To all sponsors a quick question
 

Would you cancel someones account and keep the money while letting the traffic that they were producing still flow into your sites just because Steve Easton told you they were a copyright violator?

Ouch.

That sucks just thinking about it.

In the last few weeks CE, ARS and SIC have all done it. No sworn statements from the copyright holders, just Eastons word, no 24 hour notice of non compliance recieved by the hosting company. Plus no redirect of the alledged violators traffic to a non profitable source.

Only person that complied to the DMCA was Lensman.

The traffic isn't really a violation.

Who would turn that traffic away?

The sponsor prolly feels they have taken a loss so they feel justified in using the traffic.

I understand why they do it, doesn't mean it doesn't suck I guess.

The APIC thing just a BIG argument from all sides.

the sponsor has to legally redirect the traffic to a non profitbale source according to the DMCA

Maybe, as soon as i was done skullfucking Steve

Ouch! No shit?

Ah well then... the floor is yours.

*bowl*

A high court judge in the UK verified that SIC, CE and ARS were still allowing traffic from an account that was cancelled go to there sites which is a direct infringement on the DMCA act. It can result in a restriction of trade ruling within the European Union and the Common Wealth. Basically they could end up not being able to accept customers (sign ups) from any country within this area. Also they would not be allowed to operate dialers within these countries.

I kinda find it hard to believe that a sponsor would act only on Steve Easton's notice. The fact that he can pull this means he has some power and can easily abuse it with anyone he doesn't like for any reason. Proof should be provided...
Could it be that those sponsors are afraid that he might shut them down if they don't comply?

If so it's scary shit

It wont be scary anymore. Unless you are Steve Easton or any sponsor that complies with his demands.

scary for the webmasters who "infringe" on Easton's internet kingdom

scary for the webmasters who are unfortunate as to be one of his many "civilian casualties"

Scary for the community that someone could have that much power that only from an e-mail he could shut down anyone.

We have had him contact us about webmasters (just this week) and we did not kill the webmasters account. We gave the webmaster time to either prove he owns the content or pull his links from the page with the violation. Either way the webmaster kept his account and Steve got a nice fuck you letter back.

Protecting intellectual property of copyright holders? Cool.
High-handed strongarm tactics and exploitation of your position? Not cool.
Sum total: I don't like it.

Sometimes, it is nice to see things in black and white.

I only screw people on my say so. not anyone elses.
If there is a copyright infringment, its not up to the program operator, its up to the copyright holder, the webmaster, and his host.

I hit the delete key on these type of letters.:glugglug

Exactly, I've seen wayyyy to many people that have been falsely accused by APIC to hold them as credible source of anything.

A good webmaster is a program's most important asset and to take the word of a group that has made as many blunders as those guys would give you idea of how much those programs value you...;)

Shame SIC, ARS and CE dont think that way...well atleast at 3.30 GMT they werent.

In my opinion we need a body for copyright control and I reckon through a simple script and the co-operation of the tgps and link sites it can be done.

Krome... Did this happen to you? Or is this someone else's woe you are sharing with us? Just realized I wasn't sure from the way you posted this.

OK I had four accounts canned for using content which I shot. There was not had much money involed so I just thought fuck it let it go. Then 3 of my mates have been canned over the past month so I thought fuck it lets see what we can do. I used to work in the record industry so asked a copyright specialist to lok into the DMCA. The reason we are doing what we are doing is because of his findings. The idea is to kill Apics revenue then go for the throat.

Damn that sucks and I'm sure you and your friends are not the only.

You got APIC letters on your own content? Stuff you shot, and have the rights to?

Krome,
I'd be sure, very sure, I had my facts in order.

I like you, you know I do, but my opinion on this matter is you are either lying or have been mislead. I would like to think mislead.

Of course if you want to sue me for it, by all means do, since you seem to think you are going to anyway, what's one more thing to put on a piece of paper.

I gave you the chance to back out gracefully, but you don't want to.

Kimmy you and I love each other, a fact most people know by now...:Graucho :Graucho but you can not kill people accounts just on Steve Eastons word. You have to have the proper paper work. Even then you can not keep the money and you have to redirect the traffic. That is the law.

Krome,
Is there a reason I have to say everything in icq and on this board to you now?

Pay attention ok? ;)

Accounts with SIC Cash are terminated for fraud and TOS violations.

Now I am not saying your friends account isn't terminated, I don't know who your friend is at this point.

But the fact remains that accounts with SIC Cash are terminated for fraud and TOS violations.

I am not going to let it go..I do not want CE, ARS or SIC..I want Easton. The only way I can view it being done is like I have been saying get people not using him, a professional body set up which does not act like Steve Easton and his wannabe spagetti gangsters would benefit all of us. A simple script could cut out 90% of all copyright theft in one go...

Look dingbat, get with the program.

You don't have anything to go after SIC for, how many times is this going to take.

I am going to start cutting and pasting lol.

I do appreciate the fact that you are promoting my program for me and I really don't care that you accused us of doing this. But stop acting silly now.

I told you I just want people to stop giving APIC money. When they stop we can take full legal action against Steve and get rid of him.