You Give Them A Free Template And They Remove Your Links

[whitebark]

Hi

I released my first phpld template about a month ago. I knew some people would download it and quickly strip out the sponsored links which they were suppossed to keep intact, but I didn't expect it would be rampant. I see it's been installed 25 times (I put a 1x1 px image file in there to track installs) and a full 20 have removed the links. It seems over a dozen of them are from the same directory owner. He quickly submitted his new directories, minus links, to the demo site I used to highlight the templates - yes not bright at all.

Should I confront these idiots? Maybe name them publicly? I already removed their links they had submitted in my directories - it's the least I can do... :p

What do you do when this happens to you?

Certainly makes me want to keep my work close to home - ie - not release any more of my hard work for free!

[David]

First thing to do is try to contact them.
Make sure the terms are clear on your own site.
If they don't play, nice you can get them shut down.

[James]

If you need help putting together the first dmca notice feel free to pm me ;)

[smub]

yes please mention them in public so other dir owners stop supporting them

[shadav]

just a little mention lol...have you made sure that maybe they didn't move the link? I moved the links from the footer of my directory on a template i'm using to the right side part, thus still keeping it a site wide link but having it more visible. Obviously though they still should have asked you first (if this is what they did)

[blade700]

you know what - there are a lot of people that when they find anything on the internet they can use for free - and they are trash!

I'd write to them asking for 24hr take down the template owing to copyright infringement. If they don't reply mention that you are serving their hosting company with a solicitor's letter for immediate account closure, and name all the sites that contain your template.

At least that's what I'd do, for a start.

[James]

I wouldn't even contact them I would go straight to the host and cc the data center the server is in. You do not have to have a solicitor's letter I can help you craft a notification that will get immediate response if the server is not located in a 3rd world country. I have great experience at this ;)

[LennyP]

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Is it generally acceptable to move the link to another part of the page as long as you still have it?

[shadav]

as long as the creator doesn't mind...as i said they still should ask first :)

[hamidof]

This is not a new issue, some people are like that, I wouldn't bother.
There are more good people than bad people:)

[CReed]

I have a question regarding support for those that remove the sponsors attribution? Is support still offered here for members that remove the sponsor's links from free templates?

[SilkySmooth]

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I think most accept it as long as the link is not removed all together. At the end of the day not everyone wants to be the same, even those that prefer to utilize free templates.

[vegabond]

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Ummm, it's not a good idea buddy!

I have released few free templates for phpLD and I found lot of stupid who
are removed my links from the templates without paying and asking :mad:

But I got so many nice person who are using templates with my link, must be that amount is bigger than those stupid :)

So, I will release more templates (without sponsor) in future for free :cool:

I found a new stupid: hxxp://www.lalunet.fr :(

[jminscoe]

Maybe they thought you couldn't find it as its a french site or wouldn't be able to read;)

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