Customize.Ru - time to complain/act

Hosting 'our' skins without consent is a Copyright issue

Thursday, June 21, 2007 by Jafo | Discussion: Community

Skinners.....pop on over to....

http://www.best-skins.net/themes_windowblinds.html 

There you will find all manner of Windowblinds skins [just for starters - other skinnables are there, too].

It's not a 100% guarantee that ALL are there without consent...but highly likely at least MOST are.

The authors whose works are ripped [distributed without author's consent] include....[in no particular order, just going through the list] ->

Adni18

treetog

Mike Bryant

Tom and Dee

Martinsh

Daniel

Apocalypse_67

Cliff

'Unknown' <--- [yeah, good one]

Danillook  [sp] Spell checker

Mike Bryant [again]

Velvet_skin

JJ.Ying

Ian Black

Shawn Taylor

Martnish

Javier

The Skins Factory

Michael Branot [typo]

JJ.Ying [again]

.....and that's the first 4 pages....[there are 12]

To 'convince' Customize.Ru to remove any/all that have no consent to be there....or to convince the site's ISP to 'have something done about them and/or the site itself a wee bit of action/effort is needed.

Any author/skinner who has an issue with any of his/her works being on that site unlawfully needs to post here a link to each work that needs removal....

And...

To email the site ISP with a request and include the link needing to be removed.

The Email addy is.... [email protected]  [It's an US ISP]

If you post the links-of-issue here I'll also be emailing requests.

Each link will require an individual email.  I expect the resulting 'flood' will prompt some form of action....

Koop [Larry Kuperman] is Stardock's man-on-the-job in matters such as Warez/Property issues pertaining to Stardock.com, however this problem with the skins impacts directly on the skin authors themselves and hence is best handled by their direct IP owner. [Copyright holder].

Now, as with any issue pertaining to property rights management, by far the BEST course of action is to specifically be POLITE and cool-headed with any communications/requests.

So,

We ask only two things of you all here.....

1. Please don't flood this thread with comments of 'those bastards', etc., just leave it clear for the matter at hand, namely the reclaimation of OUR ownership/control of OUR property.....by the listing of names and links of people affected.

and

2.  Keep all communications civil.  {I have dealt professionally with various 'Authorities' for over 30 years.... Councils, Planners, Administrative Appeals Tribunals, all sorts of 'fun' Archie things.....and know for a fact that IRATE gets you nowhere....real fast.  [my fave letter closure is "I await your favourable reply"]....

 

This is all something the 'older' skinners will have already experienced from time to time.

Of course, if ANY of these skins are actually there WITH author's consent.....PLEASE, make note of that here too....

 

73 Reply 26 Referrals
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Fairyy~
Reply #1 Thursday, June 21, 2007 6:44 AM
Isnt that the same site that has a forum set up to look like Stardock ?
I think this is the same site that had taken cursors and other skins awhile ago
( including the previews from WC and put there www.customize.ru on them )

Fairyy~
Reply #2 Thursday, June 21, 2007 6:49 AM
Never mind, I just re-read your post. I See the part about the crack versions of software now..this is the same site..I see you just want the skinners to report them for their piracy ..


ArileenDesign
Reply #3 Thursday, June 21, 2007 7:14 AM
In "DX gallery" " My Vision of a Vista " is there without my consent

vStyler
Reply #4 Thursday, June 21, 2007 7:24 AM
Done.

PixelPirate
Reply #5 Thursday, June 21, 2007 7:53 AM
http://www.best-skins.net/themes_windowblinds11.html
There's my Encoded theme without consent.

[link removed....got it, Jafo].

[link removed....got it, Jafo].

http://www.best-skins.net/boot_screens5.html
There's my Gloss bootskin without consent.

I'll be sending some emails then.

danioc
Reply #6 Thursday, June 21, 2007 8:22 AM

http://www.best-skins.net/themes_windowblinds2.html
Contains the skin Flooter without my permission.

[link removed....I got it - Jafo]


e-mailing...


Jafo
Reply #7 Thursday, June 21, 2007 8:47 AM
Guys....PM me with the links to Premium content.....probably a wiser method....

vStyler
Reply #8 Thursday, June 21, 2007 9:16 AM
Not hard to find their splattered all over. This really should bring Premium content copyright protection into the discussion somewhow. I know it's probably difficult to do but some protection would be better than nothing.

Z71
Reply #9 Thursday, June 21, 2007 10:14 AM
I brought this to the attention of Zoomba, months ago. Brad posted a letter, on the forums, suggesting the removal of all Stardock skins.
I found this site by (looking) for my skins, on the net.
I emailed them months ago, to take my skins down, with no resolution.
I guess it's time to send another.

There was a reason, I didn't create a thread on this issue, because I didn't want any undo attention, brought to the site. There will be a lot of people that will go there now, to download premium skins for free, before they take them down. We know that goes without saying.
My skins must be really bad, because I didn't even make the list. I don't know if that's a good thing or bad.

Jafo
Reply #10 Thursday, June 21, 2007 10:26 AM

I brought this to the attention of Zoomba, months ago.

Yes....it's been known for a long time.

This is now the skinners' foray into the issue....


treetog
Reply #11 Thursday, June 21, 2007 10:29 AM

http://www.best-skins.net/themes_windowblinds.htmlContain

the skin Thunder Storm without my permission.

 

http://www.best-skins.net/themes_windowblinds7.html

Contain the suite Abracadabra without my permission.

 

Thanks, Paul

 

 


Z71
Reply #12 Thursday, June 21, 2007 10:31 AM
BlindSpot
http://www.customize.ru/themes_windowblinds2.html
http://www.best-skins.net/themes_windowblinds2.html

Dynyx
http://www.customize.ru/themes_windowblinds9.html
http://www.best-skins.net/themes_windowblinds9.html

Candy Coated,
BluNite,
G.U.I.Magic
http://www.customize.ru/themes_windowblinds10.html
http://www.best-skins.net/themes_windowblinds10.html

All without my permission. Thanks for the help.

mschleisner
Reply #13 Thursday, June 21, 2007 10:56 AM
To be (smart) they should have had a real LINK to this site, then free advertising would have been a like Jay Leno and the tonight show bringing on rosie from the view, Its not like you can't find skins on the internet but to steal them is just crazy without sending them here for more and asking you guys. I can see how others might start a site and think it's ok to steal the stuff, everyone pirates movies so that I have seen stuff in the theaters way before it makes it to dvd. And music, ok folks we wouldn't steal any of this either would we? This is what the internet is all about and wallpapers were something you would search for years ago and get the same ones on site after site. I know you folks will get your stuff back and get what you deserve but understand that the internet is one big (get what I want for free) for anyone willing to look for it, take it, and post it. Once I took some wallpapers and put it on one of my websites and didn't let anyone know where I got the pictures, but it was for my friends to download some pretty wallpapers. I did remove them when I thought about just telling my friends to go, and telling them I was paying for the site. I have several that now have joined wincustomize due to this. I think most of us got a good headstart stealing someones stuff and learning. It's wrong, yes, but this is an international concern as well. Good luck to all and go out into the world and find all your stuff and make sure you know if it's not copyrighted you really can't say much. It's the Law and all....sorry. Love you guys really....mschleisner

Philly0381
Reply #14 Thursday, June 21, 2007 11:08 AM
Okay, I've read your folks posts, went to the link, just the home page. Not cool at all.

What can the non-skinner do in this case to help support the authors and skinners here at WC? What's happening is just not right and needs to be corrected. Too much time and effort goes into what you folks do and I for one don't want to see your collective talents misused in this way.  

I'm really getting a little hot under the collar about this, please keep us informed.          


x3lumin8x
Reply #15 Thursday, June 21, 2007 12:00 PM
Can I post their host server info here?

Jafo
Reply #16 Thursday, June 21, 2007 12:07 PM

Good luck to all and go out into the world and find all your stuff and make sure you know if it's not copyrighted you really can't say much.

mschleisner ....just so you know all artwork has inherent copyright.  You do NOT need to register the work.  Lawyers always say it is better to do so because it makes THEIR life easier, no other reason.

Provided you can demonstrate authorship that's all that is needed....


J. Aroche
Reply #17 Thursday, June 21, 2007 1:31 PM
Javier


Is that me? because I don't have any wbs hehe

unclerob
Reply #18 Thursday, June 21, 2007 1:50 PM
Hi Jafo, here is a link to my Captain America wb skin that is on their site without my consent

http://www.best-skins.net/themes_windowblinds12.html

thanks for your help on this!

Bones2112
Reply #19 Thursday, June 21, 2007 1:53 PM
Radio Active Orange
http://www.best-skins.net/themes_windowblinds.html
http://customize.ru/themes_windowblinds.html

Posted without my permission. Emailing.


Thanks Paul.


CAMD
Reply #20 Thursday, June 21, 2007 5:43 PM
"Copying of materials is allowed
ONLY with the link to Best-Skins.net "

RIIIGHHT... Idiots. :[

OMFG LETS HAX!!

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