Summary

The website content provides Medium writers with updates and instructions on dealing with copyright infringement by ICHI.PRO, including how to file a DMCA take-down notice.

Abstract

The webpage serves as an alert to Medium writers about ongoing copyright infringement issues with the website ICHI.PRO, which has been scraping content from Medium and removing author bylines. The page includes a series of updates documenting the persistent reappearance of the infringing site despite takedowns, and it emphasizes the importance of sending DMCA notices to the appropriate web hosting companies. It also provides detailed instructions on how to identify an infringer's IP address and web hosting company, as well as the necessary information to include in a DMCA take-down notice. The page encourages writers to remain vigilant and to take action by the infringement, suggesting that the battle against content scrapers is ongoing and requires proactive measures from the writing community.

Opinions

The author expresses frustration with the recurring nature of ICHI.PRO's infringement and the lack of response from some web hosting companies.
There is a sense of urgency and a call to action for Medium writers to send DMCA notices to combat the infringement.
The author views the actions of ICHI.PRO as a form of war, suggesting a strong stance against copyright infringement.
The creation of the hashtag #WritersPersist indicates a collective effort and solidarity among writers in the face of copyright violations.
The author has a dim view of OVH, the web hosting company, suggesting they may be a "willful party to the infringement."
There is skepticism about the normalcy of ICHI.PRO's behavior, even for a content scraper, due to their frequent disappearances and reappearances.
The author is prepared to issue sternly-worded notices to hosting companies and advises writers to keep their DMCA templates handy for future infractions.

Copyright

Medium Writers Alert: Known Infringers + DMCA Take-Down Instuctions

Don’t just shrug it off

UPDATE 12/17/2020: No peace on ICHI or goodwill towards them…

The following is part of a longer thread. Have at ’em — you can probably just dig out the old DMCA notices, but it looks like they have made it harder, this time, by adding a story title before the database numbers.

UPDATE 9/10/2020: Curiouser and curiouser…

They’re back again. I’m starting to wonder if the up-down-up-down isn’t just server issues on their host. The host has not replied to my last DMCA notice at all. And this every-other-day disappearing, reappearing act ICHI seems to be engaging in isn’t normal — even for a content scraper! Anyway, they were gone for a bit, yesterday. But maybe the hosting server was just down.

UPDATE 9/8/2020: This is getting to be a bad habit.

They’re back up again. And they are still on OVH. At this point, I can only assume OVH is a willful party to the infringement. C’mon, writers — bombard them with those DMCA take-down requests.

UPDATE 9/6/2020: Good God, that was fast.

They are back down — again. Keep those DMCA templates handy, though. I doubt we’ve heard the last of them. This time, they returned on the same host, and this time, I sent the hosting company a little more sternly-worded notice. But still, keep an eye out. I’ve no doubt they’ll return in one form or another, until we ensure that there is no profit or point in whatever it is they’re up to.

UPDATE: 9/5/2020: The head lice are back.

Same instructions as given below apply. However, I am working on a tantalizing little writers’ challenge — because war means war. Stay tuned. I will update this with a link.

UPDATE: 9/2/2020: ICHI is back down.

Informed by their latest web hosting company that “the client has been entered into a database of repeat infringers.”

And a hashtag is born: #WritersPersist. Don’t mess with writers.

UPDATE: 8/30/2020: It’s like a game of Whack-a-Mole, isn’t it?

ICHI’s back up — for now. Look, folks, you really need to send in those DMCA notices. This time, to [email protected].

Why?

UPDATE: 8/20/2020: ICHI.PRO has been taken down!

From their former web host’s abuse manager:

“None of the reported URLs are loading at this time as the website was disabled due to a previous abuse case and reseller was told to get it removed from the network. I would recommend that you keep this notice handy as when they move to another network you will need to send your notice to that abuse team for removal.

Let us know if you should require further assistance.”

Hoo boy. Stay vigilant!

UPDATE 8/19/2020: There’s a NEW one!

ICHI.PRO appears to have brazenly scraped most of Medium — at least all of the main and somewhat popular publications — and they are removing the author bylines to make it harder to detect. Here are some screenshots to prove it:

General Instructions

How to Find a Copyright Infringer’s IP Address and Web Hosting Company

Here’s how to determine an infringer’s web hosting company and what’s needed in a DMCA take-down complaint.

Domain to IP Converter Tool

A Domain to IP Converter Tool is used in order to convert URL to IP address. But why is it necessary to do so? We will…

www.rankwatch.com

Then use DomainTools.com to find out who the host is, using the IP address instead of the domain:

https://whois.domaintools.com/

How to File a DMCA Take-Down Notice

Here’s the info on how to file a complaint:

You will need to provide the following info:

Name, address, phone number, email address (if available) and physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on the copyright owner’s behalf;

Identification of the copyrighted work(s);

Identification of the infringing material you are asking us to remove or disable, and the Internet location of the infringing material;

Any additional information required to be included in a copyright infringement complaint under applicable law (as we may request from you as necessary)

A statement that you have a good faith belief that use of the disputed material is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent or the law;

A statement that the information in the complaint is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that you are authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed; AND

Your signature.

Please submit your complaint in one of the following ways:

Email the signed notification to : [THE WEB HOSTING COMPANY’S COPYRIGHT or ABUSE DEPARTMENT]

Please note that you maybe liable for damages (including costs and attorneys’ fees) if you materially misrepresent that material is infringing your copyright. Accordingly, if you are not sure whether material available online infringes your copyright, we suggest that you first contact an attorney.

In short, don’t file if writing for which you hold copyright has not been used without your consent. Do file, if it has.