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Old 06-01-2015, 21:41
jabbamk1
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Hi guys,

Just want to post a quick rant.

Some of you may know that I made the Best SIM Only deals spreadsheet that was on HUKD. It was run and maintained by me and contained a list of SIM Only deals from every network as well as notes about each network and advice on which was best etc...

It quickly became the hottest deal of all time on HUKD and had been viewed over 1 million times by users. I also opened up a website in order to support the spreadsheet as it was able to pull over data from the spreadsheet but present it in a much neater and easier to view way.

Because of this, HUKD banned me and said that I wasn't allowed to post external websites, despite the fact I'd been running an external spreadsheet for over a year, and that it was classed as self promotion. I was banned without any warning and was ignored by the admins and mods when trying to contact them.

HUKD also took my entire work and posted it on their sister website called Mobot. They use the same words, same network notes and same deals/networks that I did but it's now maintained by them and include affiliate links for them to make money.

Here is a link for anyone interested: http://www.mobot.net/best-uk-sim-only-deals-73579

^It's basically my work on their website. Just modified slightly to have different phrasing.

So yeh, I was running this all for free and giving free advice and stuff and yet they still banned me. Turns out it's because they weren't getting commission as the sale was going through via my spreadsheet rather than directly from HUKD. At the time I wasn't getting commission at all but have decided to add in my own affiliate links to my own website now after all this just so I get a bit of cash for the work I put in.

So that's my rant. It's also why I don't use HUKD anymore....
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Old 06-01-2015, 22:03
Synthetic42
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Sorry to hear that, complete piss take by HUKD!
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Old 06-01-2015, 22:08
a516
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Similar rules apply on Digital Spy:
You grant Hearst Magazines a perpetual royalty free non-exclusive licence to use, reproduce, modify, translate, transmit, distribute and sub-licence any information or material you supply or communicate to the Sites via such postings, in any medium now in existence or hereafter developed, for any purpose, including commercial uses to any third party. Hearst Magazines will not return it if submitted, and accepts no liability whatsoever for safe custody thereof.
So you're better off not using public forums for that kind of activity, regardless of how well intentioned it was.
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Old 06-01-2015, 22:16
JasonWatkins
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they banned one of the winners of the recent flamedeer competition because they accused him of cheating and the admins of the site apparently refused any form of communcation with him, save for sending a mod to a thread i'd started to warn him off for posting his version of what happened using a second account.

i'd study the site's T's & C's jabba and see if there are any loopholes that could let you send a strongly worded legal letter about them using your content.
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Old 06-01-2015, 22:17
Zee_Bukhari
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what a rip stealing someone elses hard work.
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Old 06-01-2015, 22:22
sammyelrefee1
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I already heard you was AhmadCentral right?
I think its disgusting they banned you and used your thread! I really do think we should gather lots of people who are against what they have done as an appeal to HUKD!
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Old 06-01-2015, 22:53
jabbamk1
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they banned one of the winners of the recent flamedeer competition because they accused him of cheating and the admins of the site apparently refused any form of communcation with him, save for sending a mod to a thread i'd started to warn him off for posting his version of what happened using a second account.

i'd study the site's T's & C's jabba and see if there are any loopholes that could let you send a strongly worded legal letter about them using your content.
Hmmm. So its not just me they're screwing over.

But tbh I don't have the time or effort to pursue this any further with hukd. Im just done with them.
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Old 06-01-2015, 23:06
mupet0000
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The HUKD community is great, it's a shame that the whole website comes down to affiliate link money.
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Old 06-01-2015, 23:13
JasonWatkins
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Hmmm. So its not just me they're screwing over.
You certainly aren't. Have a read.

http://www.hotukdeals.com/misc/flame...7#post23847253

But tbh I don't have the time or effort to pursue this any further with hukd. Im just done with them.
I can understand that. I'd certainly at least consider a one off legal letter if it was me and they'd essentially nicked my work. You wouldn't necessarily have to follow it up either, just at least put them on notice that you're aware of what they've done and that something might happen.
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Old 06-01-2015, 23:24
maverickjesus
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I can understand that. I'd certainly at least consider a one off legal letter if it was me and they'd essentially nicked my work. You wouldn't necessarily have to follow it up either, just at least put them on notice that you're aware of what they've done and that something might happen.
Given the information was uploaded to their site directly, unless they have incredibly poorly thought out T&C's then he doesn't own that content anyway - they probably wouldn't even read it.
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Old 06-01-2015, 23:28
jabbamk1
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Given the information was uploaded to their site directly, unless they have incredibly poorly thought out T&C's then he doesn't own that content anyway - they probably wouldn't even read it.
Actually, most of the content was uploaded to google spreadsheets. Only the description and stuff was copied over to HUKD directly.
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Old 06-01-2015, 23:41
Zebb
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Feed them to Sarlacc in the Great Pit of Carkoon.
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Old 07-01-2015, 00:08
johnathome
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Actually, most of the content was uploaded to google spreadsheets. Only the description and stuff was copied over to HUKD directly.
I'd look into that a bit further then if the spreadsheet was hosted elsewhere.

I'd start with a DCMA takedown notice to Google
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Old 07-01-2015, 00:30
DevonBloke
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God, it's just taken me 10 minutes to find your site. I must be old, or drunk or both or something.
Nice site!
Now I know your name and email address and everything. I could become an obsessed stalker or something.
You can never escape me now..... never.......... NEVER!!!!.........
Oh, er,... ahem!!.. sorry, don't know what came over me there.

Yeah, the DCMA Google thing, do that.....
Now, where did I put that coat......
: )
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Old 07-01-2015, 02:30
DangerBrother
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Legend OP
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Old 07-01-2015, 04:00
Tassium
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T&C are not worth paying attention too, copyright law is.

But a list of links is probably not copyrightable.
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Old 07-01-2015, 04:05
goldenface
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To the OP, sorry to hear that. I'd be so angry if they did that to me. The sound like a gang of morons.

What's the link to your site? I'll give you a shout on my Twitter account.
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Old 07-01-2015, 05:58
alanwarwic
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what a rip stealing someone elses hard work.
Yes, but the site makes big money by likely getting up to 5%(occasionally much more) of peoples finds.
And I assume that the finder gets absolutely zilch even if it makes them £100s or £1000s.

And it is likely Sim deals where they make big money so using someones work is worth big money to them.

I would also say that they were worried about the success of that list reducing commission for them, though blatantly stealing the work is interesting. Whether that is to appease HUK whilst the real intent is to just let it die I'm unsure. That would depend on whether the best deals there make them no commission at all.
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Old 07-01-2015, 06:47
Stig
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I'd look into that a bit further then if the spreadsheet was hosted elsewhere.

I'd start with a DCMA takedown notice to Google
I agree. A politely worded message to mobot and the 'author' Lewis Curdie would be a good start.
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Old 07-01-2015, 07:05
artnada
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Hi guys,

Just want to post a quick rant.


HUKD also took my entire work and posted it on their sister website called Mobot. They use the same words, same network notes and same deals/networks that I did but it's now maintained by them and include affiliate links for them to make money.

So that's my rant. It's also why I don't use HUKD anymore....
Issue them with a copyright claim and tell them to remove it?
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Old 07-01-2015, 08:49
swordman
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Mobot and in particular that 'author' are the worst examples of 'tech journalism' there is. The whole site is just reposted work of others with a bias slant added.
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Old 07-01-2015, 09:42
Synthetic42
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Stuff like this is going to make people not want to contribute their work to the community
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Old 07-01-2015, 10:16
fmradiotuner1
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I heard they also banned deals from amazon at times but these seem to be back on there now.
Not that this got much to do with the thread.
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Old 07-01-2015, 17:57
jabbamk1
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Stuff like this is going to make people not want to contribute their work to the community
Tell me a about it...
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Old 07-01-2015, 18:15
Orbitalzone
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It's a real shame the thread has gone, it was epic and so useful, I certainly used it to get a couple of deals, I'd likely use your own site for future deals though.
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