Hey - Anyone that is down in Australia - I would REALLY appreciate it if you could tell this cat to cease and desist. Obviously it is hard for me to patrol things like this in a different continent - but with the help of HAMB members - perhaps we could work something out. I will gladly place a reward on anyone that can crack down on people duplicating the Vintage Torque DVDs..... Here is an email I just received: was at a swap meet today at a place called Beaudesert ( 30 mins south of my house ) There was a guy there selling the whole Vintage Torque DVD range for $15 AUD each they look like fakes to me including your art on the DVD 's these are his details Alan Smith Signs Alan Smith Ph +61408 208259 www.alansmithsigns.com.au email alansmithsigns@bigpond.com I have emailed the guy but not heard anything back yet. Bottom line - this guy is duplicating this stuff without approval. Not cool. Undoubtedly doing the other stuff as well - Road to Bonneville, Hot ROd Havoc, Mad Fab, Choppertown, Choppahed, Lions, etc People at the shows are always asking me when the next DVDs will come out........right now I cant afford to even get anything out. It is so bad that I am working a real job this week - the first time I have done that since '92. People just are not spending money the way they used to. So I would love to be able to put out new product - but it takes a lot of time to get these DVDs on the street. And if people are selling our stuff illegally - well that just means that I will have to wait even longer to get more stuff out....cause if I cant get paid then I cant continue. MARK IN JAPAN - how about you go put this guy in a headlock for me?! ANY help will be appreciated Thanks John Wells
did a googl search and found this. it may help. http://www.hotfrog.com.au/Companies/Alan-Smith-Signs-Graphics Al.
Maybe a bunch of us should ring him and tell him that a cease and desist is on its way, and give him the inclination to destroy what he has copied.
Maybe talk to these guys seems your guy donated a custom fridge to there event they may have updated info http://www.hotrodfeatures.com/EventCRAKK07.htm
Lawyers are needed only in last chance scenario - we are all a pretty small community - if we just ask the guy to respect what is goin on - he will stop I hope..... so let's just ask nicely first. Thanks for the support!
C'mon man, no need to drag that slime into this yet... (no offense to any actual attorneys intended!) This ****s, I hope for the best for ya!
John, head over to the OzRodder site and fill them in on whats going on as well. Kinda like a streetrodder version of the HAMB. GREAT guys there. http://www.ozrodders.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=1&sid=efcd0afed82c6b2cd6a062f82b338caf
Hi John! Sorry about the slow uptake. I searched this guy when you first mentioned this, and he advertises all kinds of other hot rod DVDs & Magazines. I did approach another merchant at Chopped Show near Melbourne, and the kats from Kustom Lane said they sell for you happily and want to say hello! They happily posed for the pix I took! As for Al's signs.....I've put the word out to a couple of Bros around the country who tend to turn up to shows & swap meets, and they're more the "ask questions later" type. If it needs more, Sydney's only 8 hours drive, and I got a company credit card for gas, and I'm a pretty small guy! There's been a LOT of proud Aussies on the HAMB later....lets see if one can save me a drive?
OK, copying material and selling it without copyright permission is a criminal offence in Australia, i.e jail time /fines etc. I'm not 100% sure of the legalities but I suggest you contact the Australian Copyright Council www.copyright.org.au and they can advise you. Be better to go after them legally cos it will hurt them a lot more. Kick them right in the pocketbook. EDIT: doesn't matter where the stuff is produced or copied, you are still covered if you have not given permission. Also seller can't say they didn't know, they are responsible.
Not to be a ****, but it might be difficult convincing a stateside lawyer to get after a party operating in Austraila, which may or may not have protection laws covering the copyright(s) on imported materials.
its ****s like this that give us australians a bad rep,,,,for some lame **** reason they think cause they are on the other side of the world they can get away with this type of unexceptable acts!!!!!!!!i go to a every swap i can,,will keep a eye out for this cat...sadly now i think about it i spotted these videos,,but didnt think twice.....
Yeah, we have more than our fair share right here in the good ol' USA. I've contacted a couple of people selling ©, ® & items on the bay, telling them what they're doing is illegal. All but one of them basically told me to F off. One was very polite and removed the item immediately. Another one got really nasty so I contacted the © owner (a personal friend) with the guy's name, etc. The legal system worked in that particular case. Sorry to hear of your trouble John. Wish there was something I could do 'cause I have no use for theives of ANY kind.
I knew Alan. Used to supply him with DVDs, magazines and blankets. He went backrupt owing me and a few other people a lot of money. You'll never hear anything back from him.
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