more Piracy concerns?

[airdave]

I have been dealing with a small authorship issue over the last 24 hours,
and I thought I would share the outcome.

To some, this might be a non-issue.
I know there are many who think a "free" is free to download, free to share, free to do what you will.

I look at this differently.
An author, designer, distributor has the right to share his files in the manner he wishes
and he has the right to demand cooperation from those who download his models.
(Yes, I agree with Uhu's rights...I don't agree with all his methods...but I support his right to do it "his way")

I share my KoolWheelz models freely.
But I ask on my site, and on the models themselves, that they not be shared anywhere else.
In other words, I want you to come to my site to download the model.

A Russian paper only website is sharing thousands of paper models
from all over the internet.
These include pirated print models, pirated for sale models, and freely shared digital models.

Two or three members have been sharing my KoolWheelz models.
Half a dozen of them have appeared in the last few days.
Who knows how many over the last few years?

The models are shared using newly hosted files from various file-hosting sites.
Photos are pulled from the actual model pages, and although my information has not been altered on the model pages,
the images on the website have their own URL watermark (not mine).

I have had no luck contacting the website itself asking for the sharing links to be removed. (No reponse so far)
I tried to sign up at the site...so I could contact the culprits and post comments.
But I can't get past the Russian captch code thingy (to register).

In the end, I started contacting the file hosting sites asking that the files be removed.

The problem with this, is I have to hunt through hundreds and thousands of entries
trying to find my models and then track down the file links and go to the hosting sites.
Then I have to report the violations which generally involves a lot of writing, information and tracking down links and proof of ownership.

I don't have the time for this.

But I did submit a couple of violation notices...

I got some postive, although confusing repsonse from two file hosting sites.
Rapidgator and Depositfiles.

Rapidgator informed me that I had to submit proper DMCA forms with all the correct information (to have files removed).
They also sent me three emails announcing the removal of three different files.
lol
Depositfiles did the same thing...except they only asked for the proper DMCA forms.
But, within one hour of me sending the DMCA stuff for one Koolwheelz file,
I got this response:
"Dear Sir/Madam, We hereby inform you that your takedown notice entitled Re:piracy sent on Thu, 19 Feb 2015 14:54:59 +0100 has been received by us.
Upon thoroughly analyzing abovementioned notice we found the following links to be comprehensibly indicated and subject to takedown...
The access to the links above has been blocked and material removed, as requested."

I don't know how much more time and effort I can spend on this.
The KoolWheelz models are just not worth the effort (?).
If and when I see copies of "for sale" models on a pirate site,
you can be sure I will take every action to stop the violations.

But, its nice to see some response from the file hosters.
I personally have never held file hosting sites responsible for piracy related issues.
There are just as many valid uses for online file hosting and file sharing.
I also shouldn't judge a site by the actions of its members.
(Staff yes...but not its members)

But this particular Russian site is built on one thing only...pirate material.

[rockpaperscissor]

That sucks. Is there any way to find out who is uploading the files of your models to Depositfiles, et al? If any of the perps are forum members (shame on ya!), you could contact them via a PM. They might remove the files themselves just from the embarrassment of getting caught.

[Lee Anne]

The only thing I can think of, for new models, is to put a small, unique mark on each model that's posted. That's a pain to do and track.

In reality, any time we release a model from our control, there are going to be immoral people in the world who will see it as a way to make money. I've lost work the same way, yet I still do models, though the better ones will likely end up on some Russian or Chinese site.

[airdave]

You can see name of the member who posted the links/shared the files.
Its obviously only their screen name on that site.
So, theres not much hope of knowing who they are in real life.

hymak appears to be the one posting koolwheelz models just recently.
Four of them in the past two days.

Another reason I tried to register on the site.
So I could harass the members in question as well as making comments on each of their posts.

Be warned hymak....if you are a member here, you better come clean
and remove those files.

[airdave]

Originally Posted by Lee Anne

The only thing I can think of, for new models, is to put a small, unique mark on each model that's posted. That's a pain to do and track.

In reality, any time we release a model from our control, there are going to be immoral people in the world who will see it as a way to make money. I've lost work the same way, yet I still do models, though the better ones will likely end up on some Russian or Chinese site.

In five years, I have 70,000 downloads of KoolWheelz models.
Thats a lot to track.
I can't mark each and every download, since the file is uploaded once
and then shared.
It still wouldn't tell me who downloaded and reshared the file.

But, you are right, it would be nice to track a file once it is downloaded.

[airdave]

WELL, THIS IS GETTING INTERESTING....

Hymak IS a member here.
He just sent me a PM.
He has zero posts here, but has been a member since 2010.

Unfortunately I don't understand his PM.
Its in Russian (or something similar)

I have tried translating, but its half gibberish.
I can't tell if he is threatening me or trying to be nice.
Seems more like threats to release my paid models?

Anyone speak Russian?
моя понимайт инглишь плёхо осень , пиши мне на русском . Я тот негодяй который опублековал Ваши модели на [LINK REMOVED]. Но есть и плюсы Ваши модели увидели в СССР и узнали кто такуой Мастер Kool Wheelz А не шизек который борется с пиратством , до этого я не знал что есть такой крутой разраб . Я очень старался сделать вам классную рекламу. А вы меня обозвали так подло пиратом :( Я вить мог не указывать автора моделий , Но я не требовать с твоя нисколько оплаты мой тяжкий труд. Совсем не 1 долара Какойжи вы темный человек . моя иметь много твои платные модели, но не выкладывайт их не одна
P.S. Мир, дружба, жвачка! Можно я буду публиковать Ваши бесплатные модели ?


[According to Bing Translator:]

My ponimajt ingliš′ plëho fall, do write to me in English. I the wretch who opublekoval your model at [LINK REMOVED]. But there are advantages to your model saw and found out who the master Kool Wheelz takuoj not šizek who fights against piracy, before this I did not know that there is such a steep develo. I tried very hard to make you a promotion. I have called you so deviously pirate:( I could not specify an author signature, but I do not require your payment at all with my hard work. No 1 dolara Kakojži you dark man. My have a lot of your paid models, not vykladyvajt them not one
P.s. peace, friendship, gum! May be I will post your free patterns?

[airdave]

I also managed to register at the Russian site and have asked for various files to be removed.
The site doesn't seem to have any way of intervening.
Hymak's replies are in broken english and I understand very little.

[airdave]

Sorry to go on about this...but I want to make sure all is understood.

I did another translation of Hymak's message.
I think he is claiming that he was trying to promote my models.
I think he states that he put a lot of effort into making a banner picture that showed my name.
And I think he has now asked permission to post the koolwheelz models.

I hope I am correct on this.

I have sent him a reply, asking that he only post the model info...no file links.
He can post a link to my website, where anyone can download the models.
I just want you to visit my website to get the models, thats all.

Hymak...I hope you understand what I am asking?

[rickstef]

Dave, i got this from Google Translate

Oya ponimayt Ingle plёho autumn, write to me in Russian. I'm the villain who opublekoval your model [LINK REMOVED]. But there are pluses see your model in the USSR and learned who Taku Master Kool Wheelz And not shizek that fights piracy, before that I did not know that there is such a cool dev. I tried very hard to make you cool advertising. And you called me a pirate so mean :( I could not twist indicate the author model, but I do not require any payment from your my hard work. It's not one you Dolar Kakoyzhi dark man. My have paid a lot of your model, but they are not vykladyvayt PS One Peace, friendship, chewing gum! May I publish your free model?

[airdave]

yeah me too.
it clears up a couple of words, but confuses others.
But, combined with the Bing translation, I think he's trying to be cooperative.
What do you think?