(RESOLVED) What to do When your WSO is Being Jacked?

by humbledmarket Banned
25 replies
Hey Warriors,

I just has a warrior contact me telling me that they purchased my WSO on another site.

I'd like to know what would you suggest I do in this issue? do you think it's worth filing a DMCA?

I am quite honestly pissed off. Also I handle my WSO via WarriorPlus so I have a whole list of all buyers and ips but how would I know which buyer to which email?

Do you think it would help if i filed somethign with paypal.

The thing that sucks is that their prices are lower than mine and is clearly affecting my sales. Sorry, Just fustrated lol
#jacked #wso
  • Profile picture of the author Robert Brauer
    Holy crap.

    This is actually really scary for WSO vendors. I'm also interested in any advice on how to solve and protect against this.

    I'm guessing you should go straight to WSO Pro and let them know what's happening. Perhaps they've dealt with this type of thing before.
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  • Profile picture of the author bretski
    Originally Posted by humbledmarket View Post

    Hey Warriors,

    I just has a warrior contact me telling me that they purchased my WSO on another site:

    I'd like to know what would you suggest I do in this issue? do you think it's worth filing a DMCA?

    I am quite honestly pissed off. Also I handle my WSO via WarriorPlus so I have a whole list of all buyers and ips but how would I know which buyer to which email?

    Do you think it would help if i filed somethign with paypal.

    The thing that sucks is that their prices are lower than mine and is clearly affecting my sales. Sorry, Just fustrated lol
    Yes, I would think it would be worth filing a DCMA... and I'd remove the link from this thread if I were you. Just sayin'...
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    ***Affordable Quality Content Written For You!***
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  • Profile picture of the author Charlotte Jay
    I would send them an ultimatum of either the DMCA or give them an affiliate link to promote. That way you would at least be getting some of the profits if you can't do anything legally.
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    • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
      Been fighting this myself right now.

      Hundreds of my product have been given away for free.

      Not only that, but it's used as bait to get others to join their sites. Sad.
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      • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
        I also found a fiverr offering to get people WSO's for cheaper than their WSO listed price. So, the WSO owner looses out, and is undercut for $5....they loose a potential return customer, as well.
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        • Profile picture of the author ejb2059
          Originally Posted by x3xsolxdierx3x View Post

          I also found a fiverr offering to get people WSO's for cheaper than their WSO listed price. So, the WSO owner looses out, and is undercut for $5....they loose a potential return customer, as well.
          Wait... are you saying the "plagerists" are actually advertising / re selling on Fiverr?

          Wow.. that's ballsy eh?

          Rev
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        • Profile picture of the author Coby
          Originally Posted by x3xsolxdierx3x View Post

          I also found a fiverr offering to get people WSO's for cheaper than their WSO listed price. So, the WSO owner looses out, and is undercut for $5....they loose a potential return customer, as well.
          Wow! Did you report the gig? Thats BS right there!

          So are they sending people to your download link (the one they get from WSO Pro) or did they outright steal it and are selling it as their own?

          I use WSO PRO but I also use a service called DPD and they have a PDF stamping option that puts the customers name, email and transaction number onto each page of the pdf.

          Of course that doesn't help in this situation about figuring out who is doing this.
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          • Profile picture of the author Scott Burton
            Originally Posted by Coby View Post

            Wow! Did you report the gig? Thats BS right there!

            So are they sending people to your download link (the one they get from WSO Pro) or did they outright steal it and are selling it as their own?

            I use WSO PRO but I also use a service called DPD and they have a PDF stamping option that puts the customers name, email and transaction number onto each page of the pdf.

            Of course that doesn't help in this situation about figuring out who is doing this.

            I went to fiverr and could find a couple of gigs like that where they'll buy any WSO for $5 (which I'm sure they then use the same copy over and over if someone asks for the same WSO)

            While the pdf stamping won't cover every circumstance, it could easily lead back to who leaked a PDF to a redistributing site of any kind. Might even deter some of them, since it is stamped right on the file which transaction, some might realize, "If I post this, it has my paypal fingerprints all over it. So I might lose my paypal account over it"
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  • Profile picture of the author humbledmarket
    Banned
    You know the fustrating thing is that they use my thread as the sales page. I mean seriously if you were going to rip off my product at least don't use my support email and my thread to promote my product lol

    The funny thing is I was notified because one of his buyer was requesting support and was kind enough to inquire whether they had the right to resell it.
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    A DMCA filed to the hosting company is the quickest route to get it taken down. You can get instructions and a sample DMCA letter here

    http://domainingdiva.com/legal-issue...ipoff-artists/
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  • Profile picture of the author BIG Mike
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author humbledmarket
      Banned
      Originally Posted by x3xsolxdierx3x View Post

      I also found a fiverr offering to get people WSO's for cheaper than their WSO listed price. So, the WSO owner looses out, and is undercut for $5....they loose a potential return customer, as well.
      Wow, especially when some peopel spend days on their WSO just for others to resell it and take the profit
      Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

      A DMCA filed to the hosting company is the quickest route to get it taken down. You can get instructions and a sample DMCA letter here

      Domaining Diva » Blog Archive » What You Can Do About “Paypal Dispute Ripoff Artists”
      Thanks; emailed their support email (their contact us wasn't working but the whois details) and cced their host. Appears to be taken down now so I am relieved I don't have to take this further. Thank god
      Originally Posted by BIG Mike View Post

      Unless I missed something, it looks like that page is gone.
      Yup was just about to update; I sent an email to their host and their email found in the domain whois contact and it just got removed.

      I wonder how much sales I have losted already from that though. I am wondering if I should request for them to refund all their buyers who purchased my products from them? Would that be a reasonable thing to do; I am already satisfied my product got removed but I don't think it's fair to the buyers and to me but at the same time I don't wnat to over complicate things.
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      • Profile picture of the author bretski
        If anyone contacts you for support that didn't buy from you it will then be possible to track down who ripped your WSO... I'm not sure how you would proceed from there but chances are it was paid via paypal...???
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      • Profile picture of the author Andyhenry
        Originally Posted by humbledmarket View Post

        Wow, especially when some peopel spend days on their WSO just for others to resell it and take the profit
        Days? I've actually spent months creating something that I offered via WSO in the past before even letting my own list see it because I wanted feedback and testimonials.

        If I found it being sold cheaper somewhere else illegally I'd have flipped.
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        nothing to see here.

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    • Profile picture of the author Michael Mayo
      Originally Posted by BIG Mike View Post

      Unless I missed something, it looks like that page is gone.
      Yes it's gone although there are a couple other WSO's also listed there.
      I will PM the WSO Authors and inform them.

      Have a Great Day!
      Michael
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      • Profile picture of the author humbledmarket
        Banned
        Originally Posted by bretski View Post

        If anyone contacts you for support that didn't buy from you it will then be possible to track down who ripped your WSO... I'm not sure how you would proceed from there but chances are it was paid via paypal...???
        Haha yeh I actually had a buyer contact me inquiring whether they ahd rights to resell my product which was how I found out about the issue.

        They also appear to have an email list; and it's sad to see how many products are being ripped off.

        I find it funny how they are also violating clickbank copyright on the name?

        A lot of legal issues waiting there.
        Originally Posted by Michael Mayo View Post

        Yes it's gone although there are a couple other WSO's also listed there.
        I will PM the WSO Authors and inform them.

        Have a Great Day!
        Michael
        That's a Good idea; yes the owner took it down after an email to them requesting immediate removal along with a cc email to their host.

        That's why I like the Warrior forum community!
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  • Profile picture of the author ejb2059
    Just curious if your WSO is copyright protected? If not, you may not have a legal leg to stand on depending upon the wording of any agreements / statements

    Rev
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    • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
      Originally Posted by ejb2059 View Post

      Just curious if your WSO is copyright protected?
      What are you talking about?

      You can sell as a WSO only your own product that you created. And that means you own the copyright from the moment it has been created.

      What exactly did you mean by "copyright protected"?
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      • Profile picture of the author ejb2059
        Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

        What are you talking about?

        You can sell as a WSO only your own product that you created. And that means you own the copyright from the moment it has been created.

        What exactly did you mean by "copyright protected"?
        Not true ... If you simply create something then put it out in to public domain, it's fair game ...

        Copyright protection is not an "entitlement" and / or granted by default

        Without a legitimate, legal copyright and / or some other documented proof of ownership, how can you prove anything originated with you ..

        Any 1/2 way decent lawyer could argue that you found it somewhere else, and simply modified / re printed / re packaged it ..

        Besides, if copyright protection was just granted by default, why would anyone bother filing it in the first place?
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        • Profile picture of the author Bill Farnham
          Originally Posted by ejb2059 View Post

          Besides, if copyright protection was just granted by default, why would anyone bother filing it in the first place?
          Copyright protection is granted by default.

          Protecting your rights is a volitional action required on your part.

          You file for a registered copyright to give you greater means to defend those rights as well as increased penalties against the defending party should you prevail.

          ~Bill
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          • Profile picture of the author Devid Farah
            Unfortunately, selling a downloadable product has its drawbacks. People can clone it and sell it at a cheaper price. You can password protect it (if its a PDF),yes, and this should make the less skillful people find it harder to clone as their own. But, however they will always find,in a way or another, ways to get around it.

            Beat them with full brand! This is the best way to handle scammers.

            You just need to ensure that you brand you product well, use references back to articles on your own website and keep it current with yearly updates.

            A product with very good reputation make customers think that the product is very valuable and they would not give out to other one easily. (at least in theory).

            Devid
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          • Profile picture of the author Tony Marriott
            Originally Posted by ejb2059 View Post

            Just curious if your WSO is copyright protected? If not, you may not have a legal leg to stand on depending upon the wording of any agreements / statements

            Rev
            Originally Posted by Bill Farnham View Post

            Copyright protection is granted by default.

            Protecting your rights is a volitional action required on your part.

            You file for a registered copyright to give you greater means to defend those rights as well as increased penalties against the defending party should you prevail.

            ~Bill
            Absolutely correct. I had one of my WSO's advertised on Fiverr. I contacted fiverr and made a copyright complaint (there was actually an option somewhere on there site if I remember rightly).

            They sent me a request for proof and I gave the original sales website and date estabished, original product document with date and the fact that it had my name on it. That was accepted as proof and the the gig was pulled. Took 2 emails and about 15 minutes.
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  • Profile picture of the author xInd
    I was playing around with fiverr.com some more since I have a product pretty much finished for it... I saw several people listing that they would provide any WSO item (as well as other sites, etc) for just $5....
    Makes me consider starting up a task force, I mean at least when it comes to WF. If everyone who does release WSO's donated something silly like $1 per month, I bet it would be enough resources to make it really difficult for people to do that without getting nailed to the wall bad.
    I'll put some further thought into that, maybe if anyone is interested we could make it work as a cooperative where we donate time and collaborate on the mission....
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  • Profile picture of the author VegasGreg
    Don't forget to also contact Paypal's fraud department. I read that in another thread here. If these people are collecting payments via Paypal, Paypal will shut down their account. Then they can't collect money anymore and will help put them out of business.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Mayo
    OK, I sent PM's to each of the WSO owners informing them of their products location on the site.

    There were 11 WSOs other than the OP's listed there.

    I believe if each WSO owner sends a DMCA to the host that the site will be shut down.

    Have a Great Day!
    Michael
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    • Profile picture of the author tpw
      Originally Posted by Michael Mayo View Post

      OK, I sent PM's to each of the WSO owners informing them of their products location on the site.

      There were 11 WSOs other than the OP's listed there.

      I believe if each WSO owner sends a DMCA to the host that the site will be shut down.

      Have a Great Day!
      Michael

      The only problem is the thief is still running loose.

      He still has the ability to buy on the forum and through Warrior Plus, and he has the ability to create a new website or move the existing domain to another web hosting company.

      The domain owner has only met a hiccup in his illegal activities, and he could very well be selling our WSO products again right away at another location.
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      Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
      Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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