I'm actually kinda flattered, but a Web site out west has grabbed a slightly older copy (say 3 months ago) of my go bag page, and made a PDF copy, and saved it to their web site as a reference document

The things that bug me are

1)The didn't leave any of the links in the PDF to the rest of my site live
2)They removed any reference to me
3)THEY DIDN'T Ask

I just sent them a nice letter, asking them to at least credit me, and I'll wait for the response, but what would YOU do? It's a quazi-governments site (a CERT team site) with a well known hard nosed sherrif in Az (no names at this point)

If I don't get a response - should I be hard nosed, or what?

They should at the very least have asked you and given you credit. To not do so is rude, but probably not criminal.

But if you pitch a complaint all they have to do is change the page slightly, as in the order of contents, make some other minor changes, and they have essentialy stolen your product without stealing it.

You can be all hard nosed, but to what end?

Smile, and realize you are helping others indirectly. That's whats it's all about isn't it?

Criminal, yes - ever read the DMCA? They grabbed my photos, my layout, my text, the whole thing

I can send a takedown notice...

It is not flattery. It's breach of copyright and theft of your intellectual property.

Don't ask for a credit. REQUIRE them to either remove it or you WILL TAKE ACTION AGAINST THEM.

As for quasi-goverment and a well known Arazona sherrif, so what?

This is not a matter of emminent domain (and even then they would have to compensate you).

In my opinion it´s simple. If you made it by yourself it´s your intellectual property and it´s copyrighted. No one can copy and modify it let alone expose it on their website without your consent. They even removed the reference to you or your website.

I would send them a friendly letter stating that although I am happy to see that my work is important enough to be copied and used it´s copyrighted work. I would then propose a way of linking the website. If they didn´t reply I would have a lawyer compose a letter for them.

If I were you I would at least add some small watermark with © and your name and/or a text linking your website to your photos. Also several lines of text like: "All rights reserved. No text or image from this Web site may be copied or retransmitted unless expressly permitted by..." etc. at the end of every page/article should at least stop some people from doing so or remind them that they are breaking the law.

Yes, I know it's copyright (hence the DMCA comment) - but I'm not really sure if I just want to give the page away or not...

If the certain unnamed county official's first name is Joe and he issues pink boxer shorts to inmates, it is a 50/50 toss up.

He is probably one of the most honorable men I have ever met, and would be troubled that something unlawful like this has happened. On the other hand, I would not want him upset with me if I ever had to enter his jurisdiction.

USGI GP Medium tents are absolutely horrific in the desert heat.


Edit: My experience is limited to a few meetings, so YMMV.

It's the same county - but the CERT team

Contact Joe if they are in ANY way affiliated with his department. Again it is 50/50. If you get the wrong 50, be careful if you visit.

One or two of your fellow moderators is in that area, maybe they could mention it to the CERT folks directly. If the CERT folks are worth their salt, they probably already listen to those folks anyway.

I feel you anger. I've had people turn my plant blog into booklets that they were selling at farmer's markets and other places. They did give me credit but no cut of the profit. Supposedly they have stopped after I asked them too, but I don't know for sure. I never sent a lawyer after them.

I have a lot of thoughts on this subject but I don't have time right now to go into them. I'll write more later.

-Blast