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Hurt by Piracy

By Kshitij Sharma, July 30, 2009

This astrology site got hurt by piracy again. Someone reverse engineered the chart matching source code from this site and sold to a Sri Lanka based matrimonial site for almost $2,500. The webmaster of this matrimonial site claims to have purchased it from http://www.scriptlance.com/. In the pirated version, the copyright and other information is promptly removed and few display string are changed. The layout and output remains the same.

Although I have taken certain precautions against hackers and code stealers, the fact remains that Java can be reverse engineered if someone is motivated enough.

Are there any readers with legal experience to suggest how I can go after scriptlance?



6 comments

  • Comment by Hello on July 31, 2009 at 3:55 pm

    Very unfortunate indeed. The thieves will stop at nothing.

    There’s nothing you can do against scriptlance, they’re just a freelancing forum. Better start your legal proceedings against the sri lankan website and the freelancer who provided them the site.

    It’s not java that’s getting reverse engineered. It’s probably your code that’s being lifted off as is. Are you making sure your server is secure?

    Good luck buddy.

  • Comment by Sujatha on August 4, 2009 at 12:49 pm

    What u’ve done here is great work Kshitij. It’s sad to c the theft. Some of us use planetarypositions frequently and i trust the calculations of ur software. i wish i cud’ave helped

  • Comment by ravindra on August 14, 2009 at 7:53 pm

    You are running your code in browser i.e. the code has to be downloaded in client browser and person making a hack, will make an hhtp connection to your site and download the code as a browser would do. Once the byte code is obtained then one can certainly reverse engineer.

    BTW, you must take legal action even if it is fruitless against both the parties so they will have a cost for it. Of course you will laso have to take trouble.

  • Comment by Rajat on August 15, 2009 at 12:45 pm

    Hi sir i am a great fan of your application.One possible solution could be if you are using a java applet then use a jar obfuscator to obfuscate the jar contents that will make it almost difficult to reverse engineer the code.

  • Comment by Ramaswami Natarajan on September 29, 2009 at 5:20 am

    Hello:

    I have seen the mails.

    What you need to prove is two fold.

    1. You need to take the code from the other website.

    2. Find out where the server for the SriLankan site is located.

    3. Compare your code with the other code.

    4. No copyright infringement if the code is substantially different. Code must be substantially a copy of your code.

    5. External appearance should be same or substantially same.

    6. Then you need to file a complaint (both criminal and civil can be filed simultaneously). Apart from issuing notices to the freelancer, freelance.com and the Srilankan website, you should also send a notice to the host server that provides web space to the SriLankan site and ask them to stop the offence. For a criminal case you need not give any notice. Just report to the police. For a civil case issue a notice and then file a complaint seeking damages.

    Should you have any other query you can contact me at http://www.tmpsearchers.com/contact.php Our Phone numbers are provided there.

    Best,

    Ramaswami Natarajan
    Attorney
    http://www.tmpsearchers.com

  • Comment by Santosh on January 29, 2010 at 9:01 pm

    Sir,

    Your website is very helpful to many readers/practicing astrolgers. There are many people who use planetarypositions.com to get their horoscopes. It is sad to know about the Piracy.

    I think you should explore all legal routes to sue them. I wish you all the best in your endeavoures to sue those who have reverse engineered the chart/stolen the code.

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