Ask HN: How to deal with someone ripping off your design?

#1

Post by hirokitakeuchi » Wed, Mar 13, 2013, 11:28 AM UTC

We recently noticed that two websites have recently ripped off the design, code and copy of our site, gocardless.com.

How did we notice? We started getting Sentry errors as they had even gone so far as to rip our JS files!

Before we get in touch with them, we wondered if anyone had any tips on getting these guys to stop.

Sites in question:

http://secure-broker-online.eu/ http://resinternationalgroup.com/

Re: Ask HN: How to deal with someone ripping off your design?

#2

Post by Tzunamitom » Wed, Mar 13, 2013, 11:54 AM UTC

Send them a cease and desist letter - you can find free templates online (http://www.free-legal-document.com/copyright-cease-and-desis... is one I just found).

The more professional you can make it look the better chance you won't have to resort to a solicitor.

Re: Ask HN: How to deal with someone ripping off your design?

#3

Post by Peroni » Wed, Mar 13, 2013, 12:01 PM UTC

Secure Broker Online: 1-8 Kensington Gardens Square , London, W2 4BH

Knock on their door and ask them directly.

Re: Ask HN: How to deal with someone ripping off your design?

#4

Post by AdamTReineke » Wed, Mar 13, 2013, 12:01 PM UTC

Tzunamitom wrote: post #2

Send them a cease and desist letter - you can find free templates online ( http://www.free-legal-document.com/copyright-cease-and-desis... is one I just found). The more professional you can make it look the better chance you won't have to resort to a solicitor.

If/when that doesn't get a response (if they stole a design, who says they'll honor a C&D?), contact their web host.

Re: Ask HN: How to deal with someone ripping off your design?

#5

Post by kanamekun » Wed, Mar 13, 2013, 12:03 PM UTC

Tzunamitom wrote: post #2

Send them a cease and desist letter - you can find free templates online ( http://www.free-legal-document.com/copyright-cease-and-desis... is one I just found). The more professional you can make it look the better chance you won't have to resort to a solicitor.

You don't have to necessarily resort to a solicitor/lawyer in this scenario. If they are using your exact HTML/CSS/JavaScript and don't quickly respond and/or comply, you can always file a DMCA takedown notice:

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/12/18/my-website-design...

Most hosts will quickly take down the website, giving you a cost-effective way to stop the issue. However I'd strongly encourage you to pursue a more friendly approach first, to give them a chance to do the right thing. (The site owner may not be the one who actually stole the design.)

Re: Ask HN: How to deal with someone ripping off your design?

#6

Post by testing12341234 » Wed, Mar 13, 2013, 12:03 PM UTC

Add a check to the javascript files for those domains, then have it execute a while(1);.

This is semantically the same what Google does with their JSON responses [1]

[1] - http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2669690/why-does-google-p...

Re: Ask HN: How to deal with someone ripping off your design?

#7

Post by amarco » Wed, Mar 13, 2013, 12:06 PM UTC

http://resinternationalgroup.com/ - Looks to have a live operator that you can talk to and ask questions as well?

Re: Ask HN: How to deal with someone ripping off your design?

#8

Post by kaolinite » Wed, Mar 13, 2013, 12:08 PM UTC

Peroni wrote: post #3

Secure Broker Online: 1-8 Kensington Gardens Square , London, W2 4BH Knock on their door and ask them directly.

Seeing as the two rip-offs are seemingly the same 'service' and yet have very different addresses, I suspect the addresses are fake.

Re: Ask HN: How to deal with someone ripping off your design?

#9

Post by ratherbefuddled » Wed, Mar 13, 2013, 12:10 PM UTC

There is something fishy here.

The Secure Broker Online company is not registered with Companies House in the UK.

The Kensington Gardens Square street address is that of a hotel and the CA address looks fake too from StreetView.

I would guess somebody's nicked your design to create a fake portfolio for a CV, or it's being used for fraud.

Re: Ask HN: How to deal with someone ripping off your design?

#10

Post by Peroni » Wed, Mar 13, 2013, 12:11 PM UTC

kaolinite wrote: post #8

Peroni wrote: post #3

Secure Broker Online: 1-8 Kensington Gardens Square , London, W2 4BH Knock on their door and ask them directly.

Seeing as the two rip-offs are seemingly the same 'service' and yet have very different addresses, I suspect the addresses are fake.

It appears you're right. The address above is actually the Phoenix Hotel.