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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Chicago IL
    Posts
    117

    Default Website Content Thief: Fellow Inspector!

    I met a fellow home inspector who lives in my area while we were both out of town at an Resnet certification class. Seemed like a good guy and we got along well despite having polar opposed political views. But hey, we liberals can get along with anybody!

    Anyway, our little 3 man company sent him some mold work (he does testing and remediation while we try to stay away from it) and had a pleasant professional relationship. We belong to a loose consortium of inspectors who meet once every other month to jaw-jack at a local restaurant. I made sure to invite him along and introduced him to the other inspectors. Really chummy-like.

    Well, lo and behold my partner stumbled on his newly built website and he has stolen our website wording verbatim! I politely and jokingly brought it to his attention and he said he'd have his buddy who designed the website fix it. 3 months later he still hadn't done anything so I thanked him for the flattery and again politely requested he get his own wording on his site. He said he was busy and would get to it post-haste. Now it's another 3 months and he still has the stolen verbiage on his site. I sent him an email calling him everything but a child of God and bid him a fond adieu.

    His name is Larry Robbins and he runs Veteran Home Inspection out of Elmhurst IL. A true dirt bag he turned out to be. Take a look...

    Veterans Home Inspection

    :: Chicago Home Inspectors :: Independent Certified Licensed :: Energy Audits :: Moisture Intrusion Inspections ::

    I just had to pitch my little beeyotch and get it off my chest.

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    Dan Cullen
    www.domicileconsulting.com
    Chicago IL

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    so so, California
    Posts
    1,867

    Default Re: Website Content Thief: Fellow Inspector!

    Probly a right winger getting you back..


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Knoxville, TN
    Posts
    2,560

    Default Re: Website Content Thief: Fellow Inspector!

    About 10 years ago I had a guy copy one of the pages in my brochure that included a graphic that I had drawn, along with my copy. I was working on an expert witness case and the attorney sent him a letter and didn't even charge me. It was a cease and desist and told him to get all of his brochures out of Real Estate offices.

    This was after I had called him and asked him why he stole my stuff, and he just laughed it off.


  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Lake Barrington, IL
    Posts
    1,367

    Default Re: Website Content Thief: Fellow Inspector!

    I'm having a monthly dinner with some inspectors in Elmhurst tonight - I'll pass this on.

    Eric Barker, ACI
    Lake Barrington, IL

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Spring City/Surrounding Philadelphia area
    Posts
    3,509

    Default Re: Website Content Thief: Fellow Inspector!

    As much as it sucks, I don't think you have much recourse to make him change anything unless you're site is copyrighted (does that even exist for websites?). You could do what Jack did and see if you can get an attorney to send him a letter.

    "It takes a big man to cry. It takes an even bigger man to laugh at that man". - Jack Handey

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Columbus GA
    Posts
    3,747

    Default Re: Website Content Thief: Fellow Inspector!

    I don't think you have much recourse to make him change anything unless you're site is copyrighted (does that even exist for websites?).

    Yes, websites can and are protected by copyright laws.
    It's not even required to put a copyright notice on it.
    Have you ever seen a copyright notice on a painting, or heard one on the radio?

    ' correct a wise man and you gain a friend... correct a fool and he'll bloody your nose'.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Chicago IL
    Posts
    2,048

    Default Re: Website Content Thief: Fellow Inspector!

    Gotta watch out for those guys from the Burbs, excluding Eric of course.
    Was he at Gale st. I don't remember meeting him. Our calendar of taking guys out into the parking lot seems to be filling up.

    www.aic-chicago.com
    773/844-4AIC
    "The Code is not a ceiling to reach but a floor to work up from"

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    2,797

    Default Re: Website Content Thief: Fellow Inspector!

    Dan,

    Assuming that site is hosted on a US based server, You need to send a DMCA Takedown Notice. The linked article is about photos, but the DMCA applies to all on-line material.

    Inclued the two links in your post to demonstrate the plagiarism.

    If the site owner does not comply, the ISP will shut down the site as otherwise the ISP becomes liable for the infringement.

    Note that your site's content does NOT have to be registered with the Copyright Office to receive this protection.

    If the the host is outside US, you are pretty much out of luck.

    Last edited by Michael Thomas; 03-07-2011 at 09:27 AM.
    Michael Thomas
    Paragon Property Services Inc., Chicago IL
    http://paragoninspects.com

  9. #9
    Ron Bibler's Avatar
    Ron Bibler Guest

    Default Re: Website Content Thief: Fellow Inspector!

    Dan I think you just gave this guy a big black eye... If you GOOGLE his name this is what comes up first page on Google...

    Website Content Thief: Fellow Inspector! - InspectionNews - Home ... His name is Larry Robbins and he runs Veteran Home Inspection out of Elmhurst IL. A true dirt bag he turned out to be. Take a look. ...
    http://www.inspectionnews.net/...ins...inspector.html


    Ouch! Thats going to stick with him for some time...

    The more this is talk about on InspectionNews the more GOOGLE Will post...

    Dude: Larry you have a problem

    Best

    Ron


  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    so so, California
    Posts
    1,867

    Default Re: Website Content Thief: Fellow Inspector!

    I wonder if he knows stealing content lowers your Google rankings?


  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Spring Hill (Nashville), TN
    Posts
    5,851

    Default Re: Website Content Thief: Fellow Inspector!

    Quote Originally Posted by Dan Cullen View Post
    I met a fellow home inspector who lives in my area while we were both out of town at an Resnet certification class. Seemed like a good guy and we got along well despite having polar opposed political views. But hey, we liberals can get along with anybody!

    Anyway, our little 3 man company sent him some mold work (he does testing and remediation while we try to stay away from it) and had a pleasant professional relationship. We belong to a loose consortium of inspectors who meet once every other month to jaw-jack at a local restaurant. I made sure to invite him along and introduced him to the other inspectors. Really chummy-like.

    Well, lo and behold my partner stumbled on his newly built website and he has stolen our website wording verbatim! I politely and jokingly brought it to his attention and he said he'd have his buddy who designed the website fix it. 3 months later he still hadn't done anything so I thanked him for the flattery and again politely requested he get his own wording on his site. He said he was busy and would get to it post-haste. Now it's another 3 months and he still has the stolen verbiage on his site. I sent him an email calling him everything but a child of God and bid him a fond adieu.

    His name is Larry Robbins and he runs Veteran Home Inspection out of Elmhurst IL. A true dirt bag he turned out to be. Take a look...

    Veterans Home Inspection

    :: Chicago Home Inspectors :: Independent Certified Licensed :: Energy Audits :: Moisture Intrusion Inspections ::

    I just had to pitch my little beeyotch and get it off my chest.
    So you are saying that Larry Robbins of Veteran Home Inspections has plagiarized or stolen content from you! My word, if a person will do this I don't think I would trust him to inspect my home. Now this is just me, but I'm sure others will agree....

    Heck, last time I checked about 19 other websites had taken parts of my website and p;ace it on theirs!

    Scott Patterson, ACI
    Spring Hill, TN
    www.traceinspections.com

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Chicago IL
    Posts
    117

    Default Re: Website Content Thief: Fellow Inspector!

    Quote Originally Posted by Eric Barker View Post
    I'm having a monthly dinner with some inspectors in Elmhurst tonight - I'll pass this on.

    Hi Eric,

    Thanks! By the way, we have a little inspector confab on the first Monday of every even month at a little restaurant on the NW side of Chicago. You're most welcome to stop by next month.

    Dan

    Dan Cullen
    www.domicileconsulting.com
    Chicago IL

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Chicago IL
    Posts
    117

    Default Re: Website Content Thief: Fellow Inspector!

    Thanks to all! Mike Thomas... as usual, you have the straight dope!

    Much obliged to all.

    Dan

    Dan Cullen
    www.domicileconsulting.com
    Chicago IL

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Chicago IL
    Posts
    117

    Default Re: Website Content Thief: Fellow Inspector!

    Well, my buddy Larry appears to be trying to straighten it all out. Thanks again for your help. I just got this email from him.

    Dan
    I can send you the emails I have sent the guy who set it up . I do not have the access to shut it down as he had all the info set up on the account he set up . Yes I just accessed the web site and have contacted go-daddy and they will not give me access to the passwords to shut it down. I am working on it and apologize to you .

    Like a good liberal I forgive him absolutely!

    Dan

    Dan Cullen
    www.domicileconsulting.com
    Chicago IL

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Spring City/Surrounding Philadelphia area
    Posts
    3,509

    Default Re: Website Content Thief: Fellow Inspector!

    Dan, don't let up on him until he actually makes the changes to his site. He's fed you a line in the past to get you off his back.

    There was an inspector in my area a few years ago who had the names of a few inspection companies that rank high in the search engines plugged into the HTML page of his website. I guess he thought inserting other company names into his site code would raise his ranking. My company name was in there as was another member of this board. I badgered the hell out of that guy until he got my company name off his site code.

    "It takes a big man to cry. It takes an even bigger man to laugh at that man". - Jack Handey

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    ILLinois
    Posts
    1

    Default Re: Website Content Thief: Fellow Inspector!

    So the guy is doing his best to get this straighten but you still complain about it. Typical liberal!
    At any rate here is a word of advice. If Larry Robbins is using the contant of your website than you have nothing to loose but only to gain from it. The guy is flawless, he has an excellent reputation and you might get some business by association. So be a big boy about it, pull your pants up and stop winning about it like a typical liberal. No harm has come your way.


  17. #17
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Spring Hill (Nashville), TN
    Posts
    5,851

    Default Re: Website Content Thief: Fellow Inspector!

    Quote Originally Posted by Dana Raducan View Post
    So the guy is doing his best to get this straighten but you still complain about it. Typical liberal!
    At any rate here is a word of advice. If Larry Robbins is using the contant of your website than you have nothing to loose but only to gain from it. The guy is flawless, he has an excellent reputation and you might get some business by association. So be a big boy about it, pull your pants up and stop winning about it like a typical liberal. No harm has come your way.
    Uhh Dana, this thread is from 2011.....

    Scott Patterson, ACI
    Spring Hill, TN
    www.traceinspections.com

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Spring City/Surrounding Philadelphia area
    Posts
    3,509

    Default Re: Website Content Thief: Fellow Inspector!

    And what's with the liberal labels? What does that have to do with anything?

    "It takes a big man to cry. It takes an even bigger man to laugh at that man". - Jack Handey

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Oregon
    Posts
    2,365

    Default Re: Website Content Thief: Fellow Inspector!

    A local competitor has taken a couple of pages from my site and is so careless he left my company name in the body of the text!! Funny to think the guy is trying to make a living by noticing things

    If I ever get around to it I figure I'll spend the $8 and register his company name + "is a plagarist" .com and see if I can convince him to reconsider.

    Luckily for him I've barely had time to take a leak lately.


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