* * * * * * * * (Big pirate font website)

Fernando Díaz
Fernando Díaz Posts: 133
edited June 2015 in Type Business
Well, it seems that A LOT of fonts from our foundry (and many many others) are freely distributed here: http://* * * * */

I've sent various messages, and even an DMCA take-down notice today. I've tried to find the domain owner, but is protected. Do you have any recomendations?

I've released a new commercial font a couple of weeks ago, and now you can easily find it for free... It's so frustrating...

Comments

  • Fernando Díaz
    Fernando Díaz Posts: 133
    edited June 2015
    PS: He even hosts the files in his own server (sometimes)
  • Jackson Showalter-Cavanaugh
    Jackson Showalter-Cavanaugh Posts: 539
    Edited this post to remove the url. We don't need to send them any traffic. 
  • Jacques Le Bailly
    Jacques Le Bailly Posts: 93
    I found one of mine as well...
  • Fernando Díaz
    Fernando Díaz Posts: 133
    edited June 2015
    @Jackson%20Cavanaugh Is there any chance to leave a link or something on this post, to allow other type designers to search their font on that website?
  • Jackson Showalter-Cavanaugh
    Jackson Showalter-Cavanaugh Posts: 539
    Anyone interested can message you or me. 
  • Jackson Showalter-Cavanaugh
    Jackson Showalter-Cavanaugh Posts: 539
    It's strange these all appear to be from MyFonts, complete with graphics. 
  • James Puckett
    James Puckett Posts: 1,998
    Makes you wonder who owns all those fake pirate sites that just link back to MyFonts.
  • Jacques Le Bailly
    Jacques Le Bailly Posts: 93
    @James They are actually offering Macula as well, which can only be purchased at Bold Monday or FontShop.

    You can enter fontnames in the searchfield, top right.
  • Christian Thalmann
    Christian Thalmann Posts: 1,988
    Lawsuit?
  • Henrique Beier
    Henrique Beier Posts: 11
    You could try contacting their hosting provider (look for name servers on a whois search). Most providers have a clause on their contract forbidding illegal activities.

    Of course, the site owners probably will just move to another server and continue their “business”.
  • John Hudson
    John Hudson Posts: 3,227
    In addition to avoiding sending traffic to such sites, it is very unwise to publicly identify a site as 'pirate' on a public forum. In the early 2000s, ATypI and some individuals were sued for libel for just such a comment made in the (then public) member email forum archive.
  • Fernando Díaz
    Fernando Díaz Posts: 133
    Thanks John, I didn't know that! 

    Henrique: I have all the data, even the domain's owner name and phone number... but I just don't know what to do with that info... I don't have lawyers... and have only one suit :expressionless: 
  • Göran Söderström
    Göran Söderström Posts: 40
    Pirates will be pirates. Forget about them and focus on you paying customers instead.
  • Fernando Díaz
    Fernando Díaz Posts: 133
    True, but when you google your font and this website is in the top results... it's very scary... It makes it so easy to find for free, that I wonder if I haven't lost any paying customers.
  • George Thomas
    George Thomas Posts: 647
    @Fernando, I know it's no consolation but I think they would have to be looking for your fonts specifically. If I Google for "free fonts" or "free commercial fonts" the site doesn't show up at all in the first four pages of results. So you may have lost some customers, but maybe not. Since you will never know for sure, don't worry over it so much.
  • Lars Schwarz
    Lars Schwarz Posts: 114
    edited June 2015
    @Fernando: The hosting company's name is not protected in that case and you simply send the DMCA to them (not the owner). If you need help with the DMCA report contact me
  • Fernando Díaz
    Fernando Díaz Posts: 133
    Hey @Lars Schwarz, yes thanks, I aready did that, but did not respond.

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