Web pirates now lifting sites en toto

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Mar 15, 2004 | by JIM BAINBRIDGE Gazette online reporter

Silicon.com has uncovered an alarming new wrinkle in Web site hacking that might properly be called Web hijacking, in that it involves the complete "cut and paste" transfer of a Web site onto the thief's Web site. Thus far, Silicon.com is aware of just two companies -- one British, one American -- that have been pirated in this manner, "but the pattern and the ease with which these criminals can (operate) has raised concerns that many more companies could have fallen victim to this ploy -- and that many others may do so in the future," the Web site said.

The first known site to be caught in this hijacking ploy was the 5- year-old British Web site called Car Enthusiast -- dedicated to all things automotive. Site operator Shane O'Donoghue discovered last month that another site, Car or Car, ripped off his site design, content and even his copyright notice. Because the content was lifted en toto, O'Donoghue was even listed as Car or Car's editor. When Silicon.com attempted to contact Car or Car for comment, there was no reply but the site was shifted overnight to the Rochester, N.Y.- based Sports Car Club of America Web site.

www.carorcar.com

www.carenthusiast.com

www.flr-scca.com

Alcohol Web pages attract minors

A new study by the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth at Georgetown University characterizes alcohol company Web sites as "cyber playgrounds," that attracted nearly 700,000 visits by underage people from July through December. Many played video games and downloaded music, e-mail gadgets and icons -- all the while immersed in the marketing of beer and liquor.

"If a liquor store were this ineffective in policing underage visits," center director Jim O'Hara told The Associated Press, "the community would be up in arms." The study showed about 13 percent of visitors to 55 alcohol company Web sites were under the legal drinking age of 21.

Frank Coleman of the Distilled Spirits Council called the study a publicity stunt, adding the Federal Trade Commission "reviewed our ads and said they were directed to adults, that our Web content is directed to adults and that 99.9 percent of them had age verification in place, in addition to having responsible drinking messages throughout."

camy.org

www.discus.org

RealNetworks sues over 'favoritism'

RealNetworks Inc. has sued the company that broadcasts major league baseball games over the Internet, alleging it is violating an agreement by favoring a rival media player from Microsoft Corp. over Real's system. RealNetworks accuses Major League Baseball Advanced Media of breach of contract in the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle. RealNetworks is seeking to make MLB Advanced Media offer users the option to see and hear games with Real's technology, along with other formats such as Microsoft's Windows Media player.

www.mlb.com

www.real.com

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0126 or bainbird@gazette.com