Movng a DMOZ Listed Site

Can't update existing site anymore to put up a forwarding page

[Jane_Doe]

I have a DMOZ listed site on a free host. For some unknown reason, I can no longer update the pages on the existing site. I have emailed the free host but not received any response. I feel like my content has been hijacked.

I would like to move my site to a paid hosting service with it's own domain name, but because I can't update the existing site I can't put a forwarding page up. If I just put up new pages without the old pages being taken down the new site will get duplicate content penalties, unless I can get the DMOZ and other links pointed to the new site.

Is there anyway I can get the DMOZ listing transferred without using a forwarding page? Is there someone I can write to at DMOZ to explain the situation? I do have the email from the free web host with the account set up instructions with the name of the URL as proof that I did create the original pages.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[cbpayne]

The DMOZ editor for the category has to be convinced that you are the "owner" of both sites - otherwise I would claim to own a whole lot of sites and get DMOZ to change the links to all point at my site :-) I could put up copies of existing sites and ask the DMOZ links be changed to them etc etc

The best way to do that is to do a redirect or put up a message on the site that the URL has changed --- which is what you said you can't do.

I think your best bet is to put more pressure on the free host....

[Dynamoo]

A tough situation, but the procedure is there for a good reason.

What you will need to do is find something on the OLD site that can act as proof of ownership - for example, an email address that the editor could email for verification, or perhaps some other proof of ownership.

You'll need to sweet talk an ODP editor to help, but it *is* possible to get it changed in certain circumstances if you can find another way to prove ownership.