Are there any rules against blatantly copying another forum?

[Scourge]

Recently some users on our Sith Lords forum at

http://thedarksithlords.myfreeforum.org/

Made a forum that duplicates much of our structure and even copied many posts verbatim (even when in some cases the posts made no sense without the context in which they were originally posted), at:

http://thedarksithlord.myfreeforum.org/

I did not see any terms of service that they are obviously breaking, so I am wondering whether this kind of behavior is allowed.

many thanks.

[admin (no pm's please)]

Copying may involve copyright violations, if they have copied users posts without consent.

You can ask them to remove such posts, and document the breaches here, and if they blatantly refuse to comply with someones clear request to remove a copy of their post, then we would then have grounds to suspend a forum.

Note though that splits in forums do happen, we are not looking to find a stick to beat anyone with here. We are impartial.
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[Scourge]

And I'm simply looking for an answer, not asking you to beat them.

I will let them know to remove the posts that are verbatim quotes of mine, and to remove the rank pics they stole from our forum. If they do not comply, I'll come back.

thanks again.

[Guest]

Okay, I have given them an appropriate warning, since it is my writings and pictures they stole:

http://thedarksithlord.myfreeforum.org/sutra24.php#24

Examples of posts they have copied directly:

http://thedarksithlords.myfreeforum.org/ftopic248.php
http://thedarksithlord.myfreeforum.org/ftopic3.php

http://thedarksithlords.myfreeforum.org/ftopic462.php
http://thedarksithlord.myfreeforum.org/ftopic4.php

http://thedarksithlords.myfreeforum.org/ftopic184.php
http://thedarksithlord.myfreeforum.org/ftopic10.php

and of course, I can't exactly claim copyright for a picture that uses the image of Darth Maul, but I created the rank pic of:

http://thedarksithlords.myfreefor.../images/ranks/SithMaster-rank.jpg
http://thedarksithlord.myfreeforu...rum.org/7399351843f3aaaba7ba0.jpg

What is an appropriate amount of time to allow them to remove our material from their site?

[admin (no pm's please)]

Seems pretty blatant. The criteria is really has their admin seen the posts and had time to sensibly react?
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[Scourge]

The Admin is the one who made the posts.

[Viper]

This however is incorrect:

[Viper]

This however is incorrect:

[admin (no pm's please)]

[admin (no pm's please)]

[Scourge]

Okay, I had thought it was US, sorry for the mistake - if I could edit the post on their board, I would.

As soon as I see some indication that the admin has seen the complaint, I'll let you know.

Thanks for both clarifications.

[admin (no pm's please)]

[Scourge]

Sheesh... so my first post was technically accurate, just missing relevant information - since the servers are hosted in the US, they do comply with US law.

I don't think it's worth confusing the matter further, as the point has been made on the knock-off forum.

Thanks once more - I agree with another post I saw here, that how responsive (and level-headed) you are with issues is pretty impressive.

-Scourge

[admin (no pm's please)]

[Scourge]

The post I made that stolen material needs to be removed has been deleted.

The stolen material remains.

Thanks for all of your help in this.

-Scourge