Copyright Question Regarding TinseltownNews.com
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Hi,
There is a site called TinseltownNews.com, a WP site, which uses WP’s “default settings” to “distribute your blog as syndicated content”. Essentially they republish entire blogs, apparently just by using the blogger’s settings and without copy-and-paste. My latest post was published in that way yesterday without my knowledge (the first I knew was when it pinged back).
I was not aware that I had given my permission for republication using the syndication settings.
Could someone please explain these settings and clarify that the entire Tinseltown site is legal under copyright law?
Thank you.
The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)
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Hi there. According to a whois lookup tinseltownnews.com does not exist, so it could be someone already reported them and they were taken down: http://www.whoishostingthis.com/domain-not-found/?d=tinseltownnews.com Check if that pingback link still works and if so, provide it here in full so we can check it.
The only “legal” way to share content within WordPress.com is via the reblog button which only publishes an extract with a link to the full post on your site: http://en.support.wordpress.com/reblogs/
Syndication sites only have access to your blog’s RSS feed which is something completely different than republishing entire posts without your permission. The latter is content theft and might be grounds for issuing then with a DMCA takedown notice. (Note that WordPress.com would only be able to act if that site is a WordPress.com hosted site. If they’re hosted elsewhere you will have to report them to their webhost.)
You can also see this thread for more information: https://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/syndication-4?replies=4
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Hi,
The link does still work. The original blog is here: http://indifferentignorance.com/2014/08/01/the-six-oclock-news-4// and the post is replicated here: http://www.tinseltownews.com/the-six-oclock-news-keeping-up-with-current-events/
Thank you for the links, I have posted a ‘prevent copyright theft’ notice on my sidebar and altered my syndication settings so only an excerpt can be read.
Thanks.
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The site does not look legit – you have several options to fight the theft of your content
Content Theft & Abuse – Logos
http://en.support.wordpress.com/content-theft-what-to-do/
http://en.wordpress.com/abuse/
http://automattic.com/dmca-notice/
If you’re feeling really mean, this should also help http://drinkscoaster.com/2013/01/02/whine-journalism-and-how-to-bring-the-splashback/ (thanks @Raincoaster)
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I saw some those links already and have added the theft notice and changed syndication settings. I’m going to do a load of research into copyright as well.
I just tried to report copyright abuse from your link – thanks! – but apparently the site isn’t “running on WP.com” so I don’t think staff can do anything. :(
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yes the DMCA is the only option – just a note – @raincoaster also serves a DMCA notice to the Registrar and has been successful in getting the domain name registration suspended in several cases – that takes the whole site down in one thunk
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From their copyright page:
Public Domain informally consists of works that are publicly available; while according to the formal definition, Public Domain consists of works that are unavailable for private ownership or are available for Public Use
This is total BS. As far as I know content is only in the public domain if 1) the copyright has expired (which is 50+ years after your death, depending on country), 2) the content never had copyright to start with (e.g. some governmental documents), or 3) if the owner releases the content into the public domain via a written notice to that effect.
I read some of the comments on their copyright page and it’s clear they don’t respond to friendly requests to remove your material. I agree with @auxclass. Report them to their registrar. The last link to the post by @raincoaster explains how to do that.
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Thanks, I’m definitely exploring the option. I’m also going to contact other people who have had problems with the page to see if they have any advice. :)
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Find the web host, report them to the web host, email the web host daily until they deal with it. In my case, someone stole a post a week ago, the post is still up, the web host has ignored me, so I am about to report them to the business licensing department of their city and a couple of other places as well.
I’ve gotten their adsense killed. I’ve gotten two blogs they created here to abuse me killed. I’m getting their Chitika ads killed…I’ll do whatever it takes.
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My post has actually been deleted now because they automatically remove posts after seven days – I presume it’s another legal loophole or something – but I’m going to look into getting the site removed entirely.
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It’s not a legal loophole, they’re just hoping you won’t follow up if it’s gone after a week. Go you!
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I just received this email. They are still in business (site is up), and now they are sending out fake emails (I THINK). Until WordPress says these guys are WordPress, their email says otherwise. Yes, I know its a fake, but at this point WordPress people have to come out of hiding and deal with this. Managing the blatant fraud outlaws is part of brand management. or maybe that’s me?
This is the original text from the email I got –
(email starts here)
From: Tinseltown Times <(email visible only to moderators and staff)>
Subject: [Subscribe] Comments on Tinseltown Times – please confirm
Date: August 11, 2014 11:31:50 AM PDT
To: Brian McNally <(email visible only to moderators and staff)>Subscribe to comments on Copyrights on Tinseltown Times!
Howdy.
You recently signed up to follow one of my posts. This means once you confirm below, you will receive an email when new comments are posted.
To activate, click confirm below. If you believe this is an error, ignore this message and nothing more will happen.
Blog Name: Tinseltown Times
Blog URL: http://www.tinseltownews.comConfirm Follow
If you want to see all of the blogs you follow on the web in one easy place, sign up for a WordPress.com account.
Want less email? Modify your Subscription Options.
(tinseltownnews email end here) -
The two redacted emails are mine (brian mcnally) and Tinseltown Times, listed on my email as — (email visible only to moderators and staff)
I don’t know who redacted it when I copied it to this forum. wordpress? tinseltown news? Isn’t that the same company?
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Not the same company
email addresses are redacted in the forum for privacy reasons and to prevent the addresses from being harvested by spam bots
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No, Tinseltownnews is using the email address, @wordpress.com. That address (just wordpress after the @) clearly indicates that they work for WordPress.com. If WordPress.com had a problem with that, they should take some action. But until they do, it is a reasonable assumption that Copyright Criminal is an employee of WordPress.com. AND THAT is why corporations, when not distracted and bureaucratic, smash people who misrepresent themselves with a company’s TRADEMARK, aka BRAND.
Brand management is about MANAGING A BRAND, not letting criminals manage it for you. If they ignore this, how safe is wordpress? Well, not very, apparently.
If wordpress attitude is sloppy about their brand and security, then I must assume I need to find another hosting service. I cannot afford a hosting service that not only lets crooks in the front door, but also refuses to help their regular customers. Its a pity! I was going to upgrade soon!!
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Hi,
Firstly, Many thanks to WordPress.com for reopening this thread for me.
I bought the domain TinselTownNews.com a few weeks ago in Oct 2015. I was unaware that the domain had had a previous existence until I did a search last week which highlighted this discussion from a year or so ago. Naturally, I was concerned that the new domain I had just bought seemed to have some history before I bought it.
As previous posters have confirmed, it is quite in order to build a news agragate site based on open source rss feeds and this is what I am doing with my new suite which I am currently developing as a Hollywood and Tinseltown News site for Hollywood Movie and Celebrity Gossip etc..
I can assure one and all that the domain is now in completely new ownership and that I have no knowledge of or connection to whoever the previous owners were.
Once again, many thanks to the gang at WordPress.com for reopening this forum to allow me to clarify this.
Kind regards,
Stu
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