Identity theft

[troyid]

I have managed to get a website banned by their host because they stole content from my website.

They have now decided to attack me further by setting up free websites with Geocities and others to try and get me penalized with search engines.

They have also threatened that my name and details has been used in forums promoting lolita content.

The last thing they have done is use my name as an alias for a hotmail account.

I know that I should contact a lawyer but I don't know how to find one which specializes in this area.

[peewhy]

Not knowing your location puts you in a 'grey' area, for the moment.

There are lawyers that major in 'Copyright and Intellectual Property Rights'.

If your case is solid, you'll probably get no win no fee.

At this stage, you need damage limitation, injunctions on their behaviour.

Search locally, get a meeting and move very fast.

Peter

[Shak]

do you really give a damn, is the question.

sometimes its just best to let things take their natural course, unless you are preapred for WAR.

Shak

[peewhy]

I suppose if the propaganda will cost in loss of business then it is important.

We don't know as to what extent these people are stirring it. Troyid seems concerened :)

[Jenstar]

When you are looking for a lawyer, please be sure that the lawyer has experience with INTERNET law and how it pertains to copyright and intellectual property. You don't want to end up with a brilliant IP lawyer who hasn't heard of Google or Hotmail, and doesn't know how to double click ;)

I have had someone take my name and open a hotmail account for the sole purpose of impersonating me - simply write Hotmail and explain the situation. I believe I had to sign some legal documents they faxed over, and when I faxed them back Hotmail shut down the offenders immediately. This was a few years ago, so their process mght have changed, but they will do it. To this day, that username remains unavailable for anyone to use.

Geocities will also remove stolen content with a DMCA infringement notice. Here is the link with the details:
docs.yahoo.com/info/copyright/copyright.html (Yahoo owns Geocities) Most other free websites will have information on what to do when one of their members have infringed on someone's copyright.

And if it is Google you are most concerned about regarding penalization due to their duplicate websites, you can file a DMCA through Google as well, and they will remove the page(s) or site from the serps. You can find the information for filing the notice here: www.google.com/dmca.html

I also think Shak could be right, sounds like this guy is prepared for war. Hopefully he'll grow tired of the time and expense it takes to set up new sites to copy you.

[DaveN]

War is always messy i can tell you now cut your loses and walk away, this kind of thing is so hard to prove (the guestbooks and hotmail) if the attack knows what he is doing.

Let him get bored and hope he goes away.

DaveN

[peewhy]

Without knowing the real circumstances it's difficult to post proper advice over personal opinion. I'm thinking more from a damage to business point of view as opposed someone posting silly things about an individual...which should, as Dave said, best be ignored - it will dissolve in cyberspace.