OFFICIAL: Copyright Claim Status [CLOSED]
DISREGARD
I need a clean shot of the bell trees' main forum home, with the tree and logo, and other graphics clearly showing. I need this screenshot to be more than two months old. Those that did work on the theme themselves, anything time-marked that is an image of the theme will help at all.
Why?
I'll tell you later.
REGARD
Alright, now that the research and lovely dictionary has been thrown through a wall, the other day another website was caught using the TBT theme. I spoke with the owner, who denied knowing it was stolen. The owner was a very nice fellow, and accepted what I told him as truth.
However, he didn't steal the website theme at all.
A member of another website did, and charged this man 76 USD for the TBT theme. This is called Unethical copying.
After a few hours of reading terms of service for both Vbulliten and the service used for purchasing the skin, I determined it was completely possible to file a fair use/notification of alleged infringement.
Jer authorized me to draw up the documents, sign them, and send them. As of 12:12 EST tonight, they have been printed, the photographic evidence placed in an envelope, and one will go to Vbulliten while the other makes its way to Freelance.
I will be keeping people up to date with what happens in this case, however things may move slower than molasses rolling down a flat street. We'll see.
Thank you Jer, for being a good sport when I pushed you to answer me quickly. And, thank you Bacon Boy for providing one piece of evidence that was needed to seal the deal.
As for the other website using this theme, after a long discussion with Jer, and some other people, it has been decided he was not at fault, and we're going to allow him to continue using the theme provided he links back to this website. He has agreed and is very grateful.
On the other hand, we are trying to either A) get this man his money back, or B) get reimbursed for theft of property. If all else fails, I have documents drawn up that would allow vbulliten to go after the culprit themselves, but they are forbidden from placing any blame on the other forum owner.
This is a last ditch effort to have something done only, and ONLY because of the loophole in Vbulliten's terms and conditions stating that they own everything legally used on a forum of theirs. That includes this one.
For the record, I would stay away from attachments artists, this could be bad news for you too. I wasn't aware of this clause until I had to pick through the terms myself with a fine tooth comb.
Either way, if this ever happens again, I ask that you bring the information to me, as I'm experienced in legal documents and would have little to no issue filing a notification of alleged infringement.
Also for the record, my grammar/spelling is much better when I'm working on those documents. This is me being absolutely lazy over this silly mess.
In addition to physical copies, digital versions have been emailed to prevent anything from getting lost. Ever want to know what 9 hours of work looks like?
Status: CONCLUDED
Everything has been looked at. The user has been suspended and is under investigation
Edit: If there's any more of this stuff floating around, theme steals and whatnot, I encourage you to shoot me an email if Jer isn't around. I check my email at least 7 times a day.
Jamie@needhamart.com
Danke!
Update:
The labeled thief has provided proof that the images from Belltree were provided by the client, therefore is being cleared of accusation. More to come within the next five days! Hopefully this will be all cleared up by then.
Update 2:
The case is closed, the appropriate parties have been suspended, and a full refund was not possible. We are credited on the other website on EVERY SINGLE PAGE.
DISREGARD
I need a clean shot of the bell trees' main forum home, with the tree and logo, and other graphics clearly showing. I need this screenshot to be more than two months old. Those that did work on the theme themselves, anything time-marked that is an image of the theme will help at all.
Why?
I'll tell you later.
REGARD
Alright, now that the research and lovely dictionary has been thrown through a wall, the other day another website was caught using the TBT theme. I spoke with the owner, who denied knowing it was stolen. The owner was a very nice fellow, and accepted what I told him as truth.
However, he didn't steal the website theme at all.
A member of another website did, and charged this man 76 USD for the TBT theme. This is called Unethical copying.
After a few hours of reading terms of service for both Vbulliten and the service used for purchasing the skin, I determined it was completely possible to file a fair use/notification of alleged infringement.
Jer authorized me to draw up the documents, sign them, and send them. As of 12:12 EST tonight, they have been printed, the photographic evidence placed in an envelope, and one will go to Vbulliten while the other makes its way to Freelance.
I will be keeping people up to date with what happens in this case, however things may move slower than molasses rolling down a flat street. We'll see.
Thank you Jer, for being a good sport when I pushed you to answer me quickly. And, thank you Bacon Boy for providing one piece of evidence that was needed to seal the deal.
As for the other website using this theme, after a long discussion with Jer, and some other people, it has been decided he was not at fault, and we're going to allow him to continue using the theme provided he links back to this website. He has agreed and is very grateful.
On the other hand, we are trying to either A) get this man his money back, or B) get reimbursed for theft of property. If all else fails, I have documents drawn up that would allow vbulliten to go after the culprit themselves, but they are forbidden from placing any blame on the other forum owner.
This is a last ditch effort to have something done only, and ONLY because of the loophole in Vbulliten's terms and conditions stating that they own everything legally used on a forum of theirs. That includes this one.
For the record, I would stay away from attachments artists, this could be bad news for you too. I wasn't aware of this clause until I had to pick through the terms myself with a fine tooth comb.
Either way, if this ever happens again, I ask that you bring the information to me, as I'm experienced in legal documents and would have little to no issue filing a notification of alleged infringement.
Also for the record, my grammar/spelling is much better when I'm working on those documents. This is me being absolutely lazy over this silly mess.
In addition to physical copies, digital versions have been emailed to prevent anything from getting lost. Ever want to know what 9 hours of work looks like?
Status: CONCLUDED
Everything has been looked at. The user has been suspended and is under investigation
Edit: If there's any more of this stuff floating around, theme steals and whatnot, I encourage you to shoot me an email if Jer isn't around. I check my email at least 7 times a day.
Jamie@needhamart.com
Danke!
Update:
The labeled thief has provided proof that the images from Belltree were provided by the client, therefore is being cleared of accusation. More to come within the next five days! Hopefully this will be all cleared up by then.
Update 2:
The case is closed, the appropriate parties have been suspended, and a full refund was not possible. We are credited on the other website on EVERY SINGLE PAGE.
Last edited:
