Copyright on the Web
Category: The Web | 35 Comments | Posted 12:53Some of you may have noticed that a few days back I changed the Layout on my HomePage to make it look like a Google search results page.
Today I got an (anonymous) email saying "maybe you should visit Whatiscopyright.org". I immediately thought "ah right, because of the Google thing". Then realised it could also have been because of the Julia article or maybe the Clarissa Browser. Hell, it could be because I use Yahoo Smileys on my blog. Or in fact because of the pic on the left! Or all the pics on the SexGod Site! The Buttons on the Arabian Fanlisting! The layout pics on I'll Be There!
Yes Mr Anonymous Emailer, I am aware of copyright laws. I know that my sites are one big massive collection of copyright breach! As are millions of other sites around the Web. ANY fan site with a picture gallery, every site that uses other people's pics for their layout, every site that posts modifications of other people's works, and so on. And I've seen many personal sites ripping off the layouts of well known sites. Things are readily available online and people use them, that's the way it goes. I've had pics and essays stolen from me too, without credit - it's the risk you run when you publish something online. As long as they don't make money off it, what's the big deal? No one suffers from it.
This has been happening since the beginning, and there is no way this is gonna change. And even if big corps like Warner Bros and Paramount and some others go out and threaten fans every once in a while, they will never get rid of the phenomenon, and it's not in their interest anyway as these sites help keeping people interested in their product.
People like Mr Anonymous Emailer can get anal about it, either because they're bored or because this is their very personal obsession, but geez, aren't there far more outrageous crimes than this? I know that if Google or Spiegel Online or Yahoo etc really wanted to sue me, they could. But if they found my site, they would probably shake their heads and move on. As if they had nothing better to do than this! 
Besides, my websites are works of art and only work because they're a rip-off of other sites. They're a tribute to the original, so they should feel honoured. Did Campbell's sue Andy Warhol for painting their soup cans? No they didn't. (and yes, I've done my research and no, he didn't initially seek permission to paint them). Now go out and play elsewhere.
Citz be famous, gets emails from envious admirers. 
Hehe, did I shock you with my email? 
Just kidding. Wasn't me. Though I guess it was just a jealous person who couldn't deal with having had the idea first. Though I think Google do watch out concerning copyrights. About three years ago I knew some guy who had the domain Gogle.de and everyone asked him whether he'd already gotten into trouble about it. Lately I checked the name again, and where does it lead now? Right, Google. Dunno whatever happened there - maybe they forced him to give away the domain or he sold it to them. But I presume he had to give up on it.
Posted by: Michelle at September 9, 2003 07:20 PM That reminds me of when you go to goggle.com and it says "we are in no way associated with goggle"
I guess a lot of people misspell it
Damn. I meant google.com
LOL @ sexist, you're right, I hadn't even considered that it could be a woman. Probably isn't tho 
Dunno if I'm thick but where is there a grammar or spelling mistake in that!? 
LOL @ goggle.com, what an annoying site. They definitely registered that domain on purpose tho. http://www.yaho.com/ is a scam site as well. This is a fairly reliable way of making money.
And I don't think there is any way google could have forced him to sell it. Maybe they made him a good offer. Or scared him to death Read this in that respect. www.g00gle.com (with zeroes) leads to a blank page btw.
And of course I would take the layout down as soon as they asked me, as I know that technically I'm in the wrong. But I'd never give up on a domain like gogle.com just cuz someone threatened me.
Posted by: Clarissa at September 9, 2003 07:48 PMFrom what I know if they sue you they can make you lose the domain if they've maybe additionally registered it as a trademark etc. I've read stuff like that years back.
Posted by: Michelle at September 9, 2003 09:04 PMHere is an article on trademarks and domain names, which may apply to the Google-question.
Posted by: Michelle at September 9, 2003 10:02 PMYeah but additionally registered gogle? 
It's not like it's a big investment for them to register 100 names. And when you read in detail - the article says it's also about names that may get mixed up with the registered name, so they may not even have Gogle registered.
It's just like if Mercedes suddenly released a new car called Mercedes Mazta. I don't think the Mazda-people would do nothing about that, even if it's written in different ways.
Posted by: Michelle at September 9, 2003 10:18 PMHum yeah but you can only go so far. Car and car, of course. But, like, Coca wouldn't sue Kika cuz it sounds remotely familiar.
And I KNOW gogle is closer to google than that.
But Yahoo haven't sued Yaho yet either
imitation is the highest form of compliment. or something like that. LOL
Posted by: RS78 at September 9, 2003 11:44 PMhehe yeah I'm sure they'd see it like that too 
Happy birthday my dear! :)
Posted by: Suha at September 10, 2003 12:05 AMROFL @this brilliant diary entry - very energetic indeed For some reason I thought this e-mail was just some random junk mail, trying to sell you some information on copy right laws or on how to fool them. Or maybe just a comment from a bored/boring reader who didn't know what else to write to you
can't find those spelling mistakes either
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthdaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyy!
Enjoy your day!
Anne
Posted by: RS78 at September 10, 2003 12:24 AMHappy birthday, Clarissa. ;)
Posted by: Michelle at September 10, 2003 01:08 AMLOL @ "just a comment from a bored/boring reader"
Just call it lifeless, it would probably hit the nail on the empty head.
Posted by: Michelle at September 10, 2003 01:10 AM"Car and car, of course." = Website and website.
Plus Google pays for Gogle traffic, because Google pays for promotion. In general: Gogle profits from Google without paying back.
If someone had a domain like clarisaweb.co.uk suddenly and most probably on purpose took advantage of the promotional work you've put into your site and received traffic that way, you'd probably also think - sod you!
Posted by: Michelle at September 10, 2003 01:51 AMAAAWWW thanks everyone who's wishing me a Happy Birthday!!!! 
You're sweeties!!! 
Yes @ lifeless, was gonna write that but I don't have much more of a life myself
Of course Gogle profit from Google, that's the whole point. But does Google lose out on that much traffic from Gogle? The average user who realises he's mispelled it will correct it. They MAY feel intrigued by Gogle and click somewhere, but 80% of them are gonna return to Google to search for whatever they wanted originally.
Course website = website, but online is a whole new world. So food website =/= book website etc.
Posted by: Clarissa at September 10, 2003 02:37 AMCan you imagine what number those other 20% of Google's daily visitors on your page would mean? lol
BTW companies often base their decision on cooperating with other sites on the number of visitors pages have and pay you therefore if you show advertise for them. Another way Gogle could make profit of Google all due to free traffic.
Concerning traffic and taking advantage of one another website = website
In the Google case is most probably doesn't matter what content the site is about, because the users are only mislead due to a spelling mistake anyway and were all looking for different things. 
Look at google.com!! It seems like they are celebrating a birthday, too!!
BTW, when I surfed to gogle.com it automatically directed me to google.com 
>>Dunno if I'm thick but where is there a grammar or spelling mistake in that!?
Nooooooooo isn't!! It was just the way you were like "how sad, there are more important things in life than copyright" and I was reading it going "YEAH!" and shaking my fist in the air triumphantly at these pathetic people, and then I remembered how annoyed I get at sth as trivial as spelling
Weird @ RS78 tho, I just went to it again and got all this crap and then this:
"This site is not associated with Google.com. If you intented to reach Google.com, click here. "
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! 
*lol* @ everyone trying to find the spelling mistake...
Posted by: The BML at September 10, 2003 10:17 AMoj! Happy birthday!! 
you're older than me again hahahhaha!
@ green ChitChat furball thing! Cuuuuuuuuute!
LOL, noticed that birthday decoration at the real "google.com" and started thinking that Clarissa had her hands in there Slowling taking control over the whole internet 
I don't see birthday decoration at Google! 
Aye @ Michelle, course the traffic would make a difference to the gogle guy. LOL @ looking for diff. thinks.
BML Me, you mean goggle.com and Anne meant gogle.com. confusing!
And aaaaaaaah @ the spelling thing! 
Thanks Jar
Oooooh...
Don't confuse me. It's SO easily done.
UPDATE!! 
Citz already up?
Yeah, Google has been celebrating their 5th birthday throughout the past day.
Posted by: Michelle at September 10, 2003 02:48 PMdays, i meant.
@ Michelle! You mean yesterday and all!? And now is over? I missed it
Thanks kaydee
Yep, true dat, you missed it. LOL
Posted by: Michelle at September 10, 2003 04:51 PM
LMAO @ sexist "Mr" Anonymous Emailer
>>I've had pics and essays stolen from me too, without credit
God @ essays.
>>this is their very personal obsession, but geez, aren't there far more outrageous crimes than this?
*remembers the fact that BML turns CRIMSON whenever she sees any bad grammar or crap spelling*
Posted by: The BML at September 9, 2003 06:34 PM