Thread: These guys from backlinksforum.com are stealing my ideas blatantly copying my tool, what can I do?

Hi,

These guys from backlinksforum.com (Terry Klye and Tom Goodwing) made blatant copy of my tool "IMT Website Submitter".

They started to copy my concept of having seo tools on the forum, which is fine by me, more different tools we have to use the better, but they didn't make different tool, they made exact same replica of my tool. They didn't even bother to change the sequence of websites/services where these pages are created, which you will see from below pics.
I have removed some malware sites, so few are missing from my tool, because I maintain my tool, but now I can't maintain my tool any more, because they will steal my work again. I don't understand why people are so uncreative, unimaginative, uninspired, unoriginal. they didn't even bother to change list/report numbering(sequence), they copied everything, from input fields(domain and optional keyword) to option to select number of pages created, they even make those input files same order and aligment as it is in my tool, also they make appearance/creating of that pages exact the same as it is in my tool...

You can see that I have released this tool on 09-13-2010:
2500+ FREE Backlinks - In a click of the mouse!
and they released their blatant copy on 02-08-2011:
backlinksforum.com/free-forum-seo-tools-scripts-e-g-mass-site-submission-indexer-live-now/4930-free-mass-indexer-tool-members.html

My tool:
Internet Marketing & SEO Forum - IMT Website Submitter

Their blatant copy of my tool:
backlinksforum.com/massindexsubmitter.php



You can see the pics:







You can check other pages also(until they change it), they are exact the same, few are missing from my tool, because I have removed few malware sites.


What bothers me the most is what this guy(Terry Kyle - forum owner) said :
"Welcome to the first of several SEO-related software tools and scripts that we will be implementing for free (for members) in 2011 and beyond."
backlinksforum.com/free-forum-seo-tools-scripts-e-g-mass-site-submission-indexer-live-now/4930-free-mass-indexer-tool-members.html#post56210

So which one of my tools they will copy next, Directory Submitter, RSS Submitter, Supercharged Bookmarks, only God knows!

You can see on that thread how they are clever in hiding how they copied my tool and how they made "supercharged" version of the some other tool(Profit Instruments quick indexing tool) which is not even similar, but few posts after some guy noticed that this tool is same as mine...

I assume that they will change this tool a bit, so it would not be same exact replica, but still this will be my tool. Also as I said before, what bothers me the most, are they going to copy all my tools and my new ideas from now on?

What can I do now, I think contacting them is pointless, because if they where honest they wouldn't steal my tool in the first place, I'm thinking maybe contacting their hosting company, or is there any online service that can help me deal with these copycats?

All your suggestions are welcome...

Unfortunately I think it's impossible to stop them unless you have some kind of patent rights. This kind of things make you feel very discouraging.

Look into DCMA. You own a copywrite to your work and your date is established by the time that the script was made available. Send them a notice under the DCMA rules first, then if they don't comply complain to their hosting service including a copy of your DCMA notice. If necessary get a lawyer involved. It is important to take firm action to establish a precedent in case of future thefts of this kind.

ooopZzz. yea its the same. But its difficult to stop them. This kinda things usually happens online. However you can talk to them about this. If you have any copy right to this tool, for sure can do something.

Originally Posted by wink0r

Look into DCMA. You own a copywrite to your work and your date is established by the time that the script was made available. Send them a notice under the DCMA rules first, then if they don't comply complain to their hosting service including a copy of your DCMA notice. If necessary get a lawyer involved. It is important to take firm action to establish a precedent in case of future thefts of this kind.

I don't think use DCMA for this. But worth giving it a try, checking if anything can be done. It's pretty hard do get a DCMA notice for a thing like this unless they steal the script and use it.

That is very sad. I do hope this does not discourage you from continuing to make high quality tools like the ones you have been providing. I would be happy to go advertise for this forum on that one if you want

First step you gonna do is to remove the f***king Backlink to them from the post you wrote!

Second step is to bomb them full with automated Backlinks or do some Hackattacks...

Legal way is to use DCMA.. These guys making me so much angy!!!!

Originally Posted by seobunny

First step you gonna do is to remove the f***king Backlink to them from the post you wrote!

Second step is to bomb them full with automated Backlinks or do some Hackattacks...

Legal way is to use DCMA.. These guys making me so much angy!!!!

i angry with them also, how can we flag them? Do you copyright your tools? hope that in the future you can make copyright each of your tools. i don't know whether exist or not such copyright that can be registered. Make something so as to prevent this thing happen again.This forum are source of your income.You should act fast

Thank you guys for the support, for now I will do nothing, but if needed I will take some serious actions and will be reporting about the process.

I think that something you have created/published is copyrighted the moment you created it, no need to register it, you can and it can help you in legal fight, but there is no need if you don't want to.
I have found this on some other site:
"Your works of art, music, etc, all have copyright protection with or without formal copyright registration with the Library of Congress or any other copyright office. However, copyright registration adds proof of copyright ownership and aids you in fighting copyright infringement."

I have send them messages(trough the forum contact us form and to both of them individually) asking them to remove that copy of my tool ASAP, but I think they ignoring me.
If they not respond in some reasonable time or/and remove that copy of my tool I will start to make my moves which they will not like, I can assure you about that.

Any more suggestions are welcome.

yes..definately take their link off here!!

baklinks removed...

I doubt these guys going to listen to you. He has to be a member here to find all about your tools. I wonder who is the member.

Well the gui is copied, and the output, but not likely the code (unless they hacked into your machine). It's always frustrating to have your work copied like this. Of course everyone feels like this, from artists, to musicians to software developers.

This copy isn't likely illegal, because it's not a copy of the code but more likely a just a copy of the gui. Worst case, they could change a few things and they would have it back online if you went after them.

Originally Posted by pkennedy

Well the gui is copied, and the output, but not likely the code (unless they hacked into your machine). It's always frustrating to have your work copied like this. Of course everyone feels like this, from artists, to musicians to software developers.

This copy isn't likely illegal, because it's not a copy of the code but more likely a just a copy of the gui. Worst case, they could change a few things and they would have it back online if you went after them.

In all likelihood, if th GUI is copied, then the rest of the code is copied, or nemanja wouldn't be this worried. I think the are trying to ignore Nemanja, because it would mean that they would have to remove the tools online. I would say that, they have to give nemanja working proof that the code isn't copied. If they refuse, then he can safely assume that the tool was copied.

Good luck nemanja, I hope you teach these losers a lesson

Dont be only angry an Terry... he is only a co-founder of this backlinksforum.

You may know me best as the co-founder of BacklinksForum.com (in partnership with the tireless Tom Goodwin),

Code:

http://backlinks-hydra.com/

Here are some other informations:

Warning: Backlinksforum.com link spammers abusing forums and blogs « Save The Seeker – News about the Seeker Fan Campaign

Warning: Backlinksforum.com is running a link spam contest | SEO Theory – SEO Theory and Analysis Blog

They removed that tool and thread about it on their forum:






I think that they didn't copy the code exactly, I assume that, but maybe they copied, I think we will never know,
I know that they copied the sites I'm using in that tool and they made exact the same look and feel.
I assume that they payed some guy to make exact same copy of my tool.

I will see how far they are willing to go, meaning if they will only change few things and make it a little bit different like pkennedy said
and also continue to copy my other tools, then I will be forced (like I promised them by messages) to make some certain actions that they won't like,
but I want to believe that they are smart enough to not go that way...

One small victory for you congrats Nemanja. Let's hope they learn their lessons though.

Also, maybe you should not publish the sites you ping, but instead show an "image" of them, so they can't easily copy them. I'm thinking a snapshot, if possible.

Show a real-time progress report of how many have been pinged.

Otherwise, just show a report of how many were pinged successfully and how many failed.

Originally Posted by tritrain

Also, maybe you should not publish the sites you ping, but instead show an "image" of them, so they can't easily copy them. I'm thinking a snapshot, if possible.

Show a real-time progress report of how many have been pinged.

Otherwise, just show a report of how many were pinged successfully and how many failed.

This is the real issue for me now, I need to update this tool, but they and bunch of other will just copy my work,
so I think that I will only display root domain/subdomain where each page is created or will do some kind of protection so that they can't copy my work anymore...

If you change the link to the actual post where the backlink is created in your live report, wouldn't a backlink check show where it is, anyway... and be a waste of time? I think as long as you keep creating a good quality tool and have plenty of followers, you will make a good income and be helping many with your talents.

I am new here, but after reading what has been written, I am in support of your good work and would not choose or promote the other place that stole your methods or code. I am happy to have found your tools and will always support the maker of these good things.