Client hosting a nullified script?

[RadixHosting]

I was just wondering:

Is it the webhosts responsibility in any way when a client hosts a script illegally? For example, a nullified vBulletin forum without a license.

Thanks

[Erizo]

It's the responsibility when the webhosts don't do anything when they know of the script. But if they do, they must remove the script, as is the same as hosting copyright contents.
And also, for example if jelsoft contacts the webhost about the account using vBulletin, well, it's the same as if someone contacts rapidshare for some files being ilegally hosted on their server.

I hope i explained it well.

[RadixHosting]

Yes you did. :) Thanks.

[Skylar]

He basically summed it up. It isn't your responsibility to scan your sites for nullified scripts, but if you are confronted by Jelsoft, etc then it is then your responsibility to remove that. Typically I would suspend the account, send an email out regarding the issue with a few FREE solutions, and if no reply is made, then terminate the account.

[Dynash]

you can install software that searches accounts and identifies it. though these aren't full proof.

if you beleive someone to be hosting it, ask for a licence.
or, view the files, if you can't find call backs, like in the normal files, then you know they are. but your best bet is holding a policy, ask before install. that is what we do. then we verify a list of accounts that are valid.

it was pretty easy for me to find them. most of them asked me directly how to install it.. and would i do it for them..

[Skylar]

you can install software that searches accounts and identifies it. though these aren't full proof.

if you beleive someone to be hosting it, ask for a licence.
or, view the files, if you can't find call backs, like in the normal files, then you know they are. but your best bet is holding a policy, ask before install. that is what we do. then we verify a list of accounts that are valid.

it was pretty easy for me to find them. most of them asked me directly how to install it.. and would i do it for them..

Your "script" does have a flaw. The recent nullified vBulletin forums have had "fake" keys put in place of a "real" one when you install it, thus making it appear to be nulled.

[BrandonTheG]

Your "script" does have a flaw. The recent nullified vBulletin forums have had "fake" keys put in place of a "real" one when you install it, thus making it appear to be nulled.

My trick for seeing if a vBulletin is nulled or not is opening includes/vbulletin_credits.php. If the links there point to vbulletin.com it's usually valid, but most nulled vBulletin's I see either go through Google or remove them completely, just leaving the names.

[Dynash]

Your "script" does have a flaw. The recent nullified vBulletin forums have had "fake" keys put in place of a "real" one when you install it, thus making it appear to be nulled.

thats why i said it's not full proof. maybe if there was a API to check for valid licences through verified accounts, then maybe. but don't see that happening.
even if they don't notice it is a nulled version, it will still notice it as vBulletin, send us an email, we go investigate.
either way, we'll find out.

[Skylar]

thats why i said it's not full proof. maybe if there was a API to check for valid licences through verified accounts, then maybe. but don't see that happening.
even if they don't notice it is a nulled version, it will still notice it as vBulletin, send us an email, we go investigate.
either way, we'll find out.

If I feel iffy on a license, I just open a ticket with Jelsoft and give them the license that is in the coding and the URL to see if it is valid. I rarely do that though.

[Dynash]

If I feel iffy on a license, I just open a ticket with Jelsoft and give them the license that is in the coding and the URL to see if it is valid. I rarely do that though.

yeah, i've done that a few times, same with IPBoard. Inivision tell you if it is legal and verified to that user, if you give them the info. Yet, Jelsoft i've noticed recently aren't helpful when i've tried to validate a licence.

[JohnN]

yeah, i've done that a few times, same with IPBoard. Inivision tell you if it is legal and verified to that user, if you give them the info. Yet, Jelsoft i've noticed recently aren't helpful when i've tried to validate a licence.

Surprising really, you'd think they'd do everything in their power to make it easy.

In my experience if you personally know about one you should do something about it. It's wise not to get a reputation for tolerating piracy or you could find yourself with a much larger problem.

[Skylar]

Surprising really, you'd think they'd do everything in their power to make it easy.

In my experience if you personally know about one you should do something about it. It's wise not to get a reputation for tolerating piracy or you could find yourself with a much larger problem.

I agree

[Dynash]

Surprising really, you'd think they'd do everything in their power to make it easy.

In my experience if you personally know about one you should do something about it. It's wise not to get a reputation for tolerating piracy or you could find yourself with a much larger problem.

oh, i wouldn't. i'd wait a day or so, to make sure the person who wasn't helpful, not respond to my ticket.
i remember one time, one of the support team was asking for the licence #, transaction ID, name, address, email etc, and a post to prove that i was working at the host. yet, she couldn't grasp that the info i gave her was all that she needed. i just used the same template as i did for the others, yet they seemed to work fine, only that one time, she didn't have a clue. after pointing it out to her. then she just ignored me and wouldn't reply to the ticket. :eek2:

[Skylar]

To be honest I am not very lenient when it comes to people spamming, scamming, and using nulled scripts. I suspend their account, because they then HAVE to respond to the ticket.

[Erizo]

To be honest I am not very lenient when it comes to people spamming, scamming, and using nulled scripts. I suspend their account, because they then HAVE to respond to the ticket.

That's what a good host would do. I too, suspended the member's account and asked for license proof and everything. If they didn't respond for like two days, the account was terminated, if they did respond (rarely) we went ahead with the company's website to see if the license was real.

Most of the nulled scripts we found on these times were vBulletin, IPB and stuff that costs a lot (phpFox, Vivvo, etc..)

[Dynash]

so far, the script we are using is working a charm.
found alot of vBulletin accounts, proxies, torrent trackers, phising sites.
so far i must have removed about 100 accounts in the last 2 days alone.
with nearly 100 emails per day.

[Skylar]

so far, the script we are using is working a charm.
found alot of vBulletin accounts, proxies, torrent trackers, phising sites.
so far i must have removed about 100 accounts in the last 2 days alone.
with nearly 100 emails per day.

And what script are you guys using?

[Dynash]

And what script are you guys using?

i'll have to ask the owner, i can't remember the exact details etc.
it uses Google/Yahoo too, to search through their database for links back to Freeweb7.

it's not the greatest script, it needs some tweaking, as it keeps sending same emails again when the account doesn't exist anymore, but i think that's just the problem from the search engine not being up to date.

but hey, it's helps us remove violating accounts easier.:fangel:

[SyntheticChaos]

It's the responsibility when the webhosts don't do anything when they know of the script. But if they do, they must remove the script, as is the same as hosting copyright contents.
And also, for example if jelsoft contacts the webhost about the account using vBulletin, well, it's the same as if someone contacts rapidshare for some files being ilegally hosted on their server.

I hope i explained it well.
That is exactly the policy I have been running on for the past couple of years. I have yet had a problem. I was contacted a few times by companies and just removed the content, no problems. From time to time I will do a major sweep of all the clients to see if everyone is in order, other than that, I just rely on reports.

[Darknight]

I was just wondering:

Is it the webhosts responsibility in any way when a client hosts a script illegally? For example, a nullified vBulletin forum without a license.

Thanks

If one does not look one has nothing to worry about, Just dont look at clients data, Of course if its reported you must remove it... :knockedou