When A Web Site Steals Another Site's Content

Parsimonious.org is a web site that offers objects and skins for the games The Sims and The Sims 2. The webmistress makes her creations available to visitors free of charge. She also makes it very clear that her site's content is not to be redistributed on another site without her permission.

This was posted on Parsimonious.org this morning:

"It has come to our attention that this site, Sims-fr, has uploaded a huge number of our skins without our permission. The owner claims that french people are too stupid to cope with the navigation of our site therefore it is necessary for him to distribute our items. I have emailed him and his web-host repeatedly to complain but so far neither have been inclined to take any action."

I've visited the alleged offending web site. It seems I have to be a member to view and download the objects and skins from it. Supposedly, "french people are too stupid to use the navigation on the Parsimonious site," but yet signing up is required to navigate Sims-fr.com? Sorry, that wouldn't fly with me. The navigation of Parsimonious.org is not hard. In addition, if what Parsimonious claims is true, the web host of Sims-fr.com is risking civil litigation because it has been made aware of the situation but has yet to do anything to correct the situation. That would make it an accessory to the crime by inaction.

The webmistress of Parsimonious.org has a lot of talent. I'd hate to see her get fed up and shut down her site because of situations in which her content is being stolen and displayed by other web sites.

I'm just expressing an opinion here, but if what Parsimonious.org claims is true, then Sims-fr.com is in the wrong and should be ashamed.

Update 3/8/2005: The post from Parsimonious pertaining to Sims-fr is no longer on the web site.