Internet Brands and Intellecual Property: If You Post It, They Own It??

[ApexOversteer]

I'm at work today and this lady biker comes in on a Suzuki Boulevard and in conversation I mentioned a website community for Boulevard riders and she snorted...

"They sold out to Internet Brands and as soon as IB took over they tripled the moderating team (site had been mostly mod-hands-off) and started banning people left and right."

I get home and, start emailing old contacts from the forum there and sure enough, IB came to town and within 6 months had banned several charter members.

But what got me the most was the reason for one particular banning. A longtime member was told she had been banned for taking a tech post someone else posted from IB's Boulevard forum and posting it on another, privately owned, Boulevard forum. IB claims that once something is posted on an IB forum, it becomes IB intellectual property, and cut/pasting content from an IB forum to another forum is apparently ban-worthy. Mind you, she knew the author of the post, knew that the author of the post would be reposting the same post in answer to the same question, and she also knew the author of the post wasn't available to make that post, helping another Boulevard rider affect a repair to his bike.

So they banned her for 30 days for that, and then extended it to permanent when she made comment on that other non-IB owned forum.

Even better, I heard that IB bought a quilting site and their new mods were making sure the little old ladies on the quilting forum behaved. My roommate watched as one IB mod banned an 82 year old woman because she posted a thread in the wrong forum section and when they closed the thread she reopened it in the appropriate section.

I'm telling you, this IB crap makes me want to go all Sarah Conner on them. F**K Skynet, Internet Brands is the true evil...

[BuckyThreadkiller]

It's why we're here Apex. It's why we're here.

Vote with your feet.

[Datawiz]

[DAB]

much better 'customer service' when a real person (Gary, whom i have never met) runs the shop, and not some corporation hiding behind 'procedure manuals' that suck the common sense out of life.

IB: Idiot Brands.

[Norm]

If it's IB connected, you won't see me over there, at least not knowingly.

[DJ_Critterus]

My favorite forums are non-IB ones. This forum, Pocketbikeforums, and one particular Masonic forum. If they take over any of these sites I'm going ghost never to return.

[Petew1971]

IB ..isnt that Irritable Bowels?

[99 pewtercoupe]

Is there any way to get a listing of the forums IB owns?

[Jeff '79]

2/10......

[Datawiz]

Bet they think they own the "Datawiz Quiz" too.

[JRD77VET]

Originally Posted by 99 pewtercoupe

Is there any way to get a listing of the forums IB owns?

Quick search found this ( dated march 18 2008 )
When you've owned the physical world, start owning the forums! - CNET Asia Blogs: reHASHplus



Autos.com
CarsDirect
InstantCarLoan
NewCarTestDrive
6SpeedOnline
ATVConnection
AudiForums
AudiWorld
CamaroForums
ChevroletForum
ClubLexus
CorvetteForum
DodgeForum
F150online
Ford-Trucks
G35Driver
GreenHybrid
HDForums
LandRoverForums
LS1Tech
MazdaForum
MBWorld
MustangForums
My350z
MyG37
NorthAmericanMotoring
PassionFord
Rennlist
RX7Club
S2000.com
ScionLife
ScoobyNet
ThirdGen.org
VolvoForums
Wikicars
YotaTech
zDriver

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Check out here http://www.internetbrands.com/ib/autonetwork/

holy crap

[Blue 92]

Originally Posted by 99 pewtercoupe

Is there any way to get a listing of the forums IB owns?

The lists can be found here: http://www.internetbrands.com/our-brands

Here's just the automotive related ones....
eCommerce

* CarsDirect.com
* Autos.com
* NewCarTestDrive.com
* SellMyCar.com

Acura

* AcuraForums.com
* AcuraLegend.com
* AcuraZine.com

Audi

* AudiForums.com
* AudiWorld.com

BMW

* 5Series.net

Chrysler

* ChryslerForum.com
* DodgeChallenger.com
* DodgeForum.com
* ModernHemi.com
* MoparForums.com

Ford

* F150Online.com
* FordForum.com
* FordMustangs.com
* Ford-Trucks.com
* MercuryForum.com
* ModMotorTech.com
* MustangBoards.com
* MustangForums.com
* PassionFord.com

Harley Davidson

* HDForums.com

Honda

* CBRForum.com
* CivicForums.com
* FitFreak.net
* HondaAccordForum.com
* Honda-Acura.net
* HondaCivicForum.com
* HondaForum.com
* HondaMarketPlace.com
* Honda-Tech.com
* S2000.com
* SuperhawkForum.com

Hyundai

* Hyundaiforum.com

General Motors

* BlazerForum.com
* Buickforum.com
* Cadillacforum.com
* CamaroForums.com
* ChevroletForum.com
* CobaltSS.net
* CorvetteForum.com
* CorvetteForums.com
* HummerForums.com
* LS1Tech.com
* MonteCarloForum.com
* PontiacTalk.com
* Saabforums.com
* Saturnforum.com
* ThirdGen.org

Infiniti

* G35Driver.com
* MyG37.com

Isuzu

* IsuzuForums.com

Jaguar

* JaguarForums.com

Kawasaki

* KawasakiForums.com

Land Rover

* LandRoverForums.com

Lexus

* ClubLexus.com
* LexusForum.com

Mazda

* Mazda3Club.com
* MazdaForum.com
* RX7Club.com
* RX8Club.com

Mercedes

* MBWorld.org
* MercedesForum.com
* MercedesMcLaren.com

Mini

* MiniCooperForums.com
* NorthAmericanMotoring.com

Mitsubishi

* EvolutionM.net
* MitsubishiForum.com

Nissan

* GTRforums.com
* Maxima.org
* My350z.com
* NissanForum.com
* NissanMaximas.com
* S-chassis.com
* ZDriver.com

Oldsmobile

* ClassicOldsmobile.com
* OldsmobileForum.com

Porsche

* 6speedOnline.com
* GermanAutoForums.com
* RennList.com

Scion

* Scionlife.com

Subaru

* i-Club.com
* Scoobynet.com

Suzuki

* SuzukiForum.com

Toyota

* 4RunnerForum.com
* CamryForums.com
* YotaTech.com

Volvo

* VolvoForums.com

Volkswagen

* VolkswagenForum.com

Multi

* ATVConnection.com
* BikerForums.org
* GreenHybrid.com
* Performancetrucks.net
* Stuntlife.com
* TruckForums.com
* Wikicars.org

[ApexOversteer]

Originally Posted by 99 pewtercoupe

Is there any way to get a listing of the forums IB owns?

Here is a listing dating September 2010...

CarsDirect.com
Autos.com
NewCarTestDrive.com
SellMyCar.com
AcuraForums.com
AcuraLegend.com
AcuraZine.com
AudiForums.com
AudiWorld.com
ChryslerForum.com
DodgeChallenger.com
DodgeForum.com
ModernHemi.com
MoparForums.com
F150Online.com
FordForum.com
FordMustangs.com
Ford-Trucks.com
MercuryForum.com
ModMotorTech.com
MustangBoards.com
MustangForums.com
PassionFord.com
HDForums.com
CBRForum.com
CivicForums.com
FitFreak.net
HondaAccordForum.com
Honda-Acura.net
HondaCivicForum.com
HondaForum.com
HondaMarketPlace.com
Honda-Tech.com
S2000.com
SuperhawkForum.com
Hyundaiforum.com
BlazerForum.com
Buickforum.com
Cadillacforum.com
CamaroForums.com
ChevroletForum.com
CobaltSS.net
CorvetteForum.com
CorvetteForums.com
HummerForums.com
LS1Tech.com
MonteCarloForum.com
PontiacTalk.com
Saabforums.com
Saturnforum.com
ThirdGen.org
G35Driver.com
MyG37.com
IsuzuForums.com
JaguarForums.com
KawasakiForums.com
LandRoverForums.com
ClubLexus.com
LexusForum.com
Mazda3Club.com
MazdaForum.com
RX7Club.com
RX8Club.com
MBWorld.org
MercedesForum.com
MercedesMcLaren.com
MiniCooperForums.com
NorthAmericanMotoring.com
EvolutionM.net
MitsubishiForum.com
GTRforums.com
Maxima.org
My350z.com
NissanForum.com
NissanMaximas.com
S-chassis.com
ZDriver.com
ClassicOldsmobile.com
OldsmobileForum.com
6speedOnline.com
GermanAutoForums.com
RennList.com
Scionlife.com
i-Club.com
Scoobynet.com
SuzukiForum.com
4RunnerForum.com
CamryForums.com
YotaTech.com
VolvoForums.com
VolkswagenForum.com
ATVConnection.com
BikerForums.org
GreenHybrid.com
Performancetrucks.net
Stuntlife.com
TruckForums.com
Wikicars.org
AirlinePilotCentral.com
aviationemployment.com
pprune.org
ClassADrivers.com
RealPolice.net
GrooveJob.com
fleethelper.com
3FatChicks.com
CancerForums.net
DentalFind.com
FitDay.com
HealthNews.org
OnlineSurgery.com
InfertilitySpecialist.com
I-Am-Pregnant.com
SkinCareGuide.com
Vasectomy.com
VeinDirectory.org
DermaNetwork.org
ScanDirectory.com
ApartmentRatings.com
Craftster.org
DavesGarden.com
DoItYourself.com
ePodunk.com
Gardens.com
RealEstateABC.com
Splitcoaststampers.com
ThatRentalSite.com
tenantmarket.com
businessmart.com
businessfinance.com
creditorweb.com
brokeroutpost.com
ExpertHub.com
finweb.com
Loan.com
mortgage101.com
smallbusinessnotes.com
AVRev.com
bargainist.com
Tjoos.com
BensBargains.net
DoDTracker.com
PursePage.com
Boddit.com
DealLocker.com
HighDefDigest.com
HighDefForum.com
Outblush.com
Steves-Digicams.com
UltimateCoupons.com
bbonline.com
cruisemates.com
cruisereviews.com
slowtrav.com
vacationtimesharerentals.com
vacationhomes.com
vamoose.com
bikeforums.net
dvdtalk.com
equinehits.com
familycorner.com
flyertalk.com
horsetopia.com
kidscamps.com
thehulltruth.com
huntingnet.com
mysummercamps.com
offshoreonly.com
puppydogweb.com
trekearth.com
wikitravel.org
world66.com
vetinfo.com
britishexpats.com

[BuckyThreadkiller]

I'd REALLY like to see a lawsuit on this to establish some precedent.

Seems to me that would be like FedEx claiming the IP on a manuscript that they deliver. IF you aren't the content creator or paying for that content then I would think the author would ALWAYS have the copyright/IP.

If anything I'd sue IB for infringement.

[99 pewtercoupe]

Sounds like they are trying to own the Internet forums

[JRD77VET]

I-Am-Pregnant.com

Vasectomy.com


DoItYourself.com

[ApexOversteer]

Originally Posted by BuckyThreadkiller

I'd REALLY like to see a lawsuit on this to establish some precedent.

Seems to me that would be like FedEx claiming the IP on a manuscript that they deliver. IF you aren't the content creator or paying for that content then I would think the author would ALWAYS have the copyright/IP.

If anything I'd sue IB for infringement.

Yeah, exactly. What if you were to write a series of how-to tutorials on a forum and then decide to collect those works in a book? Is IB gonna try and snake you on that? Common sense says "NO way do they have the right" but our legal system gave up common sense long ago...

[Petew1971]

I made a website about dog penis's and IB wanted to buy it..I said no

[Stangkiller]

Over moderated is one thing, but what gives those moderators the right to be so condescending about it?

[99 pewtercoupe]

Originally Posted by Petew1971

I made a website about dog penis's and IB wanted to buy it..I said no

Who would not want www.pugpeepees.com.