the plight of those we haven't at least dealt with over some period.

Our first contact with you came from an incident that you described as "annoying" in your post about it. You seem to be blowing it off as an unfortunate little affair of no consequence, and that struck many of us as wrong.

All any of us have is our integrity, on line or off. But on the web, this is even more important, because it is all we have to see of one another. There are no visual clues that are a part of real life evaluations. There are only words on a screen. I judged you by those words and actions that I could see on my monitor.

I give you the benefit of the doubt now, and take no offense at being described as an asshole. (I've been called worse with less reason.) I apologize for whatever pain that I may have caused you by questioning your actions and motives.

Right now your "integrity account" stands at zero with me. I will wipe out any negatives I held, as a matter of honor. We shall see where it goes from there.

Mike I am sorry that this has happened to you. I am going to look over that site, and see if any my posts are on there.

By the way, what in the hell are they posting that for? Its not even a conspiracy related website?

[edit on 10-12-2007 by jca2005]

Originally posted by harry20007
I hold my hands up and, I have really not been myself lately for private reasons and apologies to the individual whose post got ripped.

Ok, harry, so long as corrective action has been taken, I accept your apologies. But thanks to ATSers, that your attention was drawn to this unsavory, forgettable episode.

Mike.

Originally posted by mikesingh

Originally posted by harry20007
I hold my hands up and, I have really not been myself lately for private reasons and apologies to the individual whose post got ripped.

Ok, harry, so long as corrective action has been taken, I accept your apologies. But thanks to ATSers, that your attention was drawn to this unsavory, forgettable episode.

Mike.

Mike, that was the biggest. I am proud to be your friend and fellow member of ATS right beside you and every other member.

Flagged.
Cuhail

Mikesingh, yer in the club now! Many of us have been there.

ATS amigos got game! The knights in shining Izod.

I wish I had seen this thread earlier. I have years of legal copyright knowledge here in the files. I could have bored you to death with this stuff.

I've been plagiarized a few times professionally and had to get legal to work it. I live by my professional works, so when plagiarized it is like someone stealing my income.

My last was a year or two ago. The publisher just paid me my fee. I could have sued for lots of money, but settled with them for a fraction of what a judge would allow. It is more important to educate than emasculate. I GAVE them more images to use after also. Showing compassion sets you in a better place to be respected for your rights. They understand now. The sword of justice cuts both ways. Use it sparingly. A letter will usually do it.

Most of us have no idea how bad this is in our world culture. Copyrights are not recognized in all countries. I have seen some blatant violations by folks who use ignorance like a shield. Still others who go whole hog without a care.

Very smart people think in sometimes obtuse forms of rationalization. Like Rear Admiral Grace Hopper who helped to develop the early computer. She said:

If it's a good idea, go ahead and do it. It's much easier to apologize than it is to get permission.

What?

And this,

If it's a good idea, go ahead and do it. It's much easier to apologize than it is to get permission.

Uh,... OK, smart gal right? So it is not a moral thing to her, but a practical thing?

We should not "get used to it" or allow it to be ignored. Our children are eventually better at anything we do. So maybe we won't as a rule plagiarize and should let others know it is not acceptable either. Next gen gets it then.

Respect the works of others as you would want your own works to be respected. A simple golden rule applies.

But if wronged, There ain't anything as impressive than a letter from your local sheriff Amigos.

ZG.


Hate these edits for color.

[edit on 12/11/2007 by ZeroGhost]

You also have to understand that the general public ( as well as website providers) need to understand that they can just cut and paste news.. its an abuse that we sadly didnt pick up on... There is general confusion with rss and other feeds which also get pasted in our site.. Unfortunately all users are now blocked from submitting content due to a few il-informed idiots.

Ive had a stiff discussion with the guy whom we banned from the site and amazingly he sees no wrong... Ive pointed him here and i hope he has the balls to put his view across... It takes time to educate people and it takes time to monitor the content.

Anyways Im sure this debate will rage on as copyright hits us all at some time when your open to user submission.

AT least we acted on it.
We didnt hide we faced up to the mistakes.

reply to post by harry20007


Agreed Harry, and thanks for dealing with it as quickly as you could

I do hope the member concerned shows his/her head here....Could be kinda interesting...

Peace

reply to post by harry20007


Very nice that you adressed the matter here in public.

Errors can be made every day, its all about how we correct them.

Respect to Mike and his content.

hi mike and harry2007. i am new here but just wanted to tell you that i am glad to see the action that was taken on behalf of mike. it also opened my eyes about the copywright and usage provided by ATS. that is a really great idea for topic posters here.
mike it was really awesome the way that you handled this. hats off to you. it takes a real man to handle things the way that you did and then graciously accept harry 2007's apology.
to harry2007: i was reading a very interesting topic that you wrote. it kept me up half the night. not only reading what you and others submitted there, but also at the link you provided. that was a real eye-opener. for me it confirms the existence of life on mars. although today i cannot find your topic. would like to get back there and read more.
hats off to you also harry2007. you handled the matter swiftly. i thank you for bringing the info that you did in your topic. i came here for answers and you and several others are providing them for me, not only in fact-based material but believable testimonies. harry could you provide me the link to your topic again?
thank all of you for providing a great place to find answers. you guys really make ATS a great place to be involved.

p.s. my condolences on the loss of your child harry. that goes to your wife also. miscarriages can be as devastating as the loss of a child already born. there are a lot of hopes and dreams anticipated for the child that is growing inside the mother and when she loses it, it is dreams that will never be realized. so sorry harry.

[edit on 11-12-2007 by sizzle]