stolen site structure

what can and should i do

[meelosh]

not sure if this is the correct forum but i need some advice on someone who has stolen my site structure and is calling it their own.
basically the developer has taken one of my sites exactly as is html..css...javascript...and just added their own images and content. they were so effecient in stealing everything that this is how i busted them because they even left my google analytics code on the pages. so i was going through my sites content "by title" and found a title i know i did not create but is coming up as under "/" and i know none of these words are on my home page....so i do a google search for the exact page title and there it is my exact site but with a different domain name and different content...but my analytics code.
other than contacting the domain owner which will be a joke as it is a hotmail email what can i do? thanks for any advice

[mack]

File a DMCA with Google, yahoo, bing and the offending sites web host. In most cases this will be enough to get th site taken off line.

Mack.

[meelosh]

thanks mack......definitely be taking that route..funny how a little thing like this can send the "rage" meter into the red.

[mack]

yea I know what you mean. It's so anoying when they think they can just "take".

Mack.

[nomis5]

Does it really matter that they have stolen your site structure? Does it hurt you financially?

If not, let them sink into their own failure to have original ideas and forget it.

[meelosh]

usually no .....not a big deal..but the site in question has a specific branded look that is recognizable and well known..kinda like the mac's golden arches..so if the thief would change the colors and leave the structure fine no big deal. but at the moment when you look at the site it could be confused with the correct brand so now it falls under reputation and brand management as people could (not likely but there is a possibility) confuse it with the original brand.

[buckworks]

Do some reading about "trade dress" regarding the issue of visual aspects that are so similar they might confuse users.

[jimbeetle]

I think maybe the first thing you should do is head over to the Google Analytics Forum [google.com] and seek some advice on how to handle the other site's using your GA code.

[maximillianos]

We have had countless copycats over the years. Same colors, same structure, even stealing our content.

In the end, DMCAs were a waste of time. They all failed eventually.

[Jonesy]

maximillianos,

What failed? "They" == the "copycats", or the "DMCAs"?

[meelosh]

yip...the more i look into it the more i realise there is not much i can do. there are a few filter settings i can change in "g" analytics to filter out the domain that is wrongfully using the analytics code...mainly to correct my own accuracy on the results.
but there seems not to be much else?

[jimbeetle]

there are a few filter settings i can change in "g" analytics to filter out the domain that is wrongfully using the analytics code

Do you really want to just "filter out" that domain just for your numbers?

Your legitimate domain and the copied domain are now related by blood as far as Google is concerned. If that domain goes bad in any way your domain might be guilty by association.

Please, check with the folks at Analytics and see what can be done about the code on Google's end. At least make them aware of the situation to try to protect your domain.

[meelosh]

thanks for all the advice....after sending a email to the domain owner the site has been taken down..but this raises a very important question

Your legitimate domain and the copied domain are now related by blood as far as Google is concerned.

it is very concerning that it could be so simple to put a competitors "GA" code on a bad site and they would be liable for the bad sites activities.....say it aint so!
I would like to hear if this affects your domains credibility as all the research i have done only mentions that you should filter out the "bad domain" in GA and not once have i heard it can harm the original domain other that give incorrect analytics....would this not be the easiest way to harm a competitor..i really hope not?

[jimbeetle]

....would this not be the easiest way to harm a competitor..i really hope not?

I would really hope not also. I really don't know how Google would look at this internally in assessing any, say, AdWords or AdSense kiss of death penalties, but it's certainly something I would not want to find out the hard way.

[maximillianos]

Jonesy -- both failed. Google will side with the criminal if they plead not guilty. You then have to go to Federal court to defend yourself. That will cost you 30k just to retain a lawyer. 50k if it goes to court.

[enigma1]

You then have to go to Federal court to defend yourself. That will cost you 30k just to retain a lawyer. 50k if it goes to court.

Which means if you have enough resources you will win...legally. Because technically the other side maybe bankrupt by the time you win.

[maximillianos]

The criminal does not need to do anything. It is the victim that must spend 50k to take the case to federal court. The criminal can just show up and represent himself and claim not guilty.

It is an unfair system for small businesses.