Stolen Wallpapers...

[Adam]

I didnt know where to put this but it seems that some ugly and creepy website has stolen some wallpaper. im pretty pissed bout that cus they even used some of the wallpaper contest in which i even took part of ( i know that its quite some while ago) ... dunno if you can do something bout that. just wanted you to know -_-'

http://gameguru.ru/wallpapers/wallpapers/alan_wake.html

they even took mine -_-

http://gameguru.ru/wallpapers.html?group=alan_wake&img=5&res=1024

Greetings, Adam.

[RTsa]

That's just evil of them :flame: :no: :mad: :censored:

[Kahr]

I'm sure ADM can break some havoc with Remedy in his back. :p

[sidetwo]

Pshh that's pretty annoying.

Though it's up to you guys, if you want them down then let me know and I'll get in contact with them. If not then cool, as much as I hate that they didn't ask for permission first it kind of is still spreading the word of Alan Wake anyway.

So yeah it's up to you guys.

[MentalSentinel]

Wow, they even watermarked it.
Pretty darn shameless.

[Corwin]

Wow, they even watermarked it.
Pretty darn shameless.

Yeah, this watermark is more annoying than making any sense.

[Morry]

I would atleast request that they don't watermark future pictures that they decide to "use".

[sidetwo]

Yeah.. now I tried looking for a contact email, but it was hard.. can anyone find one?

[Coak]

Yeah, no ****ing address anywhere.

Another thing: it says on the bottom of the page that Any reprinting of materials without the permission of editorial staff is forbidden!
And they have the watermark that we don't.

[sidetwo]

Ok managed to get their email address via a whois on their site domain. I've sent them an email telling them to either remove the watermarks off the images and give proper credit to us or remove all wallpapers off the site.

[Hiki]

They are russians.. What do you think :mad:

[KAMUI]

Russians :mad: How could they :mad:

[Kahr]

Heh. This should be interesting. :hyper:

[Raven (TLS)]

Theft eh? Thats naughty and I don't approve of theft of peoples IP. You know, there is something you can all do about it... but its equally as naughty http://www.lastsanctuary.co.uk/images/smilies/spiteful.gif

Their IP address is 195.128.49.203 ;)

[RTsa]

I wouldn't recommend doing anything illegal to them yet.
Maybe they'll answer ADM. :)

Watermarking someone else's work..that reminds me of someone...

www.ebaumsworldsucks.com

[Raven (TLS)]

Its not illegal, but it may be immoral - as immoral as stealing someones intellectual property ;)

[Maddieman]

Maybe they'll answer ADM.

As far as I know, they haven't responded. :(

Unfortunately, I don't think we can do anything until the wallpapers are once again posted on this site, and the original authors are clearly identified. ADM said he was gonna do that shortly after he gets back from vacation.

And no, Raven, we're not gonna stoop down their level; but thanks for the support, all the same. ;)

[Raven (TLS)]

np, it was just a suggestion :)

[Coak]

Raven, seems like you have had some problems with intellectual property thieves before :)

[Raven (TLS)]

Not at all mate, I'm just great advocate of fighting fire with fire. Old Testament justice, if you like ;)

[Coak]

LOL, just as I read that:

"Who's ready to deal out some justice? *click-click* Old Testament style. :cool: "

[Kahr]

There could be some copyright issue making it illegal, if the creator of the said wallpaper don't want it posted on that site. And personally, if I was the creator of one of them wallpapers, I'd get a little pissed if they just "stole" them and posted them on the site.

I've always kept hearing how an organisation (like a site) should have the author of something's, or creator's, approval first. I've always lived by that rule on the websites I've been helping manage.

[Maddieman]

Well I agree, but unfortunately copyright law is tricky. You need to know exactly where you stand in relation to the other party, before you take any action -- otherwise you're just going to waste a lot of time and money.

Smallish sites like Alanwake.net run on trust, and rely on the supposed professionalism and honesty of other websites. Sadly, we all know that's not the case, and this particular site undoubtedly isn't the only website in the world guilty of plagiarism. Since it's a civil thing (rather than criminal), it's down to the author or a representative to take formal action.

Unfortunately, the fact that Alanwake.net is technically gone now is not going to help matters. Additionally, I don't think the courts would have much time for this kind of case considering that the damages are minimal (it's more a principal that's been violated here). Lastly, a lot of the wallpapers themselves are derivative works anyway (really good ones, of course. ;) ). There are a lot of factors involved, and the brunt end of the stick is that it's more productive to move on and learn from this, and be especially wary of it in the future.

That said, if we were to do anything, I would assume the next stage is to locate and contact their ISP, inform them of the violation, request them to get the owner to remove the wallpapers. But taking it to that level means that we'd need to more than just idle threats -- we'd have to back it up.

Personally, I don't have the means or resources to chase down and sue every single person who rips this site off, and I'm not sure if ADM does either. Equally, I think it would be asking too much to get Remedy involved. Even if we did, would it solve the problem in the long term? Unlikely. I'm sorry to put it that way, as I do sympathise with the people concerned here, but that's how it is. :(

Instead, if you're one of the original authors or if you simply don't approve of what they're doing, my suggestion for now would be to email them and complain (http://eng.gameguru.ru/feedback.html?who=john). Be polite, but firm -- the principal complaint here is the lack of credit and watermarking. Aggression won't get you compliance.

At any rate, the original wallpapers have been reposted here, where they belong. And damn good they are too. ;)

http://www.alanwake.com/forum/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=540

[Raven (TLS)]

No Old Testament justice then? :(

[Maddieman]

I wouldn't advise it. Feel free to elaborate on your master plan, though. :)

[Raven (TLS)]

Technically, its not hacking. There's a nice little ap thats available called Slap that enables you to send any irritating visitors an alloted number of packets to their IP, thus, if you wanted to, you could hammer their allocated bandwidth and bring down their site for short time.

Okay, so it is hacking then :lol: But you know what they say: Play with fire... ;)

I can provide a link to said ap later, if you like :)

[Morry]

The last thing we want to do is get Remedy in trouble for misusing their forums. And we don't want to do that now do we ;)

[Kahr]

Actually, it's not on Remedy's hand if someone else does it. Just because the person does it in the "name of Remedy", doesn't mean Remedy themselves supported it.

But that doesn't make it right either. I'd advice against it.

[Raven (TLS)]

Just so you know I wasn't spinning you a line, said ap can be located here (http://www.securitysoftware.cc/apps.html) ;)

[Maddieman]

I agree with others, we're not going to do that; and I don't encourage you (or any others) to either. Last time I checked, fire was fought with water (http://eng.gameguru.ru/feedback.html?who=john). ;)

[Kahr]

We have fire fighters to do that. :p

Maybe we should have our own "Retrieve Stolen Wallpapers Abuse Team". :p

[sidetwo]

Hey guys I think the best way to handle this is for everyone to simply send one nice email to John requesting that he take them down.

If nothing happens then don't worry about it, stuff like this happens.. lets just try not to stoop down to their level.