msleeper wrote:
So I hate to dig this up out of the grave, but I've finally looked into it and it's obvious to me that this site is both 1.) stealing a lot of our traffic, and 2.) rehosting YOUR content without YOUR permission.
I have gone ahead and filed a DMCA Takedown request with the host as an umbrella, since TWP is originally hosting this content. Anyone who does not want their map hosted there, or who feels that they should have been asked permission for this prior to it being rehosted, is strongly urged to file a similar DMCA takedown. Here is an example DMCA, and the addresses it needs to be mailed to:
MAIL TO THESE ADDRESSES
```
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
> DMCA TAKEDOWN
> Copy in full, fill in your information, look for content in [BRACKETS]
>
> ```
October 31, 2011
>
> [YOUR NAME]
> [YOUR EMAIL]
> [YOUR PHONE NUMBER]
> [YOUR FULL MAILING ADDRESS]
>
> Stratoserver.net, Strato AG
> C/O Copyright Agent for Notice of Claims of Copyright Infringement
>
> Sent via: Email
> DMCA Notice of Copyright Infringement
> re: Copyright infringement of hosted content
>
> Dear Stratoserver.net, Strato AG,
>
> Please take appropriate action to disable access to the infringing
> materials described below, in accordance with the provisions of the
> Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998.
>
> Should you require further information regarding this matter, please
> feel free to return email, or if necessary, call me by phone. Thank
> you for your quick assistance and cooperation.
>
> Regards,
>
> [YOUR NAME]
>
> ELECTRONIC NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT
>
> I, the undersigned, CERTIFY UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY that I am an
> agent authorized to act on behalf of the owner of certain intellectual
> property rights, said owner being named:
>
> [YOUR NAME], original copyright holder
>
> I have a good faith belief that the items or materials listed below
> are not authorized by the above IP Owners, their agents, or the law
> and therefore infringe the IP Owner's rights. Please act expeditiously
> to remove or disable access to the material or items claimed to be
> infringing.
>
> I may be contacted at:
>
> [YOUR NAME]
> [YOUR EMAIL]
> [YOUR PHONE NUMBER]
> [YOUR FULL MAILING ADDRESS]
>
> My actual or electronic signature follows:
>
> /s/ [YOUR NAME]
>
> Allegedly Infringing items or materials:
>
> Infringed Work or Right:
> - Content uploaded without original author's permission
>
> Location of ORIGINAL WORKS:
> - [URL to your file downloads, IE:]
> - http://forums.thinking.withportals.com/downloads.php?view=detail&df_id=xxxx
>
> URL(s) of Infringed Works or Right:
> - http://www.portaldb.net/maps
Yes, you have to fill out all of the information there for it to be a "valid" DMCA request.
I have also taken measures for this person to no longer be able to scrape content from our site, and I'm going to be looking into the appropriate cyberlaws that would apply to maliciously copying content like this.
It was Halloween, so I expected something coming back from the dead. 
Has this issue continued since August 21? I just check the PortalDB website and the person hasn't uploaded any new maps (that I could tell). I get where msleeper is coming from; however, taking action now seems a bit too late. If the person/site manager hasn't taken down the maps that authors told him to (he posted he would take down maps if people e-mailed him), then I would feel the need to file a DMCA.
. Anyway this was kinda of the point so let me get back to it. IF you look at the portalDB website you'll see a lot of improvement that TWP.com could implement and make this website even better. For example the search is very simple and there for it's easy to find maps. Search by number of downloads, rating, uploaded date and stuff like that make it easier for people to find maps they might want to play and that site has managed to do this. Unfortunately I can't say this for TWP and i wish this kind of things were added. And I'm speaking from my own experience when i say that usually I end up search stuff by date added and the number of dls. When searching for something new i go with date and when I just feel like playing a quality map on my own or with my friends I look up to dl count and rating.
