|
RULES - Before you fight back you need to be prepared to do it honestly.
A- Don't use a fake name. Threats from "WebmastaDude" are worthless threats. Use your real name.
B- Do not make threats that include physical harm. Never say "I'll beat your ass" but do say "If I have to sue you it will wreck your credit and you'll have to be paying me off for years. You don't want that to happen do you?"
C- Don't say anything you can't back up. Don't say you have proof if you don't and don't threaten to sue unless you are prepared to sue.
D- Don't try to teach them the law or argue any points of law with them. If they say "You have to send me a DMCA notice first" do not yell back. Calmly say that they may wish to go hire a lawyer to confirm that (and maybe send link to the full DMCA so they can read and learn).
E- Be happy for them to get a lawyer. Every single time a guy got a lawyer in my 5 years fighting this stuff the case was settled within 30 days. The lawyer tells the client how stupid he was, how his buddies online at KK lied when they said it was OK, how the award can be up to $150,000 per violation, and how the settlement best be done soon.
F- Never break the law yourself chasing them or you just become them.
G- Never tell them how you found them or talk about your methods in public. Pirates talk to pirates and your tracing methods will be less affective if you let them out.
H- Always let them talk and have their say. That means do not lose your temper and cut them off every three words. Two reasons for this - some pirates will give you more information to use against them. Others will be sorry and offer a settlement real fast to protect themselves from embarrassment and hassles at home (wife, parents, employer).
I- Be Honest, at least in public. That means, use your real name, business name and contact information, but also be honest when writing about them or to them. More on that "about them" part below.
J- Its a business. Write letters on letterhead and make sure they read and sound professional. Duh - grammar and spell check!
SIDEBAR: Letters, on paper and sent by certified mail, are much more powerful. Don't be lazy and send an email in all lowercase letters.
K- Do Not Fight The Detractors. That means when guys use those anonymous email accounts or forum posts to call you names like, "copyright troll" and all that silliness, don't fight back - take pride in it. Its means you are winning. If they have to resort to child like name calling rather than a business discussion - you are winning.
L- Don't ever believe what they tell you. They always lie - at least on the first contact, phone call, letter, etc. "It wasn't me", "I have open WiFi", "it was my brother", "It was my minor son and you can't sue him" and on and on.
|