Copyright infringement-- I don't know what to do.

1. 82

   WiccanSageposted 9 years ago

   I have a problem. Encyclopedial.com has reprinted about a dozen of my articles, word for word, with no credit to me and without permission, and just keeps scooping more out of my hubpages.
   
   I cannot find anything on the website about who to contact, or the company that owns it.
   
   So I went to one of those sites to find out who hosts it. It said OVH Hosting. So I tried to get in touch with OVH Hosting. Nothing, no responses.
   
   I filed a DMCA with Google. I got the response:
   
   "Hello,
   
   Thanks for reaching out to us.
   
   Upon recent review of the following URL(s), we were unable to locate the content in question:
   
   (all the urls I provided were listed here)
   
   If this matter is still a concern, please reply to this email with detailed information to enable us to locate the content and we will further investigate your request.
   
   Regards,
   The Google Team"
   
   I wrote back saying I did not understand because when I clicked on the content opened. But they did not respond. What does this mean? Does this mean they can't find the articles when they click on the link? Why not?
   
   I'm not very savvy about these things and I am at a total loss... and what's worse, this website just keeps plucking from my hubs and publishing more every week. I don't know what to do.
   
   Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks.
   ~Sage

   replyreport
   1. 76

      psycheskinnerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      The first thing to do would be to post some of the links here, they may have something that limited their use.  Or unless you checked again recently, the content may have moved.

      replyreport
   2. 94

      eugbugposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I notice they've copied at least one of my hubs too, so the chances are that they've ripped off other hubbers' work.

      replyreport
   3. 90

      alexadryposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      They have a Facebook page. Lately, when I contact copyright infringers on Facebook, they are very quick in getting content removed.I tell them they either remove the content, pay me a flat fee for usage of article (I inflate my prices 10 times more so nobody accepts that) or use only the first 50 words of the article with a link back to the article --nobody likes that either) I think they fear being reported on a social page more than other venues, so response rates have been quite high this way. Just my two cents..
      
      Edited to add: they are after hubpages.
      http://encyclopedial.com/2015/10/01/int … 0-caliber/
      http://encyclopedial.com/2015/10/17/hub … -articles/
      http://encyclopedial.com/2015/11/17/hub … -and-more/
      Looks like 99 percent of the website is copied from Hubpages.

      replyreport
   4. 84

      Au faitposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I filed several takedown requests with Google and most of them were honored.  Here is the URL to do that.  You can't just send them a letter, you have to fill out their form.  Go too this URL:  https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2807622?hl=en
      
      Click on "Submit a copywriter complaint" which is in a red block in the middle of the page.  Then click on the circle second from the bottom on the following page.  Copyright infringement, etc.
      
      From that point 'it' will guide you through the steps.  List only one website on each complaint.  All additional websites listed after the first one will be ignored, so save yourself some frustration and just send a separate complaint for every website that is offending.
      
      The above is for Google only, but they are the biggest search engine and usually cooperative in a situation like this.

      replyreport
2. 99

   chef-de-jourposted 9 years ago

   Persevere. Keep reminding Google, send another DMCA if necessary. Contact the website hosts again. Repeat until you get satisfaction. Hope you get a positive result. It took me three attempts and about 5 emails (to an actual contactable person!) before I saw a result.

   replyreport
3. 88

   Stacie Lposted 9 years ago

   Google has given me that same response....

   replyreport
4. 82

   WiccanSageposted 9 years ago

   Thanks so much for the help. Here are the links I have, far as I can tell they are still up.
   
   http://encyclopedial.com/2015/11/20/wic … r-element/
   http://encyclopedial.com/2015/09/06/wit … g-witches/
   http://encyclopedial.com/2015/10/17/les … ightshade/
   http://encyclopedial.com/2015/10/18/sim … necessary/
   http://encyclopedial.com/2015/09/26/wic … a-lessons/
   http://encyclopedial.com/2015/08/13/wic … ore-altar/
   http://encyclopedial.com/2015/08/12/how … ccan-name/
   http://encyclopedial.com/2015/08/01/wha … -paganism/
   http://encyclopedial.com/2015/10/12/ost … the-altar/
   http://encyclopedial.com/2015/10/18/lea … ncoctions/
   http://encyclopedial.com/2015/09/06/wit … g-witches/
   http://encyclopedial.com/2015/08/01/wha … -paganism/
   
   Might want to check for your own hubs as well.
   
   Since there is no way to contact the person should I leave a message in the comments maybe? I just can't figure it out, the hosting service hasn't gotten back to me either.
   
   Thanks again.

   replyreport
5. 82

   WiccanSageposted 9 years ago

   I also had a hard time finding out any hosting information but just found this:
   http://whois.domaintools.com/encyclopedial.com
   
   Unfortunately, it's mostly Greek to me... I don't understand most of this stuff.
   
   Anyone care to translate if you can? I will send you a box of cookies if you can help me understand it, thanks so much.

   replyreport
   1. 89

      The Dirt Farmerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Hi, I've tried submitting complaints to websites and their hosts who've copied my hubs and never received a response. Not surprising really. It's not as if what they're doing is unknown to those involved, as usually all of the copy is copied. Now, I don't bother trying but immediately file a report through Google. Like you, I've sometimes gotten a weird response from Google. In those cases, I had not followed the directions for submitting the complaint correctly. It can be confusing! I hope you try again. These "encyclopedia" sites are a real problem. At least a couple of them with that word in the url were taken down this past year, and they'd copied lots of hubs from all of us. Good luck! And Happy Thanksgiving. --Jill

      replyreport
   2. 99

      chef-de-jourposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, click on the link you've given which takes you to whois and scroll down the raw registry data until you get to an email address that starts with abuse-contact@.....
      Send an email with a possible threat to use legal action.
      If you get no response (likely I'm afraid) persist with the DMCA via Google.

      replyreport
   3. 76

      psycheskinnerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      All you need is the two emails near the bottom, one is the webmaster and the other is the domain register. You take down notice needs to include certain declarations
      
      identify the date and jurisdiction (your location).
      identify yourself and your website.
      identify the copyright violator.
      outline the copyright violations using searches, screenshots, and so forth.
      Demand removal of the offending material.
      Attest that you are the owner of the copyright
      
      Send one to each address.  For Google I assume you want the site delisted, this is done here: https://support.google.com/legal/troubleshooter/  Select "search", "legal issue not mentioned above" and "copyright"

      replyreport
6. 67

   Vagabond Laborerposted 9 years ago

   Hi Sage,
   
   I wanted to say that I'm so sorry about what has happened to you.  You work really hard and have built up a good following only to have someone steal your work.
   
   Do you think that the government can help?
   
   What about talking to an attorney?
   
   Good luck, and I'm sorry.
   
   P.S. - Imitation is the greatest form of flattery, but what happened to you is wrong.

   replyreport
   1. 76

      psycheskinnerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I send takedown notices out all the time, and if properly submitted I find they work most of the time.  No need to pay for expensive lawyers.  Even if the webmaster ignores it, getting dropped from Google is pretty automatic if you use the form I linked to, and that sure gets their attention.

      replyreport
7. 99

   chef-de-jourposted 9 years ago

   It looks like this Encyclopedial.com site has copied hundreds of hubs from HP. There are loads of travel articles for example and many other categories chock a block with copied content. I'll be filling in the appropriate form and sending it off tonight.

   replyreport
   1. 94

      eugbugposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      It would be nice to launch  a cyber attack against them (just for fun).

      replyreport
      1. 99

         chef-de-jourposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, together with one of these:
         https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools … tice?pli=1

         replyreport
         1. 94

            eugbugposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            Just filled out and filed a takedown notice. Its a pain having to do this all the time.

            replyreport
   2. 88

      theraggededgeposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      In which case, the HubPage staff should deal with these people. When it's individual hubs that have been stolen, then yes, it's up to us. When it's a substantial portion of HP itself, then HP must take action. I think they've done it before so they can do it again.

      replyreport
      1. 90

         alexadryposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         I agree, when it's just an article or two, the loss is just to us individual hubbers, but when they copy a whole lot it should be dealt with by Hubpages. I wish to see more participation. They are even using the Hubpages logo and internal stuff like interviews to hubbers etc.!

         replyreport
8. 82

   WiccanSageposted 9 years ago

   Thanks everyone for so much help! I appreciate the support, Hubpages writers are the best.
   
   Psycheskinner especially, thank you for the detailed instructions. I will take care of that right away.
   
   Hopefully a collective outcry against the same website will get some attention.
   
   With much appreciation,
   Sage

   replyreport
9. 84

   Solarasposted 9 years ago

   Crooks.
   
   DrMark61 they have at least one article of yours, maybe two.  This is just from rolling through their scroll, there maybe others. 
   Five best protection animals
   
   Sondra: How to Treat Cat Abscess at Home
   Melissa A. Smith: 7 Exotic Pets That Have Easy Care
   Cynthia Calhoun: Hummingbirds: Facts, Symbolism, Meanings and More
   Adrienne Janet Farricelli: Why Dogs Sometimes Lick their Lips Excessively (they have at least 3 more of yours, probably more).

   replyreport
   1. 90

      alexadryposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks so much Solaras, will report.  They have many more, like 11 of them. Hopefully, if enough of us report, something will be done to give these thieves a lesson. Cheers!

      replyreport
10. 82

    WiccanSageposted 9 years ago

    I think I found the hosting service abuse report website: abuse@ovh.net
    
    I sent copyright violation warnings already but there has been no response. Apparently the guy is on Google+, but he's Russian and I can't understand any of his posts.
    
    Alexandry, do you have his FB page?
    
    Thanks for everyone helping with this; this creep seems to be liberally helping himself from Hubpages and it's very annoying.
    
    Thanks!
    ~Sage

    replyreport
    1. 90

       alexadryposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       OK, I found the Facebook page, it's:
       https://www.facebook.com/newspaperpost/?fref=ts
       I contacted and got this response that I have a hard time deciphering:
       
       "first thanks contacs with us some times our editors do thats ...we check all articles .artcles not sames we spinn allways but we prensp remove all you thinks your articles you think please next times first check plagarist programs and contack with us contackt  dont forget  if you pay dmca check copy articels for you."
       
       Update: has removed some, but the titles and my dog's pictures are still up. Contacted to remove or pay me for the pictures.

       replyreport
       1. 76

          psycheskinnerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

          Usual dumb lies and excuses.  Be persistent, at least you are getting a response.

          replyreport
          1. 90

             alexadryposted 9 years agoin reply to this

             Thanks, psycheskinner. I have heard that excuse so many times, they always blame their editors. The content is now gone and is giving me a 404 page not found. He still had the courage to scold me for contacting him on Facebook and gave me an email to contact him next time. I told him I really hope for you that there is no next time!

             replyreport
11. 90

    alexadryposted 9 years ago

    Yes, this is the Facebook page I found:
    https://www.facebook.com/encyclopediacom/?fref=nf
    I sent a private message, but they haven't answered that, but they replied to my message on their page and asked  for my email to get in touch.

    replyreport
    1. 90

       alexadryposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Sorry, actually my bad. The website is encyclopedial.com, and this Facebook page is encyclopedia.com. I might have found a facebook page, but not sure yet and waiting confirmation.

       replyreport
12. 0

    Robilo2posted 9 years ago

    the whois locator information :
    http://whois.domaintools.com/encyclopedial.com
    
    The servers hosting this domain are located in Europe - point of contact has an address in France - Calais  - Nord-pas-de-calais - Roubaix - Ovh with a Static IP Address on the hosting servers.
    
    This info cannot really help you as your complaint is specific to content, not the website domain itself.
    
    You could sign up for their Blog and start complaining there - encyclopedial.com

    replyreport
13. 84

    mattforteposted 9 years ago

    EncycolopeDial.com is hosted in France - so your DMCA's aren't going to do much. They don't need to honor them.
    
    Insisting they remove them or "pay me" is just an empty threat and proves to them you really don't know what you're doing.
    The domain is also for sale for $350. They're just trying to make an easy buck. Contacting them (Through ANY medium) isn't going to do you any good, you're wasting your time.
    
    Google catches on to sites like this after a short time, and puts them into the sandbox where it doesn't affect your site or your rankings.
    
    Sometimes you can file DMCA's and get copied content removed, other times you need to just bite the bullet and accept that the only way they are going to harm you is by wasting your own time. I've had some of my content copied and posted to Encyclopedial.com for quite some time now.
    It hasn't affected my performance in any way.
    
    Just move along.

    replyreport
    1. 90

       alexadryposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       I was actually able to have them remove all my content by contacting them via Facebook. It was quite easy and they took about 10 minutes. My fee strategy actually works well because I own a publishing company and they can verify that I charge a certain fee per word for my content and for use of my personal pictures. I don't threaten them, I give them simply 3 options. This is NOT my preferred route (would rather file with hosting company and just get done with it) but it's terribly confusing at times figuring out who it is. When this is not an option, I have found that contacting via social media is the fastest way to get a response and compliance and I tell them that I do so as a courtesy to give them an opportunity to get things fixed because I could go instead straight to DMCA route.Many are thankful for the opportunity.

       replyreport