20 replies
Recently, I discovered that one of my affiliates has uploaded my product to his WP Blog.

I discovered this because his site was listed in a Google search for my product:
For example: [PDF]http://his-site.com/wp-content/upload/2013/01/name-of-my-product.pdf.

I've tried an insite search for my product - to see if I could locate a post or page that mentioned it, but nothing apart from the upload folder appears. I suppose this could mean that he hasn't created a sales page or if he has created a sales page - it's an image/graphic format.

Last month, his sales were down to almost zero but previous to that he was consistently achieving approx 20+ sales each month. (for the previous 4/5 months).

I'm struggling to come up with a legitimate reason for uploading my product to his website apart for he's decided to pirate the product and sell it direct to subscribers etc. NOTE: I know that it's not life-changing amounts BUT it's principle.

This really puzzles me because he appears to be a honest guy (with a young family - if the photos on his blog are genuine) and I gave him a higher affiliate commission rate - 75% instead of 50%, on a $20 product). So, although I don't make that much of the product, he would be robbing me of the opportunity to build a list as well.

I'm I being paranoid? Are there good reasons for uploading my product that I've not considered?

And if you don't think that I am being paranoid, how would you resolve this situation?
#blackhat #dmca #piracy
  • Profile picture of the author Devin X
    Banned
    Originally Posted by ginnysclub1 View Post

    I'm I being paranoid? Are there good reasons for uploading my product that I've not considered?

    And if you don't think that I am being paranoid, how would you resolve this situation?
    No you're not being paranoid. I'd contact him and find out what compelled him to do this. It IS piracy, but maybe he's got a good reason for it...most likely, he doesn't. Hope this helps.
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  • Profile picture of the author MartinPlatt
    Can you ask him why he did it??

    Maybe there's a perfectly plausible reason for it? Maybe also if he is doing something illegal, then he will stop when he knows you're onto him?

    I'd ask him in the following sort of way:

    Hey John,

    I noticed recently your sales have dropped from 20+ per month down to zero, and I was wondering if everything is okay. Can I help you with anything to get things back on track?
    I also noticed that your site is indexed in Google with the pdf of my product, and wondered what had happened?

    Please contact me at bob.myskypeaddress so we can discuss.

    Thanks,

    Bob.

    Go in softly, don't smack 'em over the head or throw around accusations, as it might be completely innocent.
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    Martin Platt
    martin-platt.com

    Stuck with earning commissions online? Get this get this uncensored affiliate marketing guide for free (sold as coaching for $4,997)

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    • Profile picture of the author ginnysclub1
      Originally Posted by MartinPlatt View Post

      Can you ask him why he did it??

      Hey John,

      I noticed recently your sales have dropped from 20+ per month down to zero, and I was wondering if everything is okay. Can I help you with anything to get things back on track?
      How did you know his name was John! LOL

      Joking aside, thanks for the advice.
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      • Profile picture of the author BamaGuy
        Originally Posted by ginnysclub1 View Post

        How did you know his name was John! LOL

        Joking aside, thanks for the advice.

        Because Martin bought your product from him for $5 on Fiverr!
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        Affiliate templates are not allowed in signatures

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  • Profile picture of the author BamaGuy
    I don't think you are being paranoid because things like this do happen. I am just surprised that he wasn’t smart enough to at least change the name of the product.
    Don’t let the fact that he has a young family stand in the way of finding out what his intentions were.

    I would just email him and maybe 1) Tell him you notice his sales have been down and wondering if there is anything you can do to help him out. See what his response is. Or 2) Tell him you noticed a search for your product returned a link to his website and you would like to verify that your product is not being sold or used without your permission.

    If his is not doing anything unethical, you will probably get a response but may lose him as an affiliate because he is offended. But, if he is truly stealing your product, then you don’t need him as an affiliate anyway.
    Signature

    Affiliate templates are not allowed in signatures

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    • Profile picture of the author ginnysclub1
      Originally Posted by BamaGuy View Post

      I don't think you are being paranoid because things like this do happen. I am just surprised that he wasn't smart enough to at least change the name of the product.
      That's one of the reasons, I'm thinking there might be some other reason I've not considered yet.
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  • Profile picture of the author WillR
    I also found someone who had done the exact same thing with one of my products. They had uploaded all the files and folders on to one of their websites. They were not selling it, it just appears they were maybe storing the product on their domain for personal use. I still had to contact him and have it taken down because pdf's do get indexed by search engines.
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    • Profile picture of the author ginnysclub1
      Originally Posted by WillR View Post

      I also found someone who had done the exact same thing with one of my products. They had uploaded all the files and folders on to one of their websites. They were not selling it, it just appears they were maybe storing the product on their domain for personal use. I still had to contact him and have it taken down because pdf's do get indexed by search engines.
      As a matter of interest, how did you know conclusively that he wasn't selling your product?
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      • Profile picture of the author WillR
        Originally Posted by ginnysclub1 View Post

        As a matter of interest, how did you know conclusively that he wasn't selling your product?
        Well I guess I didn't. Buy I searched for the url and couldn't find any evidence of it. I contacted the person and asked them to remove the content. I got no response so contacted them a second time. After a few weeks of no response I gave up and went directly to their webhost with a DCMA notice and had the domain shut down. I gave them more than enough of a chance to remove it but they didn't feel the need to respond so I was left with no other option.
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        • Profile picture of the author ginnysclub1
          Originally Posted by WillR View Post

          Well I guess I didn't. Buy I searched for the url and couldn't find any evidence of it. I contacted the person and asked them to remove the content. I got no response so contacted them a second time. After a few weeks of no response I gave up and went directly to their webhost with a DCMA notice and had the domain shut down. I gave them more than enough of a chance to remove it but they didn't feel the need to respond so I was left with no other option.
          From your answer I get the idea that you really gave them the 'benefit of doubt'. And just like you, I hope that it don't come to DCMA, etc.
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    • Profile picture of the author ginnysclub1
      Originally Posted by WillR View Post

      They were not selling it, it just appears they were maybe storing the product on their domain for personal use. I still had to contact him and have it taken down because pdf's do get indexed by search engines.
      And this is another valid point that I have considered, because I personally considered doing this before using Dropbox.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rob Maggs
    I Think like other warriors mentioned, he was just storing the file, I've done that myself in the past before dropbox, but he should have ensured he had protected the area and prevented indexing by the search engines.
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  • Profile picture of the author dkla27
    Sorry for getting a little out of topic but smoke started coming out of my robots head when she saw the poll question(S) and tried to answer it :

    I'm I being paranoid? Is this piracy?
    Yes/No
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    He could be selling it via a list or fiverr without having a sales page. I'd contact him and ask him to remove it, especially since it seems he is not promoting it for you any longer.
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Um................so where does the link go to? Does it go to his paypal or yours?
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    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
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    • Profile picture of the author ginnysclub1
      The link is to the product - it showed up in a Google search.


      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      Um................so where does the link go to? Does it go to his paypal or yours?
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  • Profile picture of the author kindsvater
    Since the product is showing up in a Google search it should be taken down.

    I have never heard of "storing" a product by uploading it to WordPress and likely linking to it so Google would find it. But I suppose that could happen if one is not using FTP.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jack Gordon
    There is a simple way of confirming your suspicions.

    Have you considered trying to buy the product from him using an alias and an address he doesn't know goes back to you?

    If he sells it to you outside of your affiliate tracking, you got him.

    If he doesn't, then you can gently confront him about the sales & uploads.
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  • Profile picture of the author KuhNoodle
    Yea he's stealing from you, you're going to want to get him to stop. And trying to buy your own product from him would be awesome. Grab hum by the balls once you've got him it's over.
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    • Profile picture of the author ginnysclub1
      Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

      He could be selling it via a list or fiverr without having a sales page. I'd contact him and ask him to remove it, especially since it seems he is not promoting it for you any longer.
      Originally Posted by rocket2uranus View Post

      There is a simple way of confirming your suspicions.

      Have you considered trying to buy the product from him using an alias and an address he doesn't know goes back to you?

      If he sells it to you outside of your affiliate tracking, you got him.

      If he doesn't, then you can gently confront him about the sales & uploads.
      I couldn't find it on Fiverr and I agree with sbucciarel that's if it is being sold illegally, he is probably selling via email and even more than likely it is probably being offered as a FREE or paid bonus for another product.
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