Web Design Forums

top_buzz · 24-01-2006, 15:17

Some nob nose has been using an swf decompiler to completely rip off loads of my banners! He's done direct copies of some of my stuff then stuck shitty text tweens zooming around on top.

Pisses me off that hes making money off stuff i've done

Is there anything I can do?

d3mcfadden · 24-01-2006, 15:41

You got any links to this jack ass's shit...? That is bullshit.

sub · 24-01-2006, 15:49

Best thing to do is confront the person responsible. If you don't get any I'd name and shame the bastards in my opinion.

adras · 24-01-2006, 16:21

Email the company that the ads are made for, tell them the story.

top_buzz · 24-01-2006, 17:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by adras

Email the company that the ads are made for, tell them the story.

The company they were for is a client of mine. They use this guy sometimes when i'm too busy, so I don't think they'll be bothered

I guess its tough shit.

Brown · 24-01-2006, 18:32

drop them an email and tell them what you think of them.

mike_m · 24-01-2006, 18:40

Quote:

I guess its tough shit.

Bollocks it is. This kind of thing makes me seeth.

The client shouldn't own the SWF's of the end product they paid for (ie. the final banners) - and therefore have no rights to change them and re-use them without your permission - you are the copyright holder to the source files not them (and I'm crossing my fingers that you used a decent contract here, but unless you specifically gave them copyright, you're ok) .

This is if the banners used are ones you made for that particular client - if not - then the client and the designer are both putting themselves in a shaky legal position, and it will be even easier for you to force them to stop, and take the banners down.

I suggest you start with a polite letter to all parties - you need to nip this in the bud or it will carry on and get worse - if you want help with it PM me and I'll happily help you put something together to send them.

cam · 24-01-2006, 18:58

That's shit, Nick. I'd say a polite, but firm, letter is the only possible recourse you have. The legality of reverse engineering is particularly untested ground when it comes to software in the UK (more on that here) - not that legal action is something i'd recommend you consider.

Send a letter to the developer first, making it clear you know what's happening and that you're not happy about it (I'd also add the fact that you are willing to contact the client directly to let them know) and see what happens.

smallbeer · 24-01-2006, 19:02

I concur.

shit in a bag and post it through their letter box.

cam · 24-01-2006, 19:03

Oh, and I seem to remember reading a while ago that it's possible to process your swf's and make them either more difficult or impossible to decompile. I'm not really a regular flash user, but I'm sure google could find some stuff.

datahound · 24-01-2006, 19:38

I'm with smallbeer.

Superglue the locks of their cars.

Apply in their name and address for various hearing aids, double glazing, etc and always tick the "share my details" box.

smallbeer · 24-01-2006, 20:00

drug rape them vigorously and repeatedly to the beat of the said banner.

d*d · 25-01-2006, 04:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike_mitry

Bollocks it is. This kind of thing makes me seeth.
The client shouldn't own the SWF's of the end product they paid for (ie. the final banners) .

Why not? what they don't own is the .fla - but they can do what they like with the graphics (not sure about ripping the .swfs) if this was for anyone else other than the client they were originally made for you'd have more of case. Time to tighten up your terms and conditions to make sure it can't happen again - and go round to the person in question with a baseball bat, take it to his computer and tell him not to use an swf decompiler on your work ever again or you'll do the same to his kneecaps

mike_m · 25-01-2006, 04:56

my bad, meant .fla not .swf

mx · 25-01-2006, 05:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by smallbeer

drug rape them vigorously and repeatedly to the beat of the said banner.

haha! now we're getting somewhere!

On a more helpful note, I believe swift optimizer helps protect your flash swf from decompliers.

From my limited experience of decompliers, they seem to rely heavily on the the timeline to draw out the code so avoiding the main timeline and using functions embedded in movieclips rather than tweens should help.

top_buzz · 25-01-2006, 06:01

Thanks for all the tips. I'll put my ass kickin boots on and we'll see what happens

d*d · 25-01-2006, 06:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by top_buzz

I'll put my ass kickin boots on and we'll see what happens

finbarr · 25-01-2006, 06:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by top_buzz

I'll put my ass kickin boots on...

?????

adam c · 25-01-2006, 06:23

I'm sure I've read about encypting swf's so that they are difficult to decomplie. I think this is more for actionScript rather that graphics though. I'll see if I can dig out the article.

top_buzz · 29-01-2006, 13:14

Just got myself this app:

http://www.amayeta.com/software/swfencrypt/

Hope it'll be enough to stop the little stain.

24-01-2006, 15:17	#1 (permalink)
top_buzz For your health! Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,447	I feel violated! Some nob nose has been using an swf decompiler to completely rip off loads of my banners! He's done direct copies of some of my stuff then stuck shitty text tweens zooming around on top. Pisses me off that hes making money off stuff i've done Is there anything I can do?

24-01-2006, 16:21	#4 (permalink)
adras Zły Join Date: May 2004 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,920	Email the company that the ads are made for, tell them the story. __________________ Be Crisp (tm)

25-01-2006, 04:56	#14 (permalink)
mike_m Work faster microphone .. Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 1,709	my bad, meant .fla not .swf __________________

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24-01-2006, 15:41	#2 (permalink)
d3mcfadden Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: - Posts: 694	You got any links to this jack ass's shit...? That is bullshit.

24-01-2006, 15:49	#3 (permalink)
sub Shitcasket™ Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Brighton Posts: 3,972	Best thing to do is confront the person responsible. If you don't get any I'd name and shame the bastards in my opinion.

24-01-2006, 18:32	#6 (permalink)
Brown volkswagen yellow & gold Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: london, england. Posts: 6,191	drop them an email and tell them what you think of them.

24-01-2006, 18:58	#8 (permalink)
cam vague™ Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Glasgow Posts: 5,365	That's shit, Nick. I'd say a polite, but firm, letter is the only possible recourse you have. The legality of reverse engineering is particularly untested ground when it comes to software in the UK (more on that here) - not that legal action is something i'd recommend you consider. Send a letter to the developer first, making it clear you know what's happening and that you're not happy about it (I'd also add the fact that you are willing to contact the client directly to let them know) and see what happens.

24-01-2006, 19:02	#9 (permalink)
smallbeer I Ain't Losing Any Sleep™ Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 5,237	I concur. shit in a bag and post it through their letter box.

24-01-2006, 19:03	#10 (permalink)
cam vague™ Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Glasgow Posts: 5,365	Oh, and I seem to remember reading a while ago that it's possible to process your swf's and make them either more difficult or impossible to decompile. I'm not really a regular flash user, but I'm sure google could find some stuff.

24-01-2006, 19:38	#11 (permalink)
datahound Spare Parts Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bracknell Forest Posts: 4,734	I'm with smallbeer. Superglue the locks of their cars. Apply in their name and address for various hearing aids, double glazing, etc and always tick the "share my details" box.

24-01-2006, 20:00	#12 (permalink)
smallbeer I Ain't Losing Any Sleep™ Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 5,237	drug rape them vigorously and repeatedly to the beat of the said banner.

25-01-2006, 06:01	#16 (permalink)
top_buzz For your health! Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,447	Thanks for all the tips. I'll put my ass kickin boots on and we'll see what happens

25-01-2006, 06:23	#19 (permalink)
adam c berserker than thou Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 450	I'm sure I've read about encypting swf's so that they are difficult to decomplie. I think this is more for actionScript rather that graphics though. I'll see if I can dig out the article.

29-01-2006, 13:14	#20 (permalink)
top_buzz For your health! Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,447	Just got myself this app: http://www.amayeta.com/software/swfencrypt/ Hope it'll be enough to stop the little stain.

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