Red Card Group 5ThirtyOne?
UPDATE: Content removed as per requested. Personal email credentials removed from the original post. Check the comments for the explanation.
I thought I would try the nice route by sending a few emails directly to the domain owner but it looks like I’m going to have to make this public. Regular readers & fans who have followed myself and my activities online via 5ThirtyOne are undoubtedly aware of my somewhat sharing personality. However, there are certain situations where I ask that content or design not be used. Unfortunately, certain individuals often decide to disregard these requests or “copyright” rules in order to better their own online presence.
At approximately 7:30AM, I stumbled upon referral links from the Red Card Group [main page]. I snapped the screenshots as proof and sent a couple emails kindly requesting that the content be removed immediately.
Nine hours later, the Red Card Group has yet to reply to my emails or remove the design. Not only that, based off the screenshot above [as proof], they are now taking the time to replace content with their own.
So, if you’ve been an avid reader, fan, or proponent to design ripping disrespectful bastards, feel free to drop the group an email at email@removed.com or email@removed.com. The fact that the host nor domain owner has yet to reply is extremely irritating.
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Evan
Way uncool. You’ve given a lot, so your wishes to not give something yet should be respected. Now would be a great time to flex some 9 Rules muscle. Contact them and see if they have any advice. Is there anything you want people to do?
Jun 7th, 2006 Quote
Chris Goodrich
chrisgoodrich.net
Not Cool!
At least you are getting plenty of referral links from it, but still not cool. Keep all your documentation and possibly you could go to their host if they refuse to pull this down.
Good luck!
Jun 7th, 2006 Quote
Brendan
smackfoo.com
Can you tell if they are pulling the CSS, images etc from you directly?
If so, you could always add some ‘decorative’ large RED text to the template reminding them that stealing is uncool and causes testicular shrinkage.
I would take all documentary evidence you have and email / contact their hosting provider asking them to remind their customer / take down the site.
Jun 7th, 2006 Quote
Phil Bowell
phil.electricweekend.com
The fact that they have stolen your design is bad enough, but if you look at their archives they have actually stolen your content as well. Thats even worse than just design stealing. Shocking!!!
Jun 7th, 2006 Quote
Brendan
smackfoo.com
A quick check of the source suggests they do pull quite a bit of content directly from your site.
Create a .htaccess rule to block any access from that server’s IP address or ‘add’ content that displays on their site only.
Either way - the message will be understood a little more clearly.
Jun 7th, 2006 Quote
Evan
This reminds me of this story on UNEASYsilence
http://www.uneasysilence.com/archive/2005/12/4857/
Derek, you should do something like this and take some screenshots for our enjoyment. Anyone else agree?
Jun 7th, 2006 Quote
Derek
5thirtyone.com
Just sit tight for now. I got in contact with someone in the household via phone. Hopefully they’ll pass the message on that I’m not too happy with my personal design being used for their own needs.
Now before anyone starts jumping the guns saying that some of the links point back here, and that my name is still in the footer, understand that the pages content has slowly changed from it’s original state earlier this morning. Previously, the directory reflected an older Skype related post. As of this evening, the main post body reflects content from the Red Card Group. Images are also being removed as well.
Jun 7th, 2006 Quote
Peter S.
Looks like it has been taken down.
Jun 7th, 2006 Quote
Brian
redcardgroup.com/bravado
I took the offending theme down myself while our technical wizard, Brendon, has a chance to respond.
I’ll take this time right now to personally apologise for the violations that were carried out these last few days. I was under the impression that my teammate had used creative commons themes from you and not explicitly copyrighted materials. I will wait and see what he has to say.
Jun 7th, 2006 Quote
Derek
5thirtyone.com
Thanks for the update Brian.
Jun 7th, 2006 Quote
Red Card Group PR Guy
redcardgroup.com
Although it will likely seem meaningless after such an expanse of time, I’d like to apologise on behalf of Brendon for the inappropriate theft of your site code. This is the second time we’ve had to deal with something like this.
The fact of the matter is that Brendon is not adept at designing sites using CSS, and he takes code from other well-established designs to break it down and figure out how to make things work on some secretive “master design” he is currently working on.
The reason all of your content and links were present is because he’d uploaded your template to his little “staging ground” where he was beginning to pick it apart to taste the sweet bits contained therein.
Again, I offer my apologies. The template has been pulled. Please call off your lynch mob and spare our innocent and naive blood.
Jun 7th, 2006 Quote
RCG PR GUY
And Brian posted first. Well, maybe I’ll just curl up in a pit and die.
Again, I offer my apologies.
Jun 7th, 2006 Quote
Dan
uneasysilence.com
Phew, glad this was resolved otherwise I would have had to send the angry readers of UNEASYsilence over there to take care of business, forgettaboutit
Jun 7th, 2006 Quote
Derek
5thirtyone.com
Yes Dan.. with our powers combined.. we are Captaiiiiiiin… something or other. There really was a meaning to all that.
Jun 7th, 2006 Quote
Poldo
pj.fh-net.com
I think this means you should release this theme :mrgreen”. ‘jest kidding…
Jun 7th, 2006 Quote
Derek
5thirtyone.com
Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh…. should I stop now
As I said [insert old post that I am too lazy to find] I plan on running these layout into the ground until the next “reboot”. At least that’s the hope. And dammit, I’m really going to try.
Jun 7th, 2006 Quote
Evan
Are you guys gonna hug now? Glad to see people taking responsibility for their actions.
Jun 8th, 2006 Quote
Montoya
christianmontoya.com
RCG, there’s a lot of safe designs at OWD. No need to risk grabbing someone’s copyrighted work.
Jun 8th, 2006 Quote
darkmotion
darkmotion.com
Yo man- take this person down. I hate rippers. My site was ripped a few days ago (rippers site was http://www.darkmotion.nl) I got people I know to request that they remove the site- and eventually that person did. Be persistant- and make sure that you follow it up
Jun 8th, 2006 Quote