Entire Website Stolen

[Garrick O'Dell]

Good day all!

As some of you know, I used to have a small site called "eight" with the domain "eightlegs.org".

I kept my hosting, but not the domain, and was working on a total (and sorely needed) reworking of the entire site, including a new address.

Unfortunately, whoever bought my domain apparently (and incorrectly) felt that it entitled him or her to every page on the site, every photo, every character, table, period, and background color.

In short, he or she stole the whole deal, and put ridiculous ad space all over it.

Finding out who did it requires a subpoena to GoDaddy.com, as the person (s) who bough the domain registered through them, and they are choosing to be protective of a criminal.

I'm in the process of seeking prosecution and reward for damages, but would rather avoid the tedium. If the person responsible for this gross copyright infringement would simply step forward, plead ignorance, and remove every bit of my material, all is well and good. And no, I do not wish to be extorted in buying the domain name "eightlegs" back. Any attempt at suggesting such silliness will result in very bad things indeed- my characteristic mellow will not be so yellow.

Anyway, the registrant of the domain eightlegs.org is a live.co.uk address. I don't know the exact registrant yet, but I'll get ahold of whomever it is sooner than later. Any leads that make me less angry when I get to the violator are sincerely appreciated.

Thanks!

Garrick

[craig mcinnes]

Don't know if any of this is useful at all but it is all the info that comes up on the DMCA

Domain Info
Domain ID: D105687541-LROR
Domain Name:EIGHTLEGS.ORG
Created On:06-Feb-2005 15:21:55 UTC
Last Updated On:21-Mar-2011 13:00:56 UTC
Expiration Date:06-Feb-2012 15:21:55 UTC
Sponsoring Registrar:GoDaddy.com, Inc. (R91-LROR)
Status:CLIENT DELETE PROHIBITED
Status:CLIENT RENEW PROHIBITED
Status:CLIENT TRANSFER PROHIBITED
Status:CLIENT UPDATE PROHIBITED
Registrant ID:CR78391912
Registrant Name:Registration Private
Registrant Organization: Domains by Proxy, Inc.
Registrant Street1: DomainsByProxy.com
Registrant Street2:15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
Registrant Street3:
Registrant City:Scottsdale
Registrant State/Province:Arizona
Registrant Postal Code:85260
Registrant Country:US
Registrant Phone:+1.4806242599
Registrant Phone Ext.:
Registrant FAX:+1.4806242598
Registrant FAX Ext.:
Registrant Email:EIGHTLEGS.ORG@domainsbyproxy.com
Admin ID: CR78391914
Admin Name:Registration Private
Admin Organization: Domains by Proxy, Inc.
Admin Street1: DomainsByProxy.com
Admin Street2:15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
Admin Street3:
Admin City:Scottsdale
Admin State/Province:Arizona
Admin Postal Code:85260
Admin Country:US
Admin Phone:+1.4806242599
Admin Phone Ext.:
Admin FAX:+1.4806242598
Admin FAX Ext.:
Admin Email:EIGHTLEGS.ORG@domainsbyproxy.com
Tech ID:CR78391913
Tech Name:Registration Private
Tech Organization: Domains by Proxy, Inc.
Tech Street1: DomainsByProxy.com
Tech Street2:15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
Tech Street3:
Tech City:Scottsdale
Tech State/Province:Arizona
Tech Postal Code:85260
Tech Country:US
Tech Phone:+1.4806242599
Tech Phone Ext.:
Tech FAX:+1.4806242598
Tech FAX Ext.:
Tech Email:EIGHTLEGS.ORG@domainsbyproxy.com
Name Server:NS1111.WEBSITEWELCOME.COM
Name Server:NS1112.WEBSITEWELCOME.COM
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
Name Server:
DNSSEC:Unsigned

%rwhois V-1.5:003eff:00 whois.theplanet.com (by Network Solutions, Inc. V-1.5.9.5)
network:Class-Name:network
network:ID:NETBLK-THEPLANET-BLK-16
network:Auth-Area:174.120.0.0/14
network:Network-Name:TPIS-BLK-174-121-0-0
network:IP-Network:174.121.0.192/27
network:IP-Network-Block:174.121.0.192 - 174.121.0.223
network:Organization-Name:WebsiteWelcome
network:Organization-City:Boca Raton
network:Organization-State:FL
network:Organization-Zip:33496
network:Organization-Country:USA
network: Description-Usage:customer
network:Server-Pri:ns1.theplanet.com
network:Server-Sec:ns2.theplanet.com
network:Tech-Contact;I:abuse@theplanet.com
network:Admin-Contact;I:abuse@theplanet.com
network:Created:20091223
network:Updated:20091223

%ok
RESULTSET-2
NetRange: 174.120.0.0 - 174.123.255.255
CIDR: 174.120.0.0/14
OriginAS: AS36420, AS30315, AS13749, AS21844
NetName: NETBLK-THEPLANET-BLK-16
NetHandle: NET-174-120-0-0-1
Parent: NET-174-0-0-0-0
NetType: Direct Allocation
RegDate: 2009-03-23
Updated: 2009-03-23
Ref: http://whois.arin.net/rest/net/NET-174-120-0-0-1

OrgName: ThePlanet.com Internet Services, Inc.
OrgId: TPCM
Address: 315 Capitol
Address: Suite 205
City: Houston
StateProv: TX
PostalCode: 77002
Country: US
RegDate: 1999-08-31
Updated: 2010-10-13
Ref: http://whois.arin.net/rest/org/TPCM

ReferralServer: rwhois://rwhois.theplanet.com:4321

OrgTechHandle: TECHN33-ARIN
OrgTechName: Technical Support
OrgTechPhone: +1-214-782-7800
OrgTechEmail: admins@theplanet.com
OrgTechRef: http://whois.arin.net/rest/poc/TECHN33-ARIN

OrgNOCHandle: THEPL-ARIN
OrgNOCName: The Planet NOC
OrgNOCPhone: +1-281-822-4204
OrgNOCEmail: noc@theplanet.com
OrgNOCRef: http://whois.arin.net/rest/poc/THEPL-ARIN

OrgAbuseHandle: ABUSE271-ARIN
OrgAbuseName: The Planet Abuse
OrgAbusePhone: +1-281-714-3560
OrgAbuseEmail: abuse@theplanet.com
OrgAbuseRef: http://whois.arin.net/rest/poc/ABUSE271-ARIN

RTechHandle: TECHN33-ARIN
RTechName: Technical Support
RTechPhone: +1-214-782-7800
RTechEmail: admins@theplanet.com
RTechRef: http://whois.arin.net/rest/poc/TECHN33-ARIN

RAbuseHandle: ABUSE271-ARIN
RAbuseName: The Planet Abuse
RAbusePhone: +1-281-714-3560
RAbuseEmail: abuse@theplanet.com
RAbuseRef: http://whois.arin.net/rest/poc/ABUSE271-ARIN

RNOCHandle: THEPL-ARIN
RNOCName: The Planet NOC
RNOCPhone: +1-281-822-4204
RNOCEmail: noc@theplanet.com
RNOCRef: http://whois.arin.net/rest/poc/THEPL-ARIN

[Colin D Wilson]

Sorry you're having such a problem Garrick...

Was going to have a look around for info that you could use but Craigs beaten me to it (on the ball as usual )

Keep us informed with any updates if you don't mind ...

The thread will keep to the specifics and won't go off track so don't worry .... it'll be watched !.

Good luck..

[Nicola Dolby]

Hi Garrick, if the new domain owner is based in Arizona (If I read the address correctly) couldn't the American Tarantula Association help at all?

[Garrick]

Thanks for the help, mates.


GoDaddy was who Thomas Walker (of North Shields, UK), the person who stole my stuff, registered the doamin. He hosted it on Hostgator.

Hostgator was cooperative with taking the site down. . .eventually. It was a bit of a hassle. Google took their AdSense stuff away immediately. GoDaddy was extremely uncooperative regarding any information (not a surprise).

Anyway, I have no choice but to go to court and sue for damages, court costs and attorneys' fees. The individual who stole my stuff (hundreds of photos, miles of text, all the layout, etc.), Thomas Walker of the UK, actually has the gall to contest HostGator's removal! He seriously sent them a signed letter claiming that he didn't steal it. Many of the pics have my own hand in them, and there are images of stuff in my house in some backgrounds!

So, it's hi ho hi ho- off to court we go. Getting damages off someone in another country (I'm in the USA) may be kind of a hassle, but there is absolutely NO WAY I will let this person slide without paying at this point. He may repeat this illegality with others if I let it lie.

I want my case to be solid and for this guy to get nailed to the wall, not only for myself, but anyone else who has to deal with thieves like this Thomas Walker person, especially considering his audacity. I have scads of evidence, but we plan to come in way overgunned. If you'd like to help, email me at garrickodell@juno.com with evidence of any interaction you've had with me as owner/creator of eight- A Site about Tarantulas in past years. Some lucky winners may get to submit a deposition to the court! Yay!

Thanks,

Garrick

[ralfkonen]

Hi Garrick
will you move your stuff to another website? Sorry if that is a daft question, I'm not very internet - literate.
Its only: I did like your site

[Garrick]

Yeah, eventually it will be updated and public. What I haven't uploaded has scads more info an features, etc., and I've still got along way to go That's why it took it down- to make it more useful.

However, this Thomas Walker guy definitely put a huge delay in the process. The tedium of setting up for the lawsuit is taking up the spare time I had to work on the site

[ralfkonen]

Well, hope it all turns out well for you. Your efforts and work with your website are greatly appreciated. Cheers Garrick