Site Graphics

Stolen and refused to remove

[fashezee]

Our design work has been stolen from a company in Portugal. We have contacted them repeatedly; although they have given us their assurance that the artwork would be removed; nothing is being done.

Before I spend money to go see our lawyer, do any members have any experience with dealing with such an issue?

[korkus2000]

That is always a fun problem. Is the site that stole it in Portugal also? Have you thought about DCMA? I believe you can inform Google about it to purge them from the index. I think the best thing to do though is to see the lawyer.

[fashezee]

What is DCMA?
I've contacted our lawyers; they are currently working on the situation.

Is there a specific email address for Google or should I just sent it to support@.

[mikec]

it's actually DMCA, or Digital Millenium Copyright Act

[desertjedi]

Going forward, is there any possibility of stamping your work with a very visible "watermark"? I do that with all my online products.

Gary

[tbear]

This will get you or your lawyer started,
[google.com...]

[fashezee]

watermark

We can, but it can be taken off easily.

[smokeyb]

We can, but it can be taken off easily

That is both true and untrue as it depends on the image. I'll concede that if your images are of black squares, and you have a white watermark on them, then it would be easy to repaint. But if your images are photographs or intricate designs, then although it can still be done, it is far from easy. It also presumes that people that are so unprofessional that they steal artwork, are actually graphic gurus after all, and would rather take more time being unscrupulous, than creative... Damn those Portugese ;)
However, it is besides the point in this instance, as the main purpose of a watermark is to be able to prove that it is yours, and it looks like that isn't an issue for you. But if you do watermark them in the future, the worst you can hope for is that lazy web designers will nick their images from someone other than you.
Smokey

[Nicola]

Also, go for their host.
Find out where they are hosted. Read the terms and conditions of the hosting, and if they mention copyright, give the host some heat too.

Then if the host does not respond, go for the host's backbone provider.

Make sure everyone involved gets copied with all your emails. The offending site, the host, the backbone provider, Google... etc

[Gero_Master]

I know a really difficult to remove watermark.

If you have paint shop pro, go to image->watermarking. It leaves a....a invisible mark to art work. it cant be undone and its gonna be missed by the thiefes.

It is invisible, and readable from paint shop pro.

I havent done myself a account there, so i cant say more without guessing/lying.

I wish u get ur graphics 'back' :)

ps_ invisible = not spoiling image

[troyb007]

I would submit the bad guys to this site:
[pirated-sites.com...]

You can at least get credit for the original design, and make them look like design thieves in the process.

Take a look here as well....
[sitepoint.com...]