How to know if a sponsor is in danger of closing their doors

[Lamis]

This is a very simple method that worked 9 out of 10 times in the last 2 years with dozens of sponsors.

Check their Copyright year in FOOTER, right now, I would say that if they didn't update the copyright footer, and it says 2007 or sooner, they are probably in danger. It shows that they didn't even care to update that simple footer, and that they don't have at least 1 free minute in a full year to take care about the program.

Yeah, you can laugh and insult and quote me and makes jokes, just make sure you keep laughing when they close the sponsor and don't pay your money, and run away.

Alerts are: ? 2007, ? 2006 or sooner.

Fine is: ? 2010 ? 2011

Medium: ? 2008 ? 2009


You will see most webcam sponsors that are doing U$ 1 millon or more per month, have 2010 or 2011, which is obvious, because their webmaster checks their GOLDEN Chicken every few mins...

While all obsolete dead sponsors have 2005 or less...

[Wizzo]

Smartbucks is in good shape then! We are even building 100% Exclusive new sites, so no plans to go anywhere soon...

[ThatOtherGuy - BANNED FOR LIFE]

Thats funny Lamis but 100% Fucking true.

[blackmonsters]

I hear what you are saying but the copyright date is not actually supposed to
be updated. It's the date of the first and only copyright.
Nobody "re-copyrights" anything.
The date allows you to sue for violations back to the date of copyright.

If someone violated your copyright in 2005 and you actually changed your
official copyright form to 2011 then you were not protected in 2005 by your
own proclamation that you filed for copyright in 2011. (see disclaimer)

Nobody does that and I don't even know if it would be allowed.

Of course you could apply for a new copyright but you would need to have
changed something to make it different than the previous copyright.

But yeah, people do update it on their websites anyway.

Disclaimer : You are allowed 5 years to file a copyright without losing the
right to sue for punitive damages. You'd still be able to sue for "actual damages" however.

[HomerSimpson]

PHP Code:

<?php echo date('Y'); ?>

saves the day...

[Lamis]

Originally Posted by blackmonsters

I hear what you are saying but the copyright date is not actually supposed to
be updated. It's the date of the first and only copyright.
Nobody "re-copyrights" anything.
The date allows you to sue for violations back to the date of copyright.

If someone violated your copyright in 2005 and you actually changed your
official copyright form to 2011 then you were not protected in 2005 by your
own proclamation that you filed for copyright in 2011. (see disclaimer)

Nobody does that and I don't even know if it would be allowed.

Of course you could apply for a new copyright but you would need to have
changed something to make it different than the previous copyright.

But yeah, people do update it on their websites anyway.

Disclaimer : You are allowed 5 years to file a copyright without losing the
right to sue for punitive damages. You'd still be able to sue for "actual damages" however.

yes I know, you got a point, but in today's internet, having an up-to date copyright year in footer is a symbol of freshness, despite the legal meaning of it.

[fris]

thanks alex

[blackmonsters]

Originally Posted by Lamis

yes I know, you got a point, but in today's internet, having an up-to date copyright year in footer is a symbol of freshness, despite the legal meaning of it.

Yes, I'm in agreement on that.

Just flapping my lips for lack of ..... of ...... yeah.

[TCLGirls]

Originally Posted by blackmonsters

I hear what you are saying but the copyright date is not actually supposed to
be updated. It's the date of the first and only copyright.
Nobody "re-copyrights" anything.
The date allows you to sue for violations back to the date of copyright.

If someone violated your copyright in 2005 and you actually changed your
official copyright form to 2011 then you were not protected in 2005 by your
own proclamation that you filed for copyright in 2011. (see disclaimer)

Nobody does that and I don't even know if it would be allowed.

Of course you could apply for a new copyright but you would need to have
changed something to make it different than the previous copyright.

But yeah, people do update it on their websites anyway.

Disclaimer : You are allowed 5 years to file a copyright without losing the
right to sue for punitive damages. You'd still be able to sue for "actual damages" however.

Yeah, but that's why you're supposed to do this: "Copyright 2005 - 2011"

[hony]

And I do see some sites with "(C) 2000-2011" and ranges like that. Not sure how legal that is but it is true that sites with that "abandoned" look do not sound good. Also true if the "news" section has a 6 month old item as the newest thing!

[D Ghost]

Originally Posted by blackmonsters

I hear what you are saying but the copyright date is not actually supposed to
be updated. It's the date of the first and only copyright.
Nobody "re-copyrights" anything.
The date allows you to sue for violations back to the date of copyright.

If someone violated your copyright in 2005 and you actually changed your
official copyright form to 2011 then you were not protected in 2005 by your
own proclamation that you filed for copyright in 2011. (see disclaimer)

Nobody does that and I don't even know if it would be allowed.

Of course you could apply for a new copyright but you would need to have
changed something to make it different than the previous copyright.

But yeah, people do update it on their websites anyway.

Disclaimer : You are allowed 5 years to file a copyright without losing the
right to sue for punitive damages. You'd still be able to sue for "actual damages" however.

Google only says "? 2011"
Facebook ? 2011

Pretty sure it doesnt matter except for the current year. It doesn't hurt to say, "CompanyName ? 1996 - 2011" though. Like us "JuicyAds.v4 ? Copyright 2006-2011. All Rights Reserved."

I think his overall point is to at least update it. Not only for their legal protection, but because it just looks bad. When I go to a site or business and see that thir copyright is out of date. It doesn't look good to me or many people.

[Vjo]

Agree, if they dont change the date then how much time are they looking at the page or how hard are they trying to make sales. Plus surfers notice that stuff too.

Good tip

[AdultKing]

I have a couple of sites copyright 1996, they still work and keep working, your theory is flawed.

[plsureking]

Originally Posted by Lamis

Check their Copyright year in FOOTER, right now, I would say that if they didn't update the copyright footer, and it says 2007 or sooner, they are probably in danger.

that's stupid. some forget or dont have good developers. i cant believe you spent time writing that post.

a much better measure of a sponsor's health is their update frequency. if they start to slow down or they went from 5 years of friday updates to random update days, then they are having problems paying for their content.

paying for content and failure to pay affiliate checks are why a sponsor shuts down. not their website footer.

[TheDoc]

I know someone just recently who purchased a product with an old copyright on the page. He didn't think they were still in business anymore, so he emailed, they confirmed as was good and that was when the page was first published... sale went through fine as well.

I don't think I would have noticed before he said anything..

[Vjo]

Originally Posted by AdultKing

I have a couple of sites copyright 1996, they still work and keep working, your theory is flawed.

So it was built in 1996 so you leave it 1996. Where as I and some others would go 1996-2011 or 1996-11.
So there are diff ways to do it that are a factor here. Not sure what is the correct way actually.

But having this format for example 2007-11 prob looks better than 2007 to the surfer.

Anyhow I just went and looked at G and they use:

? Google (on the second page, actually nothing on their index)

so maybe should have no dates. Be way easier.

[GAMEFINEST]

thats what i look at

[V_RocKs]

A lot of sponsors update the copywrite via javascript

[tiger]

Best indication of a programs health is when they start paying late or missing payments. END OF STORY. You see a program start sending out late payments its time to pack it up.

[justinsain]

I've always thought the copyright date would establish the time of creation.

If the website says ?2005 I'd think the website has been around for six years. If it says ?2011 I'd think the site was new.

I don't think you have to update your copyright date as if to renew it or make it current but I could be wrong.

I also think checking for activity or lack of would be far more telling than checking the copyright date and seeing how close it is to the current date.

[fris]

for you wp nuts

<?php
  function wordpress_copyright() {
      global $wpdb;
      $post_datetimes = $wpdb->get_row($wpdb->prepare("SELECT YEAR(min(post_date_gmt)) AS firstyear, YEAR(max(post_date_gmt)) AS lastyear FROM $wpdb->posts WHERE post_date_gmt > 1970"));
      if ($post_datetimes) {
          $firstpost_year = $post_datetimes->firstyear;
          $lastpost_year = $post_datetimes->lastyear;
          $copyright = __('Copyright &copy; ') . $firstpost_year;
          if ($firstpost_year != $lastpost_year) {
              $copyright .= '-' . $lastpost_year;
          }
          $copyright .= ' ';
          echo $copyright;
      }
  }
?>

[plsureking]

Originally Posted by justinsain

I don't think you have to update your copyright date as if to renew it or make it current but I could be wrong.

what i was told by a lawyer some years ago is that writing copyright on your site doesn not protect your site. it is not a legal statement or claim.

the only way to protect your site is to: 1. apply for a copyright every time you update the site; 2. burn your site (or content) to disk monthly and mail it to yourself. do not open the package unless you need to go to court.

i am not a lawyer/scumbag so i could be wrong.

[DBS.US]

Originally Posted by plsureking

2. burn your site (or content) to disk monthly and mail it to yourself. do not open the package unless you need to go to court.

That's called a Poor man's copyright, and it's worthless in court.

[TeenCat]

so avn.com is ok, ?1995-2009

[DBS.US]

Check out this radio show, http://barelylegalradio.com/