So, what exactly is going on? In non-geek terms?

I don't quite get how katanafx is being such a big jerk. He credited specklet (a link would have been better) and those pictures are not generally hers originally. What am I missing?

Have you read the entire reddit thread?

Hemmy.net is a spamblog. They do nothing but rehost other peoples work and make money off of it from copious ad serving.

If you look through katanafx's user history on reddit, every post is to hemmy.net.

Specklet doesn't profit from her collection on flickr.

In thread he's a totally dismissive prick, and when specklet actually shows up to ask him to remove it, he ignores her and basically vanishes from the thread.

It's a small crime, but one of pure asshole-ishness. I want him down.

What am I missing?

The ad revenue part.

CHARGE!

OK, now my laptop is powered up can someone tell me what we're doing?

Just skimmed it, and no I haven't checked out hemmy.net or his reddit history. I did see him being a jerk about removing the photos when asked to by specklet.

A DOS attack or DMCA takedown don't seem like optimal solutions though.

On preview, ah yes...money is the root of all evil. No, that's not sarcasm.

Awww, my loquacious, you're my champion!

I'd say we just hunt him down and poke him with a really big finger.

"Die in a fire" is pretty rough. Sure, I talk about burning my dick off with a blowtorch all the time, but that fire's somehow contained. Burning to death? Ugly.

Comment from reddit:

shanem 13 points 1 day ago*
Hemmy is profiting off of this other person's work.

Oddly, although my middle name is Michael, I didn't post that comment.

I really loathe these content-stealing sites.

A denial of service attack is, of course, out of the question. It's illegal. And I don't pwn any zombie botnets.

DMCA notices are suboptimal and they make me feel icky. But if it works, well... what else is the DMCA for except for shit like this?

Specklet, DMCA = Digital Millennium Copyright Act. It works only on servers in the US, or stupid people outside of the US. It's that icky set of laws that has caused all kinds of problems for real and valid "fair use" cases.

We need valid server data, and the "whois" lookup for hemmy.net points to a "privacy protection domain aggregator" which shields the actual contact info. These services are quasi-legal and a favored tool of spammers, marketers and other questionable hosts.

That said, if this was just some kid making image macros or writing a report or something we wouldn't even be having this conversation.

I certainly hope I am never on the receiving end of loquacious' BURNING NERD ANGER.

If I find out this is a viral ad for reddit.com, you two are in trouble.

I'm just glad loq works for us.

No kidding, Atom Eyes!

Someone on Flickr heeded my plea to ask Hemmy.net to take down the pics: I emailed the webhost of www.hemmy.net requesting the removal of the tiny animals on fingers page and I will inform you with what the respond with. Hopefully the web host will take them down.

i'm all frothy with anger at this unconscionable injustice!!

*flexes pasty white arms, wipes doritos flakes off pants*

Not to say that I don't see Speck and loq's points, but I don't get why this is so terrible. He credited Speck - he may be an ass in the thread, but he did credit, right (or did he not credit until he was called on it)? Boing boing posted them, and they make money from their site too. Other blogs linked them and used the photos. What's the difference? I'm not being snarky, swear. Is it because he posted so many of them? Wha huh?

Signed, clueless in PA

BECAUSE HE SMELLS WRONG. HE'S FROM THE WRONG NEST. WORSE, IT APPEARS HE'S FALLEN OFF HIS OWN NEST. THEREFORE IT IS MY BIOLOGICAL DUTY TO REMOVE HIS HEAD AND OFFER IT TO MY QUEEN.

iconomy, it's the taking without giving anything back.

BoingBoing linked to the photos, but there's a value add there for users, BoingBoing is an aggregator of neat things.

This guy is not adding any value, he's just taking the collection Specklet made, and slapping some ads on it, and if you look at his reddit history, this is pretty much all he does, takes things other people have made or found, slaps ads on them and tries to get them to the front page of a link site.

Gotcha.

I did just notice that instead of linking to each individual photo's flickr page, he saved them all and renamed them, which makes no sense at all (since he's crediting the source), and is an asshole move.

To the best of my knowledge you can only file a DMCA take down notice if you're the copyright holder.
That's been my experience with them in the past, at least.

Speck, unless you took any of those photos yourself, theres nothing you can do. Technically you're on the same boat as he is, except you're doing it out of a love for cute animals and he's doing it for profit. Both of you are technically violating copyright, and you're technically violating Flickr's terms of service. Don't really have a legal leg to stand on. But then again, iAnal.

And yeah, DOS attacks are illegal.

Just like downloading music.

/me whistles, saunters away

I just did what Terrapin did - only took a minute or so. Stealing from our Specklet? He needs to be punished.

Technically you're on the same boat as he is, except you're doing it out of a love for cute animals and he's doing it for profit.

Didn't speck get permission from the copywrite holders to republish the photos?

Where possible, yep I sure did, muddgirl. And I know some of the folks who took those pictures. But I am indeed guilty of cutting and pasting things even when I couldn't find the info to contact the photographer.

Done: like TheDonF, I filed a report with Google as terrapin suggested. Unlike TheDonF, I required about three minutes to file it, but that's because I Am Dumb.

I'm all fired up after a not satisfactory but icily civil call to my cell-phone provider, so, y'know, additional righteousness! Yippee!

Oh. Well then. Good on you, Specklet!

Then heres what I would do: If you know the photographers/have their contact information, send them emails alerting them to blatant violation of their copyright, perhaps suggest that they file DMCA takedown notices (although I think any self respecting photographer would do that anyway).

And I will do likewise with the google thing.

Using the AdSense complaint/feedback form is a good idea. Done and done. Keep it civil and clean and all that.

Yeah, CF, I've basically started doing that...

≡ Click to see image ≡

Be sure to tell update us on what happens, Speck! Good luck!

≡ Click to see image ≡

For what it's worth, I'm sure I saw the non-linkjacked link to the actual flickr page on reddit within the past couple days...I know I did because I almost came here with a "Hey Specklet you're on reddit" post.

Also, that guy sux.

Here it is...although with the '1 day ago' type timestamp, I don't know which came first. At least it's got the upvotes it deserves.

Just because you use the username Specklet doesn't mena you are Specklet.

words of wisdom for us all.

(btw suck it, boingboing)

hellbient, you totally made me laugh aloud a whole bunch,

Thanks, krix, I saw that...

Hey Speck, if you need assistance, call. I frighten people all the time. Will be no biggie for me.

≡ Click to see image ≡

*giggles uncontrolably*

"page not found"

You won guys. Never mess with mecha.

w00t!

Yes, I've been meaning to post an update, but, yeah. Kerputnik.

I got an email from him:

Hi there Specklet,

I have removed the pictures on my website (I don't go online the whole time and I just read your post on Reddit. I just need to verify you are the real owner that's all). I'm sorry bout the whole thing and I feel that there is no need to create such a commotion. Your pics are still out there on other blogs, some without credits and I have already done my part.

That's all,
Katana

and replied thusly:

Katana,

Thank you for finally taking down the pictures from my Tiny Animals on Fingers set.

However, I don't believe your insinuation that you took them down as soon as you saw my comment on reddit.com, since you were obviously online and deleting comments off hemmey.net long before you removed the pictures. Also, it is patently obvious that you did not want me to contact you when refuting the fact that I was a sockpuppet on reddit.com, since you offered no email address. You said: "All I just did ask was to email me your real email address. No need with all those holstilities." but gave me no way to contact you.

You're right, the set did get posted on other spamblogs, and when I've noticed/been notified, I have requested that the post be deleted. Just because other people do it does not make it permissible for you to do so, and it is a poor excuse indeed that you have offered for your actions. It is not right to steal. Period.

I've begun contacting the photographers who have contributed to the set, and have suggested that they file a complaint against your site using the AdSense form.

If I find anything on your site that belongs to me or to anyone I know (and yes, I know many of the photographers whose work you were ripping off) I will issue a DMCA notice to your ISP and provider in hopes that your Google AdSense account revoked.


Specklet



Thanks for sticking up for me (and the photographers in the set).