Live data from Hacker News

HackerRank (YC S11) DMCA'ed the SymPy Docs [fixed]

github.com

11–20 of 348 posts

Re: HackerRank (YC S11) DMCA'ed the SymPy Docs [fixed]

#11
post #3
post #2

https://docs.sympy.org/ is down …seems like a lame move for a programming-oriented company. The takedown message is here – https://github.com/github/dmca/blob/master/2022/04/2022-04-1... And the offending page is archived here, I wonder what part they wanted removed – https://web.archive.org/web/20220114132753/https://docs.symp...

What I suspect happened is that the HackerRank test legitimately (fair use) included parts of the docs (the exercise could’ve been about the library those docs are for), DMCA enforcement has been outsourced to the lowest bidder and these idiots just did a blanket search for some phrases from the test, found the official docs and DMCA’d it.

This seems plausible.

The only real solution here seems to be to find a way to hold HackerRank to account for this (in the most costly way possible), so they face an incentive to do meaningful due diligence and evaluate before partnering with someone that acts as their agent.

Ultimately it wasn't them that did this, but unless they bear a significant cost from doing so, which causes them to pursue their DMCA agent for negligence or breach of contract (or whatever other remedy is available to them), I don't see this type of thing changing.

Once a DMCA agent becomes a liability, the market will be forced to mature, and buyers will need to do due diligence to minimise their likelihood of being opened up to a large and costly battle as a result of the negligence of their agent.

Re: HackerRank (YC S11) DMCA'ed the SymPy Docs [fixed]

#12
post #2

https://docs.sympy.org/ is down …seems like a lame move for a programming-oriented company. The takedown message is here – https://github.com/github/dmca/blob/master/2022/04/2022-04-1... And the offending page is archived here, I wonder what part they wanted removed – https://web.archive.org/web/20220114132753/https://docs.symp...

[deleted]

Re: HackerRank (YC S11) DMCA'ed the SymPy Docs [fixed]

#13
post #2

https://docs.sympy.org/ is down …seems like a lame move for a programming-oriented company. The takedown message is here – https://github.com/github/dmca/blob/master/2022/04/2022-04-1... And the offending page is archived here, I wonder what part they wanted removed – https://web.archive.org/web/20220114132753/https://docs.symp...

> I have taken fair use into consideration.

Not really. Nor have you considered who the actual author and copyright holder is.

Re: HackerRank (YC S11) DMCA'ed the SymPy Docs [fixed]

#14
I'm happy that this is now on the front page because that's how fraudulent DMCA requests get fixed :)

The goodwill lost will now surely exceed the money they saved by not doing proper due diligence. I'm optimistic that HackerRank won't make the same mistake again and other companies might take notice, too.

Re: HackerRank (YC S11) DMCA'ed the SymPy Docs [fixed]

#15

I'm happy that this is now on the front page because that's how fraudulent DMCA requests get fixed :) The goodwill lost will now surely exceed the money they saved by not doing proper due diligence. I'm optimistic that HackerRank won't make the same mistake again and other companies might take notice, too.

It would be nice if a lawyer got censured for this. That's how fraudulent DMCA takedowns should get fixed.

It would also be nice if Github would implement instant restoration via counternotice as allowed by the DMCA. Implementing only half of the law enables this sort of abuse.

Re: HackerRank (YC S11) DMCA'ed the SymPy Docs [fixed]

#16

This same DMCA company (WorthIT Solutions) previously tried to DMCA the php docs range function page on behalf of HackerRank [0]. Pretty crazy. [0]: https://www.mail-archive.com/php-webmaster@lists.php.net/msg...

One way for HackerRank to do the right thing would be to sue WorthIT for breach of contract and loss of reputation. Their contract must have included some requirements for due diligence on filing those notices, and having these bogus DMCA notices does hurt HackerRank’s reputation, especially with its target audience. Only way to make this stop is make companies like WorthIT feel financial pain from their actions.

There's also an argument to be made that this is on HackerRank. Just because they're using a contractor to do the dirty work doesn't excuse them from responsibility for this sloppiness.

Re: HackerRank (YC S11) DMCA'ed the SymPy Docs [fixed]

#17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One way for HackerRank to do the right thing would be to sue WorthIT for breach of contract and loss of reputation. Their contract must have included some requirements for due diligence on filing those notices, and having these bogus DMCA notices does hurt HackerRank’s reputation, especially with its target audience. Only way to make this stop is make companies like WorthIT feel financial pain from their actions.

There's also an argument to be made that this is on HackerRank. Just because they're using a contractor to do the dirty work doesn't excuse them from responsibility for this sloppiness.

Especially given that the false takedown of the PHP docs dates back to January.

Issuing false takedowns against organizations whose code you use for free is a pretty bad look.

(It's also a pretty crummy product, I used to use it as an interviewer and am glad I no longer have to.)

Re: HackerRank (YC S11) DMCA'ed the SymPy Docs [fixed]

#18
> I swear, under penalty of perjury, that the information in the notification is accurate and that I am the copyright owner or am authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

Too bad these perjery-as-a-service companies never get held to account.

Re: HackerRank (YC S11) DMCA'ed the SymPy Docs [fixed]

#20
post #19

Why is a YC company not held to a better standard? This is poor form.

What makes you think YC companies have any different standards than the rest of the corporate world? If anything startups are deliberately held to a lower standard on the justification of “disruption”. YC is a way to make people money first and foremost. Don’t be shocked.
Post reply on HN