An Invisible Thief

1. 90

   DzyMsLizzyposted 8 years ago

   I was advised via HP's automatic warning about several hubs that "may have been stolen."
   
   The title of your article shows after the initial address that includes "ics21"
   
   The first time you click on the link, it does, in fact, take you to a page where a copy of your hub is showing.  However, any attempt to read it/scroll down/check to see if it is actually fully your content results in an instant re-direct to a site with the URL of "Japanesex (dot) ml" with seemingly "innocent" and totally unrelated content that seems to be about animals.
   
   Thereafter, any attempt to return and find the content from the HP link takes you directly to the re-direct site, and never again shows you your stolen content!
   
   I did a 'whois' search, and the host seemed to be GoDaddy, but they replied that they are not the host, nor did they have anything to do with 'ics21"
   Another site host, 'viralnova' also seemed to be involved, and they replied that they are not the host, either, but that they have gotten numerous DMCA e-mails about this, and they, themselves are trying to find out who is behind it.  They also told me that Amazon appeared to be at least one host....so, apparently whatever POS scum is doing this is also very computer-literate, and able to hide his tracks by bouncing things all over the map behind many different bogus sites and hosts.
   
   The short story here is, if your work has been copied by any site displaying that "ics21" portion of the URL--you are SOL, and don't waste your time.  The work is out there, and there's little you can do about it.   

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   1. 91

      awordloverposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      put your URL in Copyscape and it will give you the exact URL of the page that has your content.
      The redirect is what happened to me - the people stole it and made an ebook. I can't see it because it is hidden behind advertising. Copyscape took me to the site behind the advertising so I can see it .

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      1. 90

         DzyMsLizzyposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         Meaning, the actual correct URL of my real Hub?
         
         And I don't have copyscape--isn't that a paid service?  (Which I cannot afford to do) ..

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         1. 91

            awordloverposted 8 years agoin reply to this

            no---- free for 10 uses a day

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            1. 90

               DzyMsLizzyposted 8 years agoin reply to this

               Ah--I see.  Thank you for that information.
               
               Edit:  I just searched one of my titles, and there were a scad of them ... and on the "description" page, where some initial content is shown, as on a search engine, there does, indeed, seem to be copied content.  However, clicking the link leads to a totally unrelated site, most of which are advertising Ray Ban sunglasses!!!! 
               At the top of that page, there is a copyscape advisory that "no match found as "some" matching text appears to have been removed."  (internal quotation marks are mine.)
               This is all so frustrating!

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               1. 91

                  awordloverposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                  If they removed the text, I'd let it go.
                  I have several pages that are advertising anything from vitamins to those night vision glasses, and all awordlover's text appears on articles behind those  ads. That's why I suggested Copyscape - it was the only way I was able to locate the actual posts
                  Good Luck

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                  1. 90

                     DzyMsLizzyposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                     Yeah--but it did not show me what was "behind," it only showed me the advertising site, and nothing else.  Was a waste of time. 

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                     1. 89

                        Stacie Lposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                        I have two or more hubs pieces used in several e-books by one or two clickbank sellers. Copyscape shows a comparison of mine and the thief's site but now they are hiding behind the ad pages that you mentioned. One thing I could do is buy the e-books and check for my material and get  a refund.. (like that will happen). Who polices Clickbank?

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                        1. 91

                           awordloverposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                           I don't know if this is what you are looking for or not, but here is Clickbank's DMCA POLICY
                           
                           It is ClickBank's policy to comply in full with the requirements of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 ("DMCA"). Accordingly, if any Product, or Promotion (collectively the "Client Material") violates a valid copyright, ClickBank may remove or disable access to such Client Material upon receipt of a valid, complete DMCA complaint (a written notification called a "Takedown Notice").
                           
                           Submitting a Takedown Notice:
                           
                           Per the DMCA, if You believe that a valid copyright in which You have ownership rights is being infringed, ClickBank is authorized to remove or disable access to Client Material only if You provide a Takedown Notice to ClickBank's designated Copyright Agent which includes all of the following:
                           
                           The words "DMCA COMPLAINT - TAKEDOWN NOTICE" at the top of Your communication;
                           A reasonably detailed description of the copyrighted work(s) or other intellectual property(s) You claim has/have been infringed;
                           Identification of the specific Client Material that You believe infringes upon Your rights and sufficient information to enable ClickBank to locate the specific Client Material. The DMCA only authorizes ClickBank to remove or disable access to specific infringing Client Materials. We are not authorized to generally disable access to non-infringing Client Materials;
                           The following statements or equivalent:
                           "I swear, under penalty of perjury, that
                           (i) the information contained in this notification is accurate and that I am the copyright owner or am authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed; and
                           
                           (ii) I have a good faith belief that use of the copyrighted materials described above on the allegedly infringing web pages is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law."
                           
                           Your company name (if any), Your legal name (printed), Your mailing address, and Your phone number, and, if available, an electronic email address; and
                           A physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of the right that is allegedly violated or infringed, and the present date.
                           To file a DMCA complaint with ClickBank, You must send a hardcopy communication via certified-mail to ClickBank's designated representative ("Copyright Agent") at the following address or email address:
                           
                           Click Sales Inc.
                           917 Lusk Street, Suite 200
                           Boise, ID 83706 USA
                           
                           Email: abuse@clickbank.com
                           
                           Note: the submission of a false or materially misleading Takedown Notice may constitute perjury and other offenses and may subject You to potential liabilities. Prior to filing a Takedown Notice You may wish to first consult with an attorney.
                           
                           Upon ClickBank's receipt of a valid, complete Takedown Notice, ClickBank shall (i) remove or disable access to the specific allegedly infringing Client Material identified in the Takedown Notice, and (ii) take reasonable steps to contact the Vendor or Affiliate providing such Client Material.
                           
                           from: https://accounts.clickbank.com/dmca.html

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               2. 92

                  Suzanne Dayposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                  Those Rayban sunglasses sites are proliferating all over the web with our hubs in the source code of them. I have reported over 150 of them to Google Spam and another several with Google DMCA, just to see what results I am going to get. I suspect it is an organisation or a country of people who are passing this website around a lot. Once your hub is on it, 10,000 copies seem to be made on different domains.
                  
                  The main idea here is not to panic, but to understand that whoever clicks on the sites in Google Search is not going to find the info they are looking for. These sites are also published below yours (or should be) because yours is the original. So really, it's just a bit of fun to play around kicking them like footballs. But I wouldn't want to be unpublishing any hubs or you'd lose your writing forever!

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      2. 89

         Stacie Lposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         I tried that approach and it worked. Copyscape showed a comparison of my article and the one that copied some sentences.
         I'm not sure if copying 15% or 332 words of mine is a good reason to file a DMCA with Google or not.

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         1. 91

            awordloverposted 8 years agoin reply to this

            Anything under 5 percent, I let it slide.
            Anything over 5 percent, I file.

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   2. 74

      Matthew Meyerposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      The URL for ic21 [dot] com I saw showing as copied in one of your Hubs is returning an HTTP code of 200, but is still forwarding to that unrelated (dot ML) site .
      http://www.axandra.com/free-online-seo- … s-code.php
      
      I think you may want to file a DMCA claim for that domain and not the site to which you are forwarded.
      Here is the WHOIS information.
      http://who.godaddy.com/whoisstd.aspx?do … OeAi%2fHF7

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   3. 75

      Barbara Kayposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I had this same site copy 3 of my hubs.

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   4. 95

      PegCole17posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I'm in the ics boat, unfortunately, and have wasted hours trying to chase down this thief.
      Grrrr.
      

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   5. 96

      SpaceShantyposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      It looks like the ics21 site has been taken down!

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2. 0

   mariexotoniposted 8 years ago

   Yup, same thing for one of my hubs. Tried contacting the owner of the Japanese site- didn't say a word. Filed a DMCA but they said that they could not find the site- because it redirects.

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   1. 91

      awordloverposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      try copyscape first, see if you get the underlying site from there.

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      1. 0

         mariexotoniposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         It only led me to a link from my site.

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         1. 91

            awordloverposted 8 years agoin reply to this

            if it doesn't spit out anything chances are it is ok.

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            1. 0

               mariexotoniposted 8 years agoin reply to this

               I'll take your word for it

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   2. 61

      tirelesstravelerposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      It's a pain, but you can go to RIPE Which is the international organization for policing the internet. You need to get the correct Ip address.   Wilderness has a good tutorial on how to do that.  It's complicated, but doable.
      Once I got to RIPE there were several forms to fill out.  It did work for me. It takes time and expect to go back and forth with RIPE until you come up with the right law these people might be breaking.  I finally decided they were lacking a complaint manager and that seemed to do the trick.

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3. 90

   DzyMsLizzyposted 8 years ago

   Grrr--this is all SUCH a waste of valuable time! 
   Why can't these %#$^tards GET A LIFE!!??!!

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   1. 95

      Peggy Wposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I agree!  At least 6 of my hubs have been stolen by that same site and am following Matt's suggestion as to who to file a DMCA report.  Time consuming and frustrating!

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      1. 95

         Peggy Wposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         Should have said where to file a DMCA report...not who or more correctly whom.

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4. 90

   DzyMsLizzyposted 8 years ago

   Yeah--it's only showing me the advertising, and not what's 'behind."  And I looked at the purchase..it's frightfully expensive to pay for protection....    way over my budget, since they are pricing by the month AND by the page!!  I have over 200 articles, and I have no idea how they are counting pages... in any event, there's no way I could afford that.
   As I see it, I have 2 options:  Forget about it and not worry that stuff is being stolen, or stop writing online.

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5. 82

   Mark Ewbieposted 8 years ago

   Dzy - for what its worth - I am not bothered by it.  I checked the site - they copied my stuff - but I can't see it on there.
   
   If Google and HP between them - Google delivering original content from quality sites - and HP whose responsibility it is to maintain a quality site - if they cannot sort it out I am damned if I am going to scurry around for them.
   
   It is Google's reputation and HP's money.
   
   Their problem.
   
   They both need content creators to be creating content. Not trying to be web policemen.
   
   On the plus side - once you have been copied once then any subsequent copiers are further diluting their own pool.  What do they think millions of copies of the same article will achieve?
   
   Meanwhile of course, in the same way virus checkers make money from viruses - the copyscape providers make money from copiers.
   
   Screw them all.

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   1. 90

      DzyMsLizzyposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Hi, Mark--
      Yeah--folks are saying the stolen content is "hidden" by the advertising, which is the fake site link.  That being the case, how can ANYONE see it?????
      
      If it is not showing up, and copy scape is reporting that "SOME" matching text "May have been removed,"  then how do you track it down at all???
      
      It makes me mad that scumbags do this, but, in the long run, I guess you're right, there's no point wasting time trying to track it all down, if it only points to bogus links.  I certainly do not have the technical knowledge to find all those back doors.
      But...do all those copies, "diluting their pool," as you say, also hurt us by similarly diluting our/HP's pool????

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      1. 82

         Mark Ewbieposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         I don't know Dzy, sorry.  I do know that chasing these people dilutes MY pool.

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6. 0

   swilliamsposted 8 years ago

   Hi Matt! I just want to thank you again for helping me figure out the concept of understanding computer lingo. Thank you for your insight regarding videos and understanding technology.

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   1. 74

      Matthew Meyerposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      You are very welcome. I am glad to be able to help!

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7. 72

   relacheposted 8 years ago

   If at the exact moment when you right-click on the link and see your content you can stop your browser, you will be able to copy the right URL.  Those redirects are fast, but I've gotten that to work on several occasions where I was dealing with the same situation.

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   1. 90

      DzyMsLizzyposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Hmm...ok...thanks for that info, relache!

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8. 90

   Kathleen Odenthalposted 8 years ago

   It seems almost impossible to keep up with all the stolen content these days -_- very frustrating but I wonder if it can truly be stopped altogether without constant checking

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   1. 72

      relacheposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Even with constant checking, how would that stop it?

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9. 89

   melbelposted 8 years ago

   Several of my hubs are on the ICS21 site. I did a WHOIS and Google is showing up (Godaddy is showing up as their registrar.)
   
   The content IS there. I can see it before it quickly redirects to a Japanese site.

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10. 98

    Glenn Stokposted 8 years ago

    I just found this 2-day old thread and see that everyone has been trying to help, but I see no results as of the last post. So I did my own research on these two domains and have additional information.
    
    (1) ics21 dot com is indeed hosted by GoDaddy. But the domain name itself is registered by domainsbyproxy.com, which is used to hide the identity of the owner. So if GoDaddy is refusing responsibility, you can file a DMCA Complaint online with… 
    
    https://www.domainsbyproxy.com/ClaimForm.aspx?Type=2
    
    
    (2) viralnova dot com is hosted by Amazon.com and  registered by domainsbyproxy.
    
    So you should send your DMCA Complaint to Amazon's copyright agent, Adrian Garver, copyright@amazon.com and use the above link if Amazon also refuses to help.
    
    I hope this is helpful.

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    1. 90

       DzyMsLizzyposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       I just got a reply back from GoDaddy claiming that Google is the host!  Grr--it's a huge game of pass-the-buck!

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       1. 98

          Glenn Stokposted 8 years agoin reply to this

          If it's one of those I found was registered with domainsbyproxy then stop the madness and just file your DMCA Infringement complaint with domainsbyproxy with the link I gave in my prior post. Let me know how THAT works out.

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       2. 92

          Millionaire Tipsposted 8 years agoin reply to this

          I feel your pain. I have the same situation and also got the same notice.  I will try what Glenn suggested.

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          1. 98

             Glenn Stokposted 8 years agoin reply to this

             Make sure it is indeed a domain that was registered with domainsbyproxy before you file the complaint with them.

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11. 96

    Sue Adamsposted 8 years ago

    Yeehah!

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12. 60

    msdieliseposted 8 years ago

    I use the whois domain identity and it seems that the owner of the blog is from China. I also noticed that the website has been taken down. I am not sure if Google has forced it to take it down or the owner received e-mail complains and voluntarily takes the website down.

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13. 96

    Sue Adamsposted 8 years ago

    I received a message from Google Alerts saying that one of my Hub titles links to:
    http://www.winecountryhorseshows.com/lu … -2011.html
    An advertising site for sunglasses. My text is no-where to be seen.
    Should I ignore it as someone mentioned above, or is there a way of getting rid of these culprits?

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