I’ve Been Victimized…

Posted by Lisa Preston

April 2, 2007

Last fall, I was approached to join a partnership making up a group of four. We all paid money to fund the hosting, products, outsourced programming, etc. and we all had full access to the products and customer base. Each of us brought a skill set to the mix as well.

I was the fourth, and was brought in just a few weeks before launch. When I paid and gained access to everything, the first thing I noticed was the site construction and functionality - it was a train wreck. They had attempted to mash about 10 types of scripts together, forcing customers to subscribe several times throughout the site… what a mess! And the graphics…(shudder).

So, being helpful, I offered to fix these issues… I offered to use my Butterfly Marketing script as the framework, and then totally re-vamped the graphics. They were AWESOME, by the way.

And these weren’t even the skills I was brought in for!! (I was officially supposed to be the person looking after the customers AFTER the launch)

Everyone LOVED all the changes because now everything worked right (go figure - Yay Butterfly Marketing!!) but there were still aspects to complete. I even had to entirely re-write the ebook that was kicking off the site, as the grammar and spelling were atrocious.

So I did. Changed those graphics, too.

And the graphics on the JV blog. Pretty much everything.

THEN I tried to log into the admin area, and found I didn’t have the proper permissions.

HUH?

I posted to our “Super JV” private blog to ask the password, and never got a reply. Several times.

Next thing I hear is launch is TWO DAYS AWAY! And I knew there were so many things that still needed fixing, important things that would kill the site if we went live without them, so I said so in our private blog. I said we should wait until it was all functioning, and another of the partners agreed. The self-appointed “Project Manager” was silent.

Despite many attempts to contact her from both myself and the other partner - no response. The other partner felt strongly enough to simply pull out, but me? My name was ALL OVER that site… on every graphic, PLUS the fact that the BM script was licensed under my name.

As time grew nearer to her launch without partner approval, I started to panic. Then I realized - I can stop it!! At least until I get her to answer me!! All I needed was my access restored so I could FIX the problems that would hurt my reputation by being associated with this… I had put so much work into it that I really wanted to make sure it would be successful.

So I went into the BM folder and took out a critical folder… just “removed” it until she responded. Then I went to our private blog and posted that I had disabled the site temporarily until I got a response, that she should take into consideration those of us who have worked so hard.

As a response, she changed ALL the access to the site so I was completely blocked, then enlisted ANOTHER Butterfly Marketing script owner to provide the missing folder (GOD, how I would love to know who that person is!!) and went ahead with the launch!!

Now, the launch was premature and as a result it was “lukewarm” at best… but still blocked, I told her to return my “fees” since she removed my access, to remove all of my graphics (unless she planned to pay for them) and to remove the Butterfly Marketing script while she was at it because it was under my license.

She replied that she didn’t have to take down the script because she was now licensed under a new Butterfly Marketing owner (hijacker) and she would not return my money or access because she didn’t want me to sabotage the site.

HUH?

I can’t remove the license in my Butterfly Marketing panel in case I am penalized by the terms since I don’t know if it’s a lie that it has been re-licensed. She refused to divulge the name of the new Butterfly Marketing script owner (hijacker).

Also, she has continued using all the graphics (yes, with my name splashed all over them!!) and as a result, I have been sent scathing remarks about “my site” and it’s membership… it has hurt my business to be associated with this project. She has also refused to return my fees, or pay for the graphics.

The site launched, went through it’s first 5 week run, and closed. NOW it is getting ready again to open for “Version 2″ and it has all my graphics still in place!!

As I am the one who created these graphics, and it’s obvious by the attempts to modify them (WITHOUT having the source PSD files) have only served to show this person is trying to steal the work.

I am sending the owner and their host a DMCA TAKE DOWN NOTICE (basically telling them to remove the site until the offending materials are removed). I am posting here and on my other sites about this issue so that others will be aware. I am sending a complaint to their payment processors as well, as they are selling the book with my unauthorized graphics.

I posted the issue on the Butterfly Marketing private forum in an attempt to find the hijacker, and I also posted the problem on the Warrior Forum (the absolute BEST Internet Marketing Forum in the world!!!) and asked for suggestions about dealing with this issue. You can view the thread here:

http://www.warriorforum.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=143369

THESE PEOPLE ROCK!!

A prominent member of the Warriorr forum posted on HIS sites as well… here are the links to check out:

http://stevenwagenheim.blogspot.com/

http://homebizhelpcenter.blogspot.com/

http://www.wagtunes.cashhosters2.com/biz/weekly_picks.html

As of this moment, I am waiting for results from the registrars, hosts and the site owners, and I will keep you updated on my progress.

The site in question is masterresellrightsblowout.com - I didn’t give you a hyperlink, simply because I don’t want to subject you to these unethical people AND I don’t want to give them a single “hit” to exploit in promotional materials (citing Alexa ratings for instance).