Huston, I think we have a problem!!!!!

Jafo, I think we ALL have a problem!

I have just been informed that there is a company with the name Delphi-VCL Skin that sales the “Skin Engine” and with their product the give a huge number of skins, which means that the buyers of SkinEngine, can use those skins for having a profit with their business.

Here comes the good part of it!
The skins that they sell are all the works of known authors of WinCustomize, like Alexandrie, treetog, Mike Bryant, Grayhaze, essorant and many others.
There are no names, no credits, nothing, just an ID number of the skin.

Any one can download the skins for free, but the professionals can use them for their applications, sites etc and the have the right for the profit they will get, because the have purchase the Skin Engine!!!!!

I think this is too heavy to accept it.

I hope that our Official Layer Jafo will take care of it.

So, here something to start with Paul.

The following skin ID numbers are my skins:

0330
0294
0394
0379
0392
0177
0178
0034
0138
0377
0378
0060
0383
0353
0165
0249
0051
0203
0147
0075
0067
0030
0107
0055
0092

The link of those clever guys is:
http://www.link-rank.com/lib/lib1p.htm
27,646 views 98 replies
Reply #1 Top
Here is their contact information.....


Target: www.link-rank.com
Date: 2/28/2003 (Friday), 2:24:06 PM
Nodes: 18


Node Data
Node Net Reg IP Address Location Node Name
18 1 1 64.35.113.47 Unknown www.link-rank.com


Packet Data
Node High Low Avg Tot Lost
18 67 67 67 1 0


Network Data
Network id#: 1

OrgName: 9 Net Avenue, Inc.
OrgID: 9NET
Address: One Meadowlands Plaza, Suite 1404,
City: East Rutherford
StateProv: NJ
PostalCode: 07073
Country: US

NetRange: 64.35.0.0 - 64.35.127.255
CIDR: 64.35.0.0/17
NetName: NINENETAVE-2BL
NetHandle: NET-64-35-0-0-1
Parent: NET-64-0-0-0-0
NetType: Direct Allocation
NameServer: NS2.9NETAVE.COM
NameServer: NS3.9NETAVE.COM
Comment: ADDRESSES WITHIN THIS BLOCK ARE NON-PORTABLE
RegDate: 2000-01-27
Updated: 2001-04-18

TechHandle: PG64-ARIN
TechName: Grosso, Patrick
TechPhone: +1-888-963-8283
TechEmail: patg@9netave.com

ARIN WHOIS database, last updated 2003-02-27 20:00


Registrant Data
Registrant id#: 1
NOTICE AND TERMS OF USE: You are not authorized to access or query our WHOIS
database through the use of high-volume, automated, electronic processes. The
Data in VeriSign's WHOIS database is provided by VeriSign for information
purposes only, and to assist persons in obtaining information about or related
to a domain name registration record. VeriSign does not guarantee its accuracy.
By submitting a WHOIS query, you agree to abide by the following terms of use:
You agree that you may use this Data only for lawful purposes and that under no
circumstances will you use this Data to: (1) allow, enable, or otherwise support
the transmission of mass unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations
via e-mail, telephone, or facsimile; or (2) enable high volume, automated,
electronic processes that apply to VeriSign (or its computer systems). The
compilation, repackaging, dissemination or other use of this Data is expressly
prohibited without the prior written consent of VeriSign. You agree not to use
high-volume, automated, electronic processes to access or query the WHOIS
database. VeriSign reserves the right to terminate your access to the WHOIS
database in its sole discretion, including without limitation, for excessive
querying of the WHOIS database or for failure to otherwise abide by this policy.
VeriSign reserves the right to modify these terms at any time.



Whois Server Version 1.3

Domain names in the .com and .net domains can now be registered
with many different competing registrars. Go to http://www.internic.net
for detailed information.

Domain Name: LINK-RANK.COM
Registrar: TUCOWS, INC.
Whois Server: whois.opensrs.net
Referral URL: http://www.opensrs.org
Name Server: NS1.NAME2HOST.COM
Name Server: NS2.NAME2HOST.COM
Status: ACTIVE
Updated Date: 05-may-2002
Creation Date: 05-may-2002
Expiration Date: 05-may-2003


>>> Last update of whois database: Fri, 28 Feb 2003 05:46:32 EST <<<

NOTICE: The expiration date displayed in this record is the date the
registrar's sponsorship of the domain name registration in the registry is
currently set to expire. This date does not necessarily reflect the expiration
date of the domain name registrant's agreement with the sponsoring
registrar. Users may consult the sponsoring registrar's Whois database to
view the registrar's reported date of expiration for this registration.

TERMS OF USE: You are not authorized to access or query our Whois
database through the use of electronic processes that are high-volume and
automated except as reasonably necessary to register domain names or
modify existing registrations; the Data in VeriSign Global Registry
Services' ( VeriSign ) Whois database is provided by VeriSign for
information purposes only, and to assist persons in obtaining information
about or related to a domain name registration record. VeriSign does not
guarantee its accuracy. By submitting a Whois query, you agree to abide
by the following terms of use: You agree that you may use this Data only
for lawful purposes and that under no circumstances will you use this Data
to: (1) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission of mass
unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations via e-mail, telephone,
or facsimile; or (2) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes
that apply to VeriSign (or its computer systems). The compilation,
repackaging, dissemination or other use of this Data is expressly
prohibited without the prior written consent of VeriSign. You agree not to
use electronic processes that are automated and high-volume to access or
query the Whois database except as reasonably necessary to register
domain names or modify existing registrations. VeriSign reserves the right
to restrict your access to the Whois database in its sole discretion to ensure
operational stability. VeriSign may restrict or terminate your access to the
Whois database for failure to abide by these terms of use. VeriSign
reserves the right to modify these terms at any time.

The Registry database contains ONLY .COM, .NET, .EDU domains and
Registrars.

The previous information has been obtained either directly from the
registrant or a registrar of the domain name other than VeriSign.
_____
NeoTrace Copyright ©1997-2001 NeoWorx Inc




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Reply #2 Top
anyway... this sucks, hope someone dinks em

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Reply #3 Top
That outright theft
Reply #4 Top
According to Stardock, they are in Russia and have ignored repeated requests to cease and desist.

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Reply #5 Top
This is the info I got using network-tools whois lookup:

WHOIS whois.opensrs.net link-rank.com:

Registrant:
LinkRank Inc.
C-1 Bldg,Qinglong Area
XiAn, ShaanXi 710000
CN

Domain name: LINK-RANK.COM

Administrative Contact:
WenQian, Pan kawen@yeah.net
C-1 Bldg,Qinglong Area
XiAn, ShaanXi 710000
CN
+1.4165551122 Fax: +1.4165551122

Technical Contact:
Zhang, Terry tian@name2host.com
Princeton Forrestal Village
116-200 Village Boulevard
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
US
+1.4165551122x1234 Fax: +1.4165551122x1234



Registration Service Provider:
Name2Host, Inc., tian@name2host.com
908 874 0132
This company may be contacted for domain login/passwords, DNS/Nameserver changes, and general domain support questions.


Registrar of Record: TUCOWS, INC.
Record last updated on 05-May-2002.
Record expires on 05-May-2003.
Record Created on 05-May-2002.

Domain servers in listed order:
NS1.NAME2HOST.COM 64.35.113.46
NS2.NAME2HOST.COM 211.144.28.39

Reply #6 Top
mmm, wonder if someone went after their up-link?


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Reply #7 Top
So, if i get this, they have downloaded skins from wc, and put them on their own site?? thats a theft indeed! But what do you want to do about it??
Reply #8 Top
kinda of, they have downloaded skins from WinC and turned around and mae them into plugins for Delphi applications and are charging for them...
as a commercial package



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Reply #9 Top
XO Communications, Inc (XO56-DOM)
1400 Parkmoor Avenue
null
US
Domain Name: XO.NET
Administrative Contact:
XO Communications, Inc. (INEX-NOC) noc@ENG.XO.COM
XO Communications, Inc.
1400 PARKMOOR AVE
SAN JOSE, CA 95126-3429
US
408-817-2800 fax: 408-817-2630
Technical Contact:
Hostmaster (DIA-ORG) hostmaster@CONCENTRIC.NET
Concentric Network Corporation
1400 Parkmoor Avenue
San Jose, CA 95126-3429
US
(408) 817-2800
Fax- - (408) 817-2630
Record expires on 22-Mar-2006.
Record created on 22-Mar-2001.
Database last updated on 28-Feb-2003 14:58:35 EST.
Domain servers in listed order:
NAMESERVER1.CONCENTRIC.NET 207.155.183.73
NAMESERVER2.CONCENTRIC.NET 207.155.184.72
NAMESERVER3.CONCENTRIC.NET 206.173.119.72
NAMESERVER.CONCENTRIC.NET 207.155.183.72

last readable info, so it is probably their provider...

or should be able to point someone to their provider

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Reply #10 Top
I think they have also ripped the DirectSkin app, but I don't know that for sure. Sounded like it.

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Reply #11 Top
yeah...

I do hope they get dinked for sure, it is not right any way you cut it....

Heck isn't that a ripped green circle with a palm tree in it on all the shots also?



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Reply #13 Top
someone should...
mabye a few someones if one doesn't prompt a positive response, such as, their dead in the water....



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Reply #14 Top
did anyone notice what they are charging for YOUR work?




Order
You can order our products over the Internet from Regsoft with any major credit card. The ordering page is on a secure server, ensuring that your confidential information remains confidential.

We send you VCLSkin package after registration.

Name Price Description
Standard Edition with Single License ((( $49 ))) for personal use, without source code .
Professional Edition with Single License ((( $149 ))) for single developer use, with all source code
Professional Edition with Site License ((( $249 ))) for company use, with all source code
Standar Edition Upgrade to Professional Edition ((( $99 ))) Standard edition upgrade to Professional edition single license , with all source code

For additional discounts, available for larger quantities including site licenses, please send an electronic mail message to info@link-rank.com.



WOW....
that takes, brass ah... a really low scumbag

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Reply #15 Top
Well, the appropriate page at their ISP is http://www.xo.com/legal/sendclaim.html

Anyone feel like a little letter-writing?
Reply #16 Top
ohhhh

someone(s) should hit Regsoft with some email about this also and get them to pull the software!!!


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Reply #17 Top
Also abuse@xo.com
Reply #18 Top
Just browsing through some of the skin pages I saw works I recognized by these artists:

Adni18
Treetog
Alexandrie
Pixtudio
Essorant
MikeB
Gillon
Hippy
Grayhaze
Honz12
Dangeruss
BAT
Mercury

This is an unbelievable affront to these artists. Their work is being sold. If these are the same Russian guys we encountered before they have no intention of being fair or responding to demands to stop. Stardock did have some communication with them (as werewolf said) and I believe they are using Stardock's skinning engine.

This is a job for a real leagal department. This is the kind of case where compensation and damages are due.
Reply #19 Top
complex legal issues my butt, the link-butts are thiefs, period...



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Reply #20 Top
They even ripped a skin I haven't released yet.

No, serioulsy, I'm working on a port and it seems they've already ported it.
Reply #21 Top
sheesh, now that *is* wild

I noticed the SkinBuilder, isn't that someone elses sotware also?



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Reply #22 Top
SkinBuilder seems like rip from SkinStudio to me
Reply #23 Top
Thats what I was thinking also, but not really sure because I've only opened SS twice so far and only to take a look at the screens and then help..


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Reply #24 Top
The file sizes are awfully small...Wonder if it is a rip of Windowblinds 1.?
I downloaded one, but couldn't open it. (.skn format)
Reply #25 Top
maybe, but ir might also be that it being Delphi, they can used a different compression schema on the graphics so they start out smaller to begin with?


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