Well Known Site Ripping Our Work!!!

PDJ's cursor gallery?

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Desktop-Enhancements/Other-Desktop-Enhancements/Radio-Wave-FX.shtml
from WinCustomize Forums

Hey guys,

 I got an email today from Softpedia.com telling me that they are hosting some of my cursors, as well as showcasing via links to my cursors here at WC. Blew me away, to say the least.

I'm sure this happens, so I wanted to ask for opinions here.  Should I be happy, or upset? Is this extra exposure, or exploitation?

After further digging, I find there are a bunch of us there. If you get to a page that says Developers page, it'll link to WC. But the product finder on the home page will find links to download your work from their site!!!

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Desktop-Enhancements/Other-Desktop-Enhancements/Radio-Wave-FX.shtml

http://www.softpedia.com/developer/PuterDudeJim-61341.html

30,183 views 87 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Did they ask?

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting vStyler, reply 1
Did they ask?
End of vStyler's quote

No.

Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I thought I'd post the email, if that is ok.

 

Congratulations,

Radio Wave FX, one of your products, has been added to Softpedia's
database of software programs for the Windows operating system. It is
featured with a description text, screenshots, download links and technical
details on this page:
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Desktop-Enhancements/Other-Desktop-Enhancements/Radio-Wave-FX.shtml

The description text was created by our editors, using sources such as
text from your product's homepage, information from its help system, the
PAD file (if available) and the editor's own opinions on the program
itself.


"Radio Wave FX" has been tested in the Softpedia labs using several
industry-leading security solutions and found to be completely clean of
adware/spyware components. We are impressed with the quality of your
product and encourage you to keep these high standards in the future.

To assure our visitors that Radio Wave FX is clean, we have granted it
with the "100% CLEAN" Softpedia award. To let your users know about this
certification, you may display this award on your website, on software
boxes or inside your product.

More information about your product's certification and the award is
available on this page:
http://www.softpedia.com/progClean/Radio-Wave-FX-Clean-141861.html

Feel free to link to us using the URLs above. If you choose to link to the
clean award page for your product, you may use the award graphic or a text
link: "100% CLEAN award granted by Softpedia".



Your developer page on Softpedia can be reached at the URL below. It
contains the list of software products and a link to your website.
http://www.softpedia.com/developer/PuterDudeJim-61341.html

If you feel that having your product listed on Softpedia is not a benefit
for you or simply need something changed or updated, please contact us via
email at [email protected] and we will work with you to fix any
problem you may have found with the product's listing.

--
Sincerely,
The Softpedia Team

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Should I be happy, or upset? Is this extra exposure, or exploitation?  I mean, I'm flattered, but is it ok?
End of quote


If it were me, I'd be happy and I'd just enjoy it.  It might be exploitation, and it certainly was ungratious of them to not ask, but they ARE attributing your work to you.  I wouldn't have to ask myself if I should be happy or not...any opportunity to be happy, I take these days (of course, I'm kind of an attention whore).

 

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Doesn't sound like a rip while offering you the "carrot" of the "100% Clean Award".

Honest people ask permission first, though sending you notification was a nice touch. Basically they have a site pushing other people's stuff while selling advertising.

As was said about Ed Sullivan, "He'll survive as long as there are other people with talent."

Together with that, Jim...you do great stuff, and I'll download it as long as I can find it! And congratz that it received the "100% Rip Worthy Award" LOL!

Can't be a rip if it's attributed to you, ya RedNeck!

:)

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Can't be a rip if it's attributed to you, ya RedNeck!
End of quote

Well, that is true, but they are allowing direct downloads. That ain't so good!

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

It would have been nice if they had contacted you first asking your permission and that the download link was to the WC Gallery Library.

I would keep an eye out and see if they do it again with another of your skin.  They may take the approach that you opened the door with this first one. 

If I were a skinner I would appreciate the asking first before the posting on thier site, but then that's just me and this may be all right with the rest of the folks.

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting RedneckDude, reply 6
Can't be a rip if it's attributed to you, ya RedNeck!

Well, that is true, but they are allowing direct downloads. That ain't so good!
End of RedneckDude's quote

It would have been nice if they had contacted you first asking your permission and that the download link was to the WC Gallery Library.
End of quote

Well...if it bothers you, tell them to either 1. for download wc link or 2. remove your stuff.

Still, it is a compliment and, does have a roundabout plus for SD...can't use your stuff w/o the software...therefore, you should be getting a discount on your subs...and that'll be 10% for me as your agent. :w00t:

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Philly0381, reply 7
It would have been nice if they had contacted you first asking your permission and that the download link was to the WC Gallery Library.

I would keep an eye out and see if they do it again with another of your skin.  They may take the approach that you opened the door with this first one. 

If I were a skinner I would appreciate the asking first before the posting on thier site, but then that's just me and this may be all right with the rest of the folks.
End of Philly0381's quote

They sent another email about another cursor. They have them all on there.

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I'd write em and tell them while you appreciate it, you don't appreciate them not asking first. Obviously, for them, it's content.. which makes their world keep turning, business-wise.

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

We have to acquire permissions for the things we use here at WC so why should there be a difference in this situation.  I do congratulate you Jim for the recognition you have been given and that your cursor was chosen, but I think it sets a bad precedent not to ask for permission first.  IMHO

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Sounds like an odd way of getting new members/authors to participate on their site, but they don't look nefarious.

You might consider contacting them on having your WC page linked instead. Do they make you a member automatically? Can you login and change anything?

 

Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Here is what I am writing to them.  Any suggestions?

 

Dear webmaster,
    I have a couple problems with your having my work on your site. Firstly, I would have appreciated you asking in advance. Not doing so borderlines constituting a rip.  Secondly, I don't want direct downloads from your site. If you would like to continue having my product on your site, I respectfully ask that ALL downloads be linked/mirrored to my site. No Direct Downloads!!!.  The site my work is on (Wincustomize.com) gives me ratings, download counts, and rankings, as well as a title and promotions. Downloads from your site offers nothing to me in return.
 
   The original site for my work is actually http://redneckdude.wincustomize.com/skins.aspx due to a nickname change. I have much more to offer than cursors, but ONLY if you mirror/link to my site! I repeat....NO DIRECT DOWNLOADS!!! 
 
 
  If you conform to the above constraints, I will gladly allow you to showcase my work, otherwise I will be forced to ask that you remove all my skins and then I will follow up to see that they are removed.
 
 
  While I do appreciate your interest, my own interests aren't served by you allowing direct downloads. As a reputable freeware site, I would think you would know to ask In Advance before hosting other people's work.
 
 
                                Respectfully,
                                       Jim Dillard/PuterDudeJim/RedneckDude.
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Jim, when you go to thier site do you see any other members of the WinCustomize community skins there?  If you do, it might be worth it checking with them.

Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Congrats on the exposure.

 

But yeah you have to laugh at how they send you a "Congratulations" letter letting you know they are using your stuff to get traffic on their site. Funny too that they put up about half of those cursors 5 days ago but never sent you a letter until they put more up today. It'd be nice if they just directed people to your gallery to download them rather than allowing direct downloads, I would think.

 

edit: note to self : next time refresh the page first.

The letter looks good Jim. ;)

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

It'd be nice if they just directed people to your gallery to download them rather than allowing direct downloads, I would think.
End of quote

Well, if you follow linkage to their so called Developers Page, it links to my site. But that is buried and after the fact!!!

Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Do you have the ability to remove or change your work?

Are you getting any compensation?

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top

 For tone's sake, I'd pare back some of the exclamation marks and all caps (this is still a good opportunity for exposure), but the content of the email seems just right to me.

when you go to thier site do you see any other members of the WinCustomize community skins there? If you do, it might be worth it checking with them.
End of quote

I saw some of Vampothika's cursors there, too. I wonder if they've contacted her yet.

Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Jim....

Their email translates as '''

"Hi...we liked your stuff so we took it to pass around to others who might like it too.  We did not ask your consent as we do not care about Intellectual Copyright or maybe we are ignorant."

Direct linking to the Wincustomize database is called 'data-mining' which is generally frowned-upon so isn't ideal either.

Their correct course of approach should have been...

"Hi...we like your stuff and wish to make it available from our site for download to our members/users....is that OK?"

Several years ago a Japanese 'computer' magazine contacted several of us in just a similar manner....most accepted [though other mag/CD content was Japanese 'soft' porn which wasn't necessarily an ideal association...but I still have the mag somewhere with a few of my skins in it.

If someone wants to redistribute your property in any form what-so-ever he/she MUST obtain your PRIOR consent.

Anything less is abuse of your property rights.

Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top

:beer:  Make them buy you beer for life Jim! :beer:

Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Oh...I need to add...

It is almost a given that there will be a respondent here who states 'he does not give a toss about his property/skins and anyone can have it'....and that's fine.... FOR HIM.

The issue with an individual's property rights is that he MUST vigorously defend those rights at any and every opportunity....because....if at one time he says 'I don't care'...or shows no interest in their protection the horse has bolted for any future attempt at protection.  A subsequent 'abuser' can point to the prior indifference as what we call in the architecture game as 'first intrusion' [when a block of flats is hard to reject when a precedent was already set by - the first intrusion [block built]].

People need to keep a firm grip on their stable door.

If YOU do not care about your property rights then rest assured....no-one else will, either.

Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Several years ago a Japanese 'computer' magazine contacted several of us in just a similar manner....most accepted [though other mag/CD content was Japanese 'soft' porn which wasn't necessarily an ideal association...but I still have the mag somewhere with a few of my skins in it.
End of quote

OK...gotta ask, Jafo {hey, you posted this tidbit} Which type of 'skins' were you referring to when you wrote you have a few of your skins in a Japanese softcore mag?

I mean there are a couple of ways to interpret that...and for goodness sake, hide 'em from Terry!  ;)

Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Jafo...PM.  :grin:

Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Actually they were CD Stomper skins....an old skinnable that is likely dead and buried by now....tho I do have a copy of it somewhere still....along with kJofol and Sonique...;)

Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I had the same thing happen with my work and a company called BrotherSoft.com Jim.  Took me forever to get my stuff off there too.  I imagine with the email you sent Softpedia in response that they will just remove your work, companies like these don't care about anything intellectual rights, all they care about is creating site content to draw people in.  Heck, my work is even on TUCOWS and they did not ask either.  :annoyed: