Is it normal for dmca hunters to threaten family and friends by phone?

[Jack Sparrow]

I'm sure the majority of webmasters here have gotten DMCA notices from xxxx xxxx of xxxx.xxx. Well, a customer the other day got one in relation to a link posted on their website to an image he said was copyrighted, and wanted me to force the user to remove said hyperlinks. Kindly, I said not going to happen.

Now I have a great voicemail from this guy calling me a fucking prick, and apparently a bunch of my family and friends are getting harassed by him over me. How he got these people's numbers is way beyond me. These are people I have 0 online connection with.

Anyone else deal with this guy's bullshit? Just curious if it's time to lawyer up or his temper-tantrum will run it's course.

I removed the quotes of who said this (and censored the names/links in it), but i can tell you it was on another forum where this was posted. It wasnt posted or adressed to me, we always take down links/pics/videos within 24hrs because its not even worth the hassle even if we KNOW pretty sure that we didnt violate any rules.

I wonder if this is common practice. Are there more people that have had calls to them and their families with threats?

[mgtarheels]

This depends upon the type of threats. If it is in any form of physical harm, you can go after him.

[TisMe]

Maybe Steve Easton got a new job?

[Domain Broker]

it's normal

[SomeCreep]

Some people just want to see the world burn.

[Huggles]

If I had content stolen, I would harass the SHIT out of the thief and if I had his family's numbers, I'd call them at 4 am.

People think they are being so clever when stealing content.

[CDSmith]

Is it normal? As in, is it the standard thing is such cases? Probably not

Does it surprise me that it's happening? Not in the least.

Some people are psychos who have no problem at all with digging up personal information and using it against you publicly, either to get what they want or in somecases just for kicks. In fact there have been several such assholes on this very board in past years. Probably 1 or 2 here right now.

Of course, if the guy has a legitimate beef and content has been stolen, misused, etc, then all bets are off.

[fris]

is this remove my content?

[Jack Sparrow]

is this remove my content?

Yes.

Btw let me state this clear again, i was in no involved in this case, but noticed a lot of "complaints" about this on other forums. I really wonder if this is how producers/sites want these "dmca hunters" to work.

Imagine someone finding out where your kids life, then calling them and threatening them in any way possible. Even if someone stole my content i would probably do a lot, but not this.

I would not feel comfortable with someone doing that for me to get content taken down, but maybe i need to harden up then. If someone wants to play it hard, hire a lawyer and attack the ones that are responsible or?

[fris]

ya thats not good, its like a debt collector, they have laws which they cant do this

[Oracle Porn]

thieves get what they deserve usually

[L-Pink]

Don't feel to sorry for thieves that profit from others. If you are making money from stolen property ... fuck you and your family.


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[woj]

If I had content stolen, I would harass the SHIT out of the thief and if I had his family's numbers, I'd call them at 4 am.

People think they are being so clever when stealing content.

no kidding, heh

[Jack Sparrow]

ya thats not good, its like a debt collector, they have laws which they cant do this

I think there are indeed. Not sure what laws though.

thieves get what they deserve usually

Thieves do, but people that are related to thieves and have ZERO to do (or have no influence on) with what that thief is doing?

Don't feel to sorry for thieves that profit from others. If you are making money from stolen property ... fuck you and your family.


.

Wow.

[mgtarheels]

Don't feel to sorry for thieves that profit from others. If you are making money from stolen property ... fuck you and your family.


.

Survival of the fittest. If you're unable to protect your own content then shame on you.

[halfpint]

Don't feel to sorry for thieves that profit from others. If you are making money from stolen property ... fuck you and your family.


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Jeese dident expect that from you.. about the family bit I mean. How would you like it if you did something wrong and the person started harrasing your family members who have nothing to do with it ..Dont think you would be to happy either cause I know I wouldent be.

[beerptrol]

Some people may view their property being stolen, as the theif is taking food out of my family's mouth. Why should I give a shit about his family when he's fucking mine. Doesn't make it right, but if you choose to steal other people's shit, don't be surprised if someone goes after you and your family one day

[fatfoo]

Harrasing, threatening and death threats are bad.

Death threats are the worst speech, by law. Someone could go to jail for saying them.

[halfpint]

Some people may view their property being stolen, as the theif is taking food out of my family's mouth. Why should I give a shit about his family when he's fucking mine. Doesn'tmake it right, but if you steal other people's shit, don't be surprised if someone goes after you and your family one day

How fucking illogical No wonder we are being fucked and the adult biz is so hated with statements like that. So if you have a nephew that murdered somebody which you had nothing to do with. You would be real pleased to get hassle from the family of the murdered victim ..yeah that makes real sense to me. The individual who did the crime is responsible not his family

[Barefootsies]

Is it normal for dmca hunters to threaten family and friends by phone?

http://www.gfy.com/showthread.php?t=959144

[TheDoc]

It's not okay to commit a crime to stop a crime.. You are equally as guilty when you do this. So if someone did steal content, that's bad.. if you harass someone family over it, that's equally as bad and both equally as illegal.

Naa... that couldn't be possible, no way GFY has that many hypocrites.

[xmas13]

What is 'criminal'? Running a background check? Calling someone a prick? Getting in touch with someone's family?

[xmas13]

Imagine someone finding out where your kids life, then calling them and threatening them in any way possible. Even if someone stole my content i would probably do a lot, but not this.

What's so difficult about taking a video/picture/link down?

[gideongallery]

It's not okay to commit a crime to stop a crime.. You are equally as guilty when you do this. So if someone did steal content, that's bad.. if you harass someone family over it, that's equally as bad and both equally as illegal.

Naa... that couldn't be possible, no way GFY has that many hypocrites.

the problem is because of the safe harbor provision they are not committing a crime so it
actually commit a crime to stop what you wish was a crime.

[Nautilus]

Some people may view their property being stolen, as the theif is taking food out of my family's mouth.

Exactly. While I do not support involving families in this bs, I understand people who're tempted to do that.

Just don't steal and you wouldn't have to worry about someone calling your family at 4 am, it's that simple.

[TheDoc]

the problem is because of the safe harbor provision they are not committing a crime so it
actually commit a crime to stop what you wish was a crime.

If I own content, and I send you a notice to take it down, and you don't.... and I have copyrighted that content, you just broke the copyright laws, period. Even user uploaded has to come down, one way or another, it must come down and you must respond.

No safe harbor provisions stop from that, it's exactly how the law is written.

[Robbie]

Perhaps Eric at RYC is having a smear campaign perpetuated against him. I've used them for over a year and never heard of anything like that.

His job is to send a DMCA. What earthly purpose would he have to make "death threats" or any kind of "threat" to anybody for the 99 bucks a month I pay him?

He regularly informs me of certain out of country people who will not honor dmca takedowns and advises me to have my attorney go after them.

Why would he do that if he were sending out "death threats"? I smell bullshit.

[AlCapone]

Fuck phones... Use baseball bats.

[TheDoc]

Perhaps Eric at RYC is having a smear campaign perpetuated against him. I've used them for over a year and never heard of anything like that.

His job is to send a DMCA. What earthly purpose would he have to make "death threats" or any kind of "threat" to anybody for the 99 bucks a month I pay him?

He regularly informs me of certain out of country people who will not honor dmca takedowns and advises me to have my attorney go after them.

Why would he do that if he were sending out "death threats"? I smell bullshit.

That would be a little funny... more because it really wouldn't hurt his business either way, program owners wouldn't mind the pirates getting shot, let alone some harassment.


But yeah, doesn't sound very logical that he would put his business in danger when that's your job.

[sandman!]

this would be my guess also........

Perhaps Eric at RYC is having a smear campaign perpetuated against him. I've used them for over a year and never heard of anything like that.

His job is to send a DMCA. What earthly purpose would he have to make "death threats" or any kind of "threat" to anybody for the 99 bucks a month I pay him?

He regularly informs me of certain out of country people who will not honor dmca takedowns and advises me to have my attorney go after them.

Why would he do that if he were sending out "death threats"? I smell bullshit.

[Robbie]

That would be a little funny... more because it really wouldn't hurt his business either way, program owners wouldn't mind the pirates getting shot, let alone some harassment.


But yeah, doesn't sound very logical that he would put his business in danger when that's your job.

Not only that...but in a bit of irony...I know that many of the sites he has went after have done exactly what he is being accused of...to HIM.

He told me a year ago that he was being threatened and harrassed by them. Reason being because Eric first sends them a DMCA, then rinses and repeats. And if they tell him to fuck off, he goes to their host and their registrar. And then if for some reason (third world country, etc.) that doesn't work he at least gets the offending links yanked off google. And he has had several of those bad sites pulled down.

The bad guys don't appreciate any of that. And about a year ago he icq'ed me and told me he had been threatened physically and has his site routinely ddos'ed by them as well as hackers nailing it overtime.

That's why I think this is a product of disinformation on somebodies part trying to discredit him. It doesn't fit Eric's M.O. in any way and doesn't make him one penny more to have done anything like what is suggested.

[epitome]

They are play in a grey area.

In my state, someone can be charged with telephone misuse. That is classified as constant harassment.

I think they'd have a problem in my state.

DMCA is a civil issue and they should not be handling it as they are.

[lagcam]

Perhaps Eric at RYC is having a smear campaign perpetuated against him. I've used them for over a year and never heard of anything like that.

His job is to send a DMCA. What earthly purpose would he have to make "death threats" or any kind of "threat" to anybody for the 99 bucks a month I pay him?

He regularly informs me of certain out of country people who will not honor dmca takedowns and advises me to have my attorney go after them.

Why would he do that if he were sending out "death threats"? I smell bullshit.

If it is a smear campaign I bet it is backfiring spectacularly......

[Barefootsies]

That's why I think this is a product of disinformation on somebodies part trying to discredit him. It doesn't fit Eric's M.O. in any way and doesn't make him one penny more to have done anything like what is suggested.

Sent some links to your IM tootsie.

[seeric]

go eric!!!!!!!!

[beerptrol]

How fucking illogical No wonder we are being fucked and the adult biz is so hated with statements like that. So if you have a nephew that murdered somebody which you had nothing to do with. You would be real pleased to get hassle from the family of the murdered victim ..yeah that makes real sense to me. The individual who did the crime is responsible not his family

No we are fucked cause we got idiots who can't read. No where did I say I would do this or it was right, I guess you didn't read where I said it doesn't make it right. But the fact remains, if you are gonna fuck with people's lively hood, you'd better expect to pay the consequences...one of which may be a nut fucking with your family

[CDSmith]

the problem is because of the safe harbor provision they are not committing a crime so it
actually commit a crime to stop what you wish was a crime.

I wondered how long it would be before the thief-defending gideon poked his nose in here.

Thread should have legs for a few more pages now.

[L-Pink]

Jeese dident expect that from you.. about the family bit I mean. How would you like it if you did something wrong and the person started harrasing your family members who have nothing to do with it ..Dont think you would be to happy either cause I know I wouldent be.

Strike 1 ... the decision to steal property is made.

Strike 2 ... DMCA is ignored

Strike 3 ... a family member is made aware you are a thieving low-life

Sounds like he got off pretty easy to me.


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[Jack Sparrow]

Some people may view their property being stolen, as the theif is taking food out of my family's mouth. Why should I give a shit about his family when he's fucking mine. Doesn't make it right, but if you choose to steal other people's shit, don't be surprised if someone goes after you and your family one day

So lets turn it aournd a bit: If your dad did something wrong and the "victim" would find out where YOUR kids lived to call them, harrass them, and threaten them. That would be fine with you right?

What's so difficult about taking a video/picture/link down?

I dont know why the picture wasnt taken down. What i do know is that its a very respected and trusted guy who hosts a lot of websites that posted it in public. Not someone who is known to be unstable in any way.

Perhaps Eric at RYC is having a smear campaign perpetuated against him. I've used them for over a year and never heard of anything like that.

His job is to send a DMCA. What earthly purpose would he have to make "death threats" or any kind of "threat" to anybody for the 99 bucks a month I pay him?

He regularly informs me of certain out of country people who will not honor dmca takedowns and advises me to have my attorney go after them.

Why would he do that if he were sending out "death threats"? I smell bullshit.

I hope you didnt just acused me of setting up some smear campaign.

1. I didnt post the name or company of who the quote was referring to. Would be a bit weird for me to get into a smearcampaign without doing that or?
2. There are posts on several forums, all people that have been in this biz for a long time. I wont go into detail what was posted, but maybe you should take a look.

But seriously robby, you didnt really think I posted this as a smearcampaign or?

[Brujah]

Won't somebody please think of the poor Tube sites?! :'(

[Robbie]

But seriously robby, you didnt really think I posted this as a smearcampaign or?

Not at all. I was looking at the forums that you talked about. I am saying that it is possible that some of the pirate/thief sites that RYC has successfully worked against may be attempting a smear campaign. It's the only thing that makes sense to me. But no, I was not and did not say that YOU were doing it. Your only spreading the word of what you read. That's the insidiousness of a smear campaign. Someone types something on a forum, people read it, find it interesting and repeat it elsewhere. Not accusing you of doing anything wrong at all.

[Major (Tom)]

Strike 1 ... the decision to steal property is made.

Strike 2 ... DMCA is ignored

Strike 3 ... a family member is made aware you are a thieving low-life

Sounds like he got off pretty easy to me.


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Agreed!
ds

[Robbie]

Agreed!
ds

Except "strike 4" was left out...Get a baseball bat and break their fucking knees!

[sarettah]

That does not sound like Eric at all.

[J. Falcon]

Don't feel to sorry for thieves that profit from others. If you are making money from stolen property ... fuck you and your family.


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I don't see why their family should be to blame.

[CDSmith]

I don't see why their family should be to blame.

It's not about blaming their family, it's simply one tactic some people use to leverage the thief to do what's right. It's probably also done to hurt the thief where he lives, since the thief in many cases is hurting the person who owns the intellectual property, content, etc.

It all boils down to this: when you steal and then ignore DMCA's there should be no surprise when other tactics are used.

I'll say this much, if someone contacted me and told me about someone in my family thieving from them that family member would certainly hear from me about it. And if it turned out that my family member was clearly in the wrong then they would REALLY hear from me about it. I definitely would not want any more fucking phone calls (probably at 3 in the morning) about his/her fucking thieving ways. Family or not, it shouldn't matter, you either condone thievery or you don't.

I don't.

Does this mean I agree with the tactics described in this thread? Sure, why not. Why should the victim have to play fair when the thief obviously doesn't?

[L-Pink]

It's not about blaming their family, it's simply one tactic some people use to leverage the thief to do what's right. It's probably also done to hurt the thief where he lives, since the thief in many cases is hurting the person who owns the intellectual property, content, etc.

It all boils down to this: when you steal and then ignore DMCA's there should be no surprise when other tactics are used.

I'll say this much, if someone contacted me and told me about someone in my family thieving from them that family member would certainly hear from me about it. And if it turned out that my family member was clearly in the wrong then they would REALLY hear from me about it. I definitely would not want any more fucking phone calls (probably at 3 in the morning) about his/her fucking thieving ways. Family or not, it shouldn't matter, you either condone thievery or you don't.

I don't.

Does this mean I agree with the tactics described in this thread? Sure, why not. Why should the victim have to play fair when the thief obviously doesn't?

The response that I was trying to write, thank you.


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[slapass]

Some people may view their property being stolen, as the theif is taking food out of my family's mouth. Why should I give a shit about his family when he's fucking mine. Doesn't make it right, but if you choose to steal other people's shit, don't be surprised if someone goes after you and your family one day

This seems reasonable. Fuck with someone and then they fuck with you and you whine about it? Don't steal shit and you do not have an issue.

[ShellyCrash]

If someone is in the wrong and stealing content, I don't feel bad for them at all.

But at the same time, I strongly feel family is off limits, always.

If someone is stealing from you and you have proof positive, if you want to fight dirty, fight dirty. But harassing family to me is beyond the pale. What's next? Fucking with their kids at the bus stop?

[Press Release Pro]

Survival of the fittest. If you're unable to protect your own content then shame on you.

EXACTLY!!!! Like he say, if you are unable to protect your own family family then shame on you!