7 comments

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  cybele

  1 year ago

  I've filed at least a half a dozen DMCA complaints through Adsense, and though it's wonky that I have to do it via fax, they do eventually respond. (The longest has been 8 days, the shortest is two.) I've never had to file with any of the other groups.
  
  I can tell you all about filing with eBay when my images are stolen for use in auctions though!
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  Recording Studio

  1 year ago

  With a C, MS as per your definition is just average. Just goes by the book. If it does this, and, if it is near the top, why do you conclude that something is seriously wrong? Admittedly, they can go an extra mile, but like the other biggies, the bigger you are, the more difficult it will be to monitor would it not? So, logically, only the smaller ones should be used, and when they become big, history will repeat itself.
  This whole matter is getting to be really unmanageable but, that you are trying and advising us is commendable.
  Thank you and keep it up please.
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  Steve Imparl

  1 year ago

  Jonathan,
  
  I like your approach of evaluating the DMCA policies. Have you defined more specific criteria that underly the letter grades? Of course, there's no need to post those criteria here--after all, they might be trade secrets--but it would be interesting to know a little more about your method. Thanks!
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  JB

  1 year ago

  Cybele: I've worked with Adsense before with similar results. I think I've waited as long as a week for a reply, I'm not sure what causes the wild fluctuations in their response time.
  
  RS: It's a simple bell curve issue. Microsoft, with a C, should be in the middle of the pack, not at the lead. When I started this series, I envisioned there would be a tall, narrow bell curve hovering on the C range. Instead, it's proved to be very lopsided, centering on the C-D range and favoring the F crowd. Besides, when five out of seven services have severe problems with their DMCA/Copyright policy or no policy at all, there is an issue.
  
  I guess we'll see how things evolve though.
  
  Steve: Generally, when I look at these policies, I look for the following things.
  
  Registration with the USCO
  Complete information on their site
  That the information between the two matches
  A policy to ban repeat infringers
  Full contact information for the DMCA agent
  A thorough explanation of how to file a notice
  That the policy is easy to locate on the OSP site
  
  If a site is missing two or more of those things, I bump them down to a D. The exception is if the site has a single issue that puts it in direct conflict with a law, such as with Google.
  
  If a site shows a great deal of thought in one or more areas, I upgrade it to a B. It gets an A if it shows some kind of radical advancement that makes things much easier for Webmasters who need to file a complaint.
  
  That's a general rundown of the process. Not complete in every regard but it gives you an idea of what I do with each host.
  
  Hope that answers the question!
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  George Riddick

  1 year ago

  I enjoyed your post regarding the total and complete unlawful and unethical "head fakes" currently underway at publicly funded technology companies, such as Google, Microsoft, and CNET regarding the DMCA and it's "fair Use", "safe harbor" and "take-down" provisions.
  
  This is a national disgrace, and I am pleased to see people like you, and the NLPC up in Washington, starting to take note. I have fought this issue for many, many years now and have been completely blown away by the consistent level of arrogance, hypocrisy, greed, unethical business practices, and downright lies demonstated by these so-called industry leaders.
  
  How anyone could possibly give Google a "D-" is beyond my comprehension. My small graphics development company, alone, has sent them four (4) official take-down notices since May 2007 and have never gotten a formal response. In fact, both the infrignement activity, and the Adsense activity, seems to increase after Google receives notice.
  
  These are not only civil violations in this country, they are felonies as well. The executive management teams of these companies are also liable under our copyright laws. Why are these laws NOT being enforced?
  
  Why are individuals and small companies asked to play on an uneven copyright playing field in this country?
  
  Like the network executive once said many years ago "We're mad as hell ... and we're not going to take this any longer"
  
  We are in the pricess of organizing several huge legal and publicity actions that are going to put these issues squarely in front of all politicans in Washington. We are going to ask everyone to take a pledge for or aganist copyright protection in this country, before foreign governments make these decisions for us.
  
  Enough is enough!
  
  Keep up the good work. There are us out here who appreciate what you do.
  
  George P. Riddick, III
  Chairman/CEO
  Imageline, Inc.
  
  griddick@imageline2.com
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• 

  water pollution

  1 year ago

  all they exist buy only adsense seems to be most successful one, not because its backed by google but because others are so bad. YPN has dissapointed many people who had jumped on since its early beta days and now they switch back to adsense, adsense ppc got worse with time but thats the only good network out there.
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  JB

  1 year ago

  George: First off, to clarify these reviews a bit, it's not a review of the backend of these systems, just the front end. I deal with backend issues on the Host Report page. This is more about looking at their policies and how well the sites comply with the disclosure requirements of the law.
  
  I also agree that there is a lot of room for improvement in the currently law. There needs to be greater defense against false DMCA notices, but also greater incentive to use filtering technology on sites such as Youtube. In short, the current arrangement serves no one.
  
  As far as Google's response goes, I'm sorry to hear that you've had so much trouble with them. If you want to, you can email me the particulars and I'll see if there's anything I can do.
  
  I hope that you're doing well and thank you for the comment!
  
  Water: I wouldn't know, I gave up on the Web advertising game a long time ago...
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