Stolen content

  • Resolved kirstikreutzer

    (@kirstikreutzer)


    4 years, 10 months ago

    Hi! I used to run a non-profit organization called Where’s My Midwife? We created a blog on a wordpress.com site, but have since taken it down because someone stole our content and started a www.ads-software.com site using our content. When I contacted the people responsible, they stated that we would need to pay for it to be removed, essentially holding it for ransom. Here’s an excerpt from our email exchange:

    Hi Kristi and hope you are well in these unusual times.

    Just to explain about the domain, we buy expired domains which have links to them, and use those to boost our own sites.

    While I am happy to take down the old content, we can’t just delete the domain because we paid several hundred for it, plus renewal fees for last two years of 60 odd, plus hosting fees etc

    If you would like to buy it for ￡500, that would be fine and I can transfer it to a registrar of your choice. This is not us making money out of you, just literally just covering our costs, I hope you understand.

    Finding these expired domains takes a lot of time and expertise and, in a usual case we never give them up. In sensitivity to your situation, and your profession which I admire deeply, we can do it. I hope this works for you guys.

    If you want to do it, you’ll need to:

    (a) let us know
    (b) request domain transfer from your domain registrar
    (c) pay via Paypal
    (d) I will unlock the domain and it will be moved over..

    Is this legal? And if so, why? What can I do to get him to take down our content or hide it. We are trying to relaunch the Where’s My Midwife? brand at a different site.

    • This topic was modified 4 years, 10 months ago by Jan Dembowski. Reason: Moved to Fixing WordPress, this is not a Requests and Feedback topic

    The page I need help with: [log in to see the link]

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

  • Most of this ‘problem’ needs to be dealt with via your own legal counsel.

    We don’t host websites here at WordPress dot org so there is nothing we can do about someone using the free WordPress CMS software to host any website where they wish.

    As to the domain name… you let it drop so it was available to anyone else wishing to register it. Again, your legal counsel may be able to assist you there also.

    Thread Starter kirstikreutzer

    (@kirstikreutzer)

    I don’t need the domain name, I just want them to stop using our content. Also, why is problem in quotes? Is it not a problem?

    Moderator James Huff

    (@macmanx)

    We simply develop and support the WordPress software here, we have no more control over a site using our software than Microsoft has over a published book written in Microsoft Word.

    The correct way to deal with this is to first identify the hosting provider of the offending site. I recommend https://www.whoishostingthis.com/ for that.

    Next, once you find the hosting provider, they should have a clearly defined DMCA, Abuse, or Terms of Service contact that you can use. To use the same book analogy, this is akin to telling the bookstore to stop providing the book.

    As a bonus step, you can identify their domain registrar, I recommend https://whois.domaintools.com/ for that, and similarly use their DMCA, Abuse, or Terms of Service contact.

    Start with the hosting provider first though, that’s the best option.

    Thread Starter kirstikreutzer

    (@kirstikreutzer)

    Thank you! I was aware that www.ads-software.com was not responsible, I simply had no idea where to go next and thought I would ask here.

    @kirstikreutzer Since you mentioned not being worried about the domain name I will toss out this idea…

    Go somewhere like GoDaddy and see how much a backorder on your old domain might cost you. If the price is right then consider placing a backorder.

    Some of those domain purchasers, like the one you are possibly dealing with, are counting on you possibly paying their fee to purchase the domain name back… when you don’t they will often drop it after a time.

    I say GoDaddy as they seemed to have been very aggressive in the past with backorders. Your domain registrar may offer the same service.

    I won’t comment further on the other matter but @macmanx gave you good advice there also.

    Thread Starter kirstikreutzer

    (@kirstikreutzer)

    Thank you all for your guidance!

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
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