Ripped again. (client's work ripped)

[rAyVoLvEz]

I can't believe this and I'm trembling so hard that I can't believe that this is happening.

My client's (aka my old school)'s website work got ripped, big time.

My site design for a school club : http://www.nanyangjc.org/~lep

The ripped design : http://www.shidu.cn/shidurenjia/index.html

Even that school's logo remained there, what the...

Honestly I cant control my anger!!


This is the * number of times I got ripped, yet again.

[Edited on 1/22/2008 by rAyVoLvEz]

[Gankstah]

Wow ray, maybee you should just become a public donator. I am sorry to see you got ripped again.

[KRB]

WOW Elaine, that is a blatant rip! How did you find out?

Not sure what legal measures you can take against those people.

Perhaps some web savvy members here can share some tips on how to safeguard sites from being copied.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v450/kphotopage/2007/2008/Rip-Elaine.jpg

[Cappy]

Ya know, kiddo, I was ready to give my "Nothing New Under the Sun" speech but after reviewing the rip, you definetly got ripped and I am sorry.

In some ways you can look at it as the ultimate compliment and in other ways you can run and get the gun.

No matter what, there is nothing I can say to help you except to send my deepest sympathies! I wish there were an avenue that an artist could take, an EFFECTIVE approach, that is, to make these people pay for the infringement on our lives and our art!

There are no real lawful approaches one could take that would rectify the situation without a lot of time and money. That is a most unfortunate thing.

Sit back, take a deep breath and know that you are loved for your talent, your willingness to help as witnessed here and your originality. You are a very special person and that is a diamond in this life!

[rAyVoLvEz]

Its pretty much totally sick, in the fact that to prevent any possible downloads, I was made by my teacher to disable right click and select text functions on that site.

Still it was ripped that blatantly. I cant imagine the effort they went to downloading every single image by hand.

If you look at their msg board, sooooooo obvious they went to get their own on cbox to emulate the one on our site? And even modified the colours to ours.

Just what the bleep is wrong with them?


And they happily put "All rights reserved." "designed by"....

I wish they realised that the text format in css is done by me!

Here are some evidence of their ripping which they didnt clean off.

1) the school logo :(

2)
<div class="navigation"><a href="index.html" onmouseout="MM_swapImgRestore()" onmouseover="MM_swapImage('Home','','pic/navi_01_over.jpg',1)"><img src="pic/navi_01.jpg" border="0" id="Home" /></a><a href="jieshao.html" onmouseout="MM_swapImgRestore()" onmouseover="MM_swapImage('Course','','pic/navi_02_over.jpg',1)"><img src="pic/navi_02.jpg" border="0" id="Course" /></a><a href="ykly.html" onmouseout="MM_swapImgRestore()" onmouseover="MM_swapImage('CourseActivities','','pic/navi_03_over.jpg',1)"><img src="pic/navi_03.jpg" border="0" id="CourseActivities" /></a><a href="zhaopian.html" onmouseout="MM_swapImgRestore()" onmouseover="MM_swapImage('honourroll','','pic/navi_04_over.jpg',1)"><img src="pic/navi_04.jpg" border="0" id="honourroll" /></a><a href="liuyan.html" onmouseout="MM_swapImgRestore()" onmouseover="MM_swapImage('LiteraryLiaison','','pic/navi_05_over.jpg',1)"><img src="pic/navi_05.jpg" border="0" id="LiteraryLiaison" /></a></div>

Those ids should not appear on a Travel Agency website. "Literary Liaison" is the school's club name. "Honour roll" is our roll of award winners.

3)

In the css file :



a.rayvolvez:link {
color: #CCCCCC;
text-decoration: none;
}
a.rayvolvez:visited {
text-decoration: none;
color: #CCCCCC;
}
a.rayvolvez:hover {
text-decoration: none;
color: #FFFFFF;
}
a.rayvolvez:active {
text-decoration: none;
color: #CCCCCC;
}

That's uncool, even the formatting for my text is there :P



div.teachers{
position:absolute;
width:469px;
height:auto;
left:273px;
top:228px;
z-index:7;
}

div.teachers2{
position:absolute;
width:153px;
height:auto;
left:421px;
top:443px;
z-index:7;
}

And I didnt know that travel agencies have "teachers".

4) and a lot more.



And as I spoke to some China nationals friends, they say, its normal in there, that happens everyday, every hour.

Live and let be.


I'm still totally pissed off.

[Edited on 1/22/2008 by rAyVoLvEz]

[rAyVoLvEz]

Hey Gankstah, you know, if they really need a site design badly, they can try asking and if i'm in a charitable mood, I'll do it. You never know.


Kathryn, thanks! I found out because somehow there's some link on that site that pointed to "www.rayvolvez.com" or simply there were visitors who clicked somewhere on that site (which i cant find at all) to visit my site.

No surprise if my main site is going to be ripped next. If that happens, I'll scream.

Cappy, thanks!

[Edited on 1/22/2008 by rAyVoLvEz]

[padiq]

Hey Elaine,

Unlucky, and I know this is not the first time this has happened to you. But as others have said you could take it as a compliment in a way, but then it is rediculous what these people think they can get away with!

Anyway. on another note, I DO NOT think it's worth sacrificing usability or accesibility just because you don't want people to download content. In whichever way you choose to protect your work, there will always be a way!

Even if you stop right clicking and stop text functions, there are still many programs which go through every link on a website and will download the entire site. And as you know it is still possible to view the source code.

Even if you used a flash site or tonnes of JS blocks people could still take screenshots, OCR-process the text, etc. etc. - the fact I am trying to get across here is that there is no way to protect yourself fully; unfortunately it is just one of those things we have to deal with.

I really believe that you should not be diminishing the level of usability just to keep out the rippers (who probably make up less than 0.1% of a sites total traffic).

If this site is truly copyrighted material then you could attempt to contact the hosting service of the rippers site and get them to shut it down.

And Elaine, I know this is annoying but I seriously think it's one of those things that web developers/designers just have to deal with.

[Edited on 1/22/2008 by padiq]

[kiwicolin]

Thats a total and blatant rip!
Sorry to see thaat happen
I hope you have sent an email t their isp and to them to take it down

[mkeefe]

Jeez, thats not even a basic rip, that is sick... like Colin said, please make sure you email the ISP and anyone that is involved with the organization.

Matt

[Hermie]

That's SICK!! Can't these guys not think of something!! Sorry to hear that Elaine. If you need use to send them emails, just say so.

[rAyVoLvEz]

Thanks guys..

Yeah Padiq, I understand about the sacrificing of useability, but sometimes certain things aren't quite within my control, I have to do what the client ask.

Honestly, materials aka the content are definitely property of my client. But they changed all the materials away.

Design(in this case, the graphics, codes, etc), by International Berne Convention, all works originating from Singapore are granted automatic protection.

But, so what, like cappy say, to fight it, I need a freaking lawyer and that waste time and money. So whatever protection is just talk, and talk are cheap.

Ironically, China have their own Intellectual Property Rights Protection Office.


Thanks Colin, Matt, Herman, I'm trying to get their isp, which I know is www.ename.cn. But the chances are, they won't bother.

[Edited on 1/23/2008 by rAyVoLvEz]

[mixedupmacandpc]

well, I guess one way to look at this is that ur a great designer and that people like ur designs that much. I guess u can add another one to your portfolio and email the fools to put you name down as the designer of the site...

[rAyVoLvEz]

The fools arent picking up any calls at all which is pissing the * out of me.

And their isp is totally ignoring me.

[Hermie]

Would it help when they get a lot of emails?

[rAyVoLvEz]

I don't think so.

I wanted to register at that ISP (ename.cn) support forum, but they want China National ID, which I dont have. I'm Singaporean.

And honestly, they might not even understand english.



Have left some msgs on the ripped website's tagboard, a china friend has left some msgs there as well, but they are still conveniently ignoring us.

I'm totally flabbergasted.

[rAyVoLvEz]

As I posted this on facebook, I have actually went to the extent of screenshooting all the rip evidences. In fact the site itself is a rip, but these are the most evident areas which they didnt clean up.


http://photos-810.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sctm/v171/229/20/566787810/n566787810_589679_9976.jpg
You Shan Jia Yuan, NanyangJC Logo not removed. They stupidly thought of it as a design element.

Also look at the choppy gradient as the green curvy area.

http://photos-810.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sctm/v171/229/20/566787810/n566787810_589680_4535.jpg
Nanyang JC Course Info page Versus You Shan Jia Yuan's info page.

http://photos-810.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sctm/v171/229/20/566787810/n566787810_589688_8855.jpg
All LEP students from Batch 03-04 onwards shall and should remember this line on our teeshirt and old website.

http://photos-810.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sctm/v171/229/20/566787810/n566787810_589696_7734.jpg
Honour Roll Page Design Stripes ripped.

http://photos-810.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v166/229/20/566787810/n566787810_589719_7283.jpg
Another blatant rip of literary page on NYJCLEP site.

http://photos-810.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v166/229/20/566787810/n566787810_589740_6551.jpg
Highlights of evident ripping in code of You Shan Jia Yuan html page.

Stupid ripper, doesn't know how to wipe mouth.

http://photos-810.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v166/229/20/566787810/n566787810_589741_9174.jpg
This is hilarious. There's teachers in Travel Agency.

There's yr6-yr7(2006, 2007) in Travel Agency.

There's even my text formatting options with my working nickname.



And as I requested on Facebook to my schoolmates, I dont know how many will do it,

For all concerned who sees this message, please go to

http://www.shidu.cn/shidurenjia/liuyan.html

to bombard their website tagboard about their theft (rip) behavior.

We have tried in avail to contact the travel agency but they are refusing calls and their ISP (Web host) is ignoring our claims.

The travel agency has the guts to claim that the website is designed by them. (Look at the footer)




The WhoIS info of the main domain shidu.cn

[whois.cnnic.net.cn]
Domain Name: shidu.cn
ROID: 20060619s10001s55181045-cn
Domain Status: clientDeleteProhibited
Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited
Registrant Organization: weidongo
Registrant Name: weidong
Administrative Email: weidongo@gmail.com
Sponsoring Registrar: ENAME.CN
Name Server:ns1.ename.cn
Name Server:ns2.ename.cn
Name Server:ns3.ename.cn
Name Server:ns4.ename.cn
Name Server:ns5.ename.cn
Name Server:ns6.ename.cn
Registration Date: 2006-06-19 04:30
Expiration Date: 2008-06-19 04:30

[rAyVoLvEz]

Issue resolved.

Managed to find that bastard ripper's msn contact and he took the entire site down.

He claims he does not have design skills and was just imitating the entire site. He apologised.

[Hermie]

Origineel gepost door rAyVoLvEz
Issue resolved.

Managed to find that bastard ripper's msn contact and he took the entire site down.

He claims he does not have design skills and was just imitating the entire site. He apologised.

He apologised??? That's it!!! He should ask himself what he was doing!! and learn html/ css/ php! the bastard

[rAyVoLvEz]

I wish I can ask for more, but sometimes, its next to impossible. He refused to take it off, say he will remove the school badge only.. Then I had to even "sweettalk" him into removing it entirely.

[mkeefe]

Hate to say it guys, but, keep it professional.

Matt

[Dark Tower Asylum]

Thats complete crap! I mean taking the idea from the site to redesign something simular is one thing but they stole everything from this website, not just it's appearance or layout but the entire coding and everything. Like I said taking the idea and recreating something like it but different and not ripping the actual graphics is ok but this is just inexcusable.. At least it is down now.

[PNeal]

That was the most blatant rip I've seen in a long time.

At least you found the guy. It's amazing that you did.

[rAyVoLvEz]

whois.net was instrumental in figuring out the name of the guy..

I googled on his email and found his msn contact which he finally responded to.

Haha.. the biggest and funniest thing he say to me, "Yes they did imitate a little.", then under pressure, finally admitted that he downloaded the entire website and modified the images in photoshop.

[StylizE]

The ripper should request you to re-design the site and Pay if he/she want your design.

[Edited on 2/8/2008 by StylizE]

[TheSecret]

Thats really bad...I would send them a bill for £50,000 + VAT...to cover costs and damages...with interest accured on a daily basis that they used my design at a % rate of 25% interest accured.....I am sure they would run scared...:)

an idea maybe someone here could write...hows about writing a code in your design that checks by cookie between your web site design and your computer to check the IP address against original IP address and if the address is different it automatically launches a Bot which deletes all files relating to your design?....I am sure that can be done and would resolve many copyright issues!

Another quite good copyright to protect photos on your site is to cover the area with a clear layer over all photos that way when any one clicks copy or printscreen it only copies the top layer...hence no picture....any of these ideas helpfull?


TheSecret

[mkeefe]

The second option will not stop print screen at all, also a cookie on your server to delete files wouldn't work cause the ripper doesn't break into your system and any basic visitor would have a new IP address.

[TheSecret]

The cover up technique to make it harder for visitors to take copies of images is quite clever. The author sets the image to be displayed as a background image, and then places it under a transparent image of the same dimensions.Then only the top false image is saved.


http://www.antssoft.com/htmlprotector/index.htm?ref=google&group=3
this is a web page protector


anything is possible....and all things should be tried don't you think?

[TheSecret]

Hmmm...guess I have to agree with you mkeefe that only slows people down but does'nt really protect the images...best bet is to put a sign/watermark across the whole picture then blend it in or only show part of the image large while the rest remains small...at least then it can't be taken out even if its copied with out major graphic work....

[mike rai]

Oooppss i'm too late elaine, oh Jeeeeez he's a stealer even though he changed sthg to a different design maybe from another ripping web
i'm tottaly sorry to see that ! :(

[rAyVoLvEz]

I think there's no proper way to prevent rips. If someone has the intent to rip you, they can.

Moreover, now there are softwares which allow someone to download your entire website within clicks.


Whats more impt is peeled eyes open against rippers. Never let them get their way.


Thanks mike, thesecret and stylise for your concern.


Matter has been resolved and just let it die for now.

[Hermie]

To make sure you're website isn't get ripped is to make it as ugly as possible :D ! :lol

That way nobody wants to rip it.... easy as 1, 2, 3.

Or we could go back to the stone ages... html, tables

[bewerken aan 9/2/2008 door Hermie]

[orb of light]

I have also been ripped a few times, the worst was last year, a rival company to my client copied my site and only changed there name.


http://www.orboflight.com/mar/orginal.jpg

This was my orginal christmas version from last year.


http://www.orboflight.com/mar/copy.jpg

As you can see a complete copy, all they did was change the name, and on the banner they didn't even bother to do this.

Lucky for me there Hosting company was very helpful and removed it. It is always worth contacting the hosting company.

ORB

[rAyVoLvEz]

Wow.. That was just as blatant!

Sorry to hear that orb. Hope all is well for you.

[orb of light]

It wasn't the first time and i'm sure it will not be the last. The hosting company removed it as soon as I contacted them.

The worst problem I had was when someone was sponging a flv from a client, then the hosting company wouldn't help. I had to change the location of the flv 3 times a day. It still took them over a week to give up!

ORB

[rAyVoLvEz]

Wow... It wasnt the first time I got ripped either.

Sometimes its how lowlife these rippers are that makes everyone blood boil.

Being ripped by a site hosted by american server is still ok, if you're ripped by a site hosted on a china server, forget about getting your rip injustice redressed.


Also, we can probably console yourself with this : Imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

[orb of light]

Hi rAyVoLvEz

After it has just happened (or after you have finally found out) your blood is really boiling, but I agree later when you look back they copied your work because they liked it and could not do it them selfs.

ORB

[rAyVoLvEz]

I agree orb.

I trembled with anger through the night and couldnt quite sleep when these stupid incidents happen.

[mkeefe]

I have learned I will be ripped time and time again and simply say... whatever. If you steal my work you will live a sad life while I am making better things daily.

Not saying I wouldn't string them up by their ears if I caught them, but sometimes its not worth it..

Matt

[darkradio]

I can't believe I've never thought of the clear layer idea. Thats great.