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  1. User picture

    Website Shuurl UNFAIR PLAY

    What do you think about Shuurl using the WOT widget, icons and ratings and not giving WOT the credit for the ratings?

    http://www.shuurl.com

Comments:

  2. User picture
    • cotojo (Platinum) on Thu 19 Feb 2009
    • 07:42:04 PM UTC

    Shuurl

    I think that it is very poor and a practice that should cease. They even redirect to the scorecards and credit should be given where it is due. I would avoid the use of any service that follows such a bad practice and would advise others to boycott them too.

    If they wish to use the WOT ratings then surely they should seek the appropriate permission and also give credit to WOT for supplying the information that they are using.
    Basically they are simply hijacking WOT's icons etc to make themselves look better, and this would not be considered 'fair play' so I agree completely that this is unfair play and should cease forthwith.

    Colin
    http://freepcsecurity.co.uk

  3. User picture
    • Frank J (Silver) on Thu 19 Feb 2009
    • 07:46:57 PM UTC

    I found it very poor for a

    I found it very poor for a new service to act this inappropriately.

    Frank J
    www.techjaws.com

  4. User picture
    • cotojo (Platinum) on Thu 19 Feb 2009
    • 07:56:55 PM UTC

    It's worse than poor, it's

    It's worse than poor, it's appalling that anyone can stoop that low. I have seen blogs which have comprised of Q&A's taken from other forums, a forum that also hijacked Y!Q&A to make it appear that there product was being endorsed by well known contributors.........these people have no morals whatsoever.
    Colin
    http://freepcsecurity.co.uk

  5. User picture
    • Frank J (Silver) on Thu 19 Feb 2009
    • 07:58:58 PM UTC

    Colin, In some cases copying

    Colin,

    In some cases copying is a form of flattery, but not in this case. It's out-right copyright infringement.

    Frank J
    www.techjaws.com

    • User picture
      • cotojo (Platinum) on Thu 19 Feb 2009
      • 08:10:43 PM UTC

      I quite agree Frank, and the

      I quite agree Frank, and the appropriate steps should be taken to stop such infringement before any more decide to jump on the bandwagon and any such infringement can never be justified.
      Colin
      http://freepcsecurity.co.uk

      • User picture
        • Anonymous on Thu 19 Feb 2009
        • 08:23:02 PM UTC

        Unsatisfactory.

        I have rated it useless and gave it a orange score.A bit of a cheek realy.If it gets bad revues it may redirect WOT users away from it.If WOT wishes to take legal action I would not blame it.

        • User picture
          • cotojo (Platinum) on Thu 19 Feb 2009
          • 08:59:03 PM UTC

          Rated useless too

          I have rated it as useless too until such time as copyright theft is corrected. There can be no justification for giving this site any other form of half decent ratings and hopefully the situation will be resolved very soon.
          Colin
          http://freepcsecurity.co.uk

      • User picture
        • Frank J (Silver) on Thu 19 Feb 2009
        • 09:03:36 PM UTC

        Colin, Thank you for the

        Colin,

        Thank you for the support of WOT and let's hope this issue gets corrected. We can make a difference!

        Frank J
        www.techjaws.com

  6. User picture
    • Frank J (Silver) on Thu 19 Feb 2009
    • 09:58:50 PM UTC

    I blogged about this issue

    I blogged about this issue and hope that all of us can submit it to other social networks by visiting the blog at http://www.techjaws.com/new-service-shuurlcom-not-...

    Frank J
    www.techjaws.com

  7. User picture
    • g7w (Platinum) on Thu 19 Feb 2009
    • 10:05:13 PM UTC

    WOT API

    Shuurl is using WOT's API as outlined here: Adding ratings to your website

    Shuurl is properly adding the script [view source of output short URL page] like so:

    [script type="text/javascript" src="http://api.mywot.com/widgets/ratings.js"][/script]

    When you hover over the URL you are given the view WOT scorecard.
    Isn't this what is supposed to happen when using the API?

    • User picture
      • Frank J (Silver) on Thu 19 Feb 2009
      • 10:20:26 PM UTC

      Yes, but look how they word

      Yes, but look how they word the statement as it's theirs.

      "At SHUURL we discovered the answer to this issue, with our service you get a screen shot of the link your about to visit, the actual link that has been shortened and most importantly a safety test which will tell you if the site is safe or not. "

      we discovered That statement means you are the owner of the concept. Prove me wrong, but this is clear.

      Frank J
      www.techjaws.com

    • User picture
      • cotojo (Platinum) on Thu 19 Feb 2009
      • 11:17:48 PM UTC

      Have to agree with Frank

      I have to agree with Frank on this because they are claiming that we discovered the answer to this issue.
      They did not discover it at all, and yes the widget can be used on websites using WOT's API, and surely any honest site owner / blogger would NOT claim that it was their discovery to safe searching or whatever but would give the credit to WOT and be grateful for the use of the API.

      Colin
      http://freepcsecurity.co.uk

  8. User picture
    • Tropica (Rookie) on Thu 19 Feb 2009
    • 11:21:58 PM UTC

    Let me explain!

    Hi

    Im the owner of Shuurl, basically if you check out the domain whois you will see shuurl is 2 days old.

    The site isnt even in beta, the design is not even the planned design and some additional features are not even included currently.

    I shared the link with a few friends to help me with testing, Im in shock so many people have heard about the site and visited as its not been "launched."

    I would not claimed to have "invented" the WOT rating, and when the site was launched the site would credit WOT and carry a WOT banner.

    Thank you for the poor WOT ratings folks, I really didnt expect so many to use it and Im currently trying to finish coding the design.

    Sorry for any confusion

    • User picture
      • Frank J (Silver) on Fri 20 Feb 2009
      • 12:37:45 AM UTC

      I would never give bad

      I would never give bad ratings based on the discover statement. I don't speak for others, but if you are launching a site you should have kept it in close beta as this would have never created this issue. When a site is accessible it's in the public eye.

      The fact is that the message claims you as the owner of the concept.

      All the best to your site as I think you have a great idea, but let's just get the issue resolved and we all could move on.

      Frank J
      www.techjaws.com

      • User picture
        • phantazm (Platinum) on Sat 21 Feb 2009
        • 11:30:29 AM UTC

        Beta..?

        Frank J: "if you are launching a site you should have kept it in close beta"

        How many of Googles many projects have now been beta for years..?
        But, yes it's still a bad habit...

  9. User picture
    • Tropica (Rookie) on Fri 20 Feb 2009
    • 12:48:03 AM UTC

    Beta

    It was supposed to be a closed beta only 4/5 people had the link, I haven't had a site like this go so wild so fast.

    I have quickly finished my design and hopefully it works now, I have put WOT stuff up since people are actually using it now.

    I have also emailed WOT staff to explain and to remove my email address and business info from this thread and I have asked the same of cotojo.

    I dont think its fair posting my email and info when nobody actually knew the full story, which I think I explained sufficiently.

    • User picture
      • Anonymous on Fri 20 Feb 2009
      • 08:02:04 AM UTC

      Beta

      Seeing as you have come to the Forum and state you will give WOT proper recognition I will remove my rating.

    • User picture
      • cotojo (Platinum) on Fri 20 Feb 2009
      • 11:14:06 AM UTC

      Tropica

      As has already been said, it should have been a 'closed beta' but I am sure that many of us will wish you every success now that the issue has been closed and proper credit given. You had a 'leak' somewhere so that Shuurl became known.
      I have changed the ratings for your site to positive and I am sure that it will be of great benefit to many users and wish you every success.
      Using the WOT API is very imaginative and will add to making the internet a safer place for all users, which is what we all strive toward.
      Colin
      http://freepcsecurity.co.uk

  10. User picture
    • g7w (Platinum) on Fri 20 Feb 2009
    • 12:48:30 AM UTC

    as requested

    Shuurl is now giving WOT proper recognition for the use of the api.
    http://www.shuurl.com/K1264
    I rated this as a Good Site - it's nice to see a website taking advantage of WOT's generosity, it ensures that users of Shuurl are protected, and who better to do that?

    peace,
    G7W

    • User picture
      • Xp54321 (Platinum) on Fri 20 Feb 2009
      • 12:54:59 AM UTC

      I Like It

      I like it the whole concept really. Using WOT to check every shortened URL and giving a preview would definitely be much safer than immediate redirection. :) I've bookmarked it but TinyURL is still a bit faster but at least now we can know where we are going when we click on a shortened URL....:)

  11. User picture
    • Deborah S. (Gold) on Fri 20 Feb 2009
    • 08:03:29 AM UTC

    Shuurl is a great idea

    We like it too! What a great idea and imaginative use of the WOT widget. Shuurl fits our goal of making the Internet a safer place for everyone. Well done, Tropica.

    The new beta redesign gives WOT credit, so I think that takes care of the issues discussed above. Thanks to Frank J for bringing Shuurl to everyone's attention, and thanks to all of you for defending WOT and insisting that we get credit for our work. This kerfuffle shows how powerful the group voice can be.

    Now we move forward offering Tropica and Shuurl our support and best wishes for great success.

  12. User picture
    • Frank J (Silver) on Fri 20 Feb 2009
    • 11:49:31 AM UTC

    Great news and we should all

    Great news and we should all remove any bad ratings. Thank you!

    Frank J
    www.techjaws.com

    • User picture
      • cotojo (Platinum) on Fri 20 Feb 2009
      • 12:21:08 PM UTC

      Ratings

      I have adjusted my rating accordingly and also emailed Tropica as well as a short blog post.
      As you said, it should have been closed beta, somehow word got out but it is good to see that proper recognition has now been given and I am sure that it is a service that will be of benefit to many users.
      We do have a voice and it can be quite powerful, but we also acknowledge when errors are corrected.
      Colin
      http://freepcsecurity.co.uk

  13. User picture
    • Anonymous on Fri 20 Feb 2009
    • 12:44:02 PM UTC

    Ratings

    I see no negative comments now.All are positive.Issue seems resolved.

  14. User picture
    • wehaveitall (Gold) on Sat 21 Feb 2009
    • 03:10:05 AM UTC

    CLOSED Beta?

    Am I misunderstanding something? It doesn't seem like a closed beta...

    It's already in google's database (meaning someone submitted it), it's listed in Lifehacker (And was before you made that post), rated by Norton SafeWeb, AND was bookmarked in ziipa (Before you made your post about it being a beta).

    Can you clarify?

    A big thank you to all the WOT staff

  15. User picture
    • Tropica (Rookie) on Sat 21 Feb 2009
    • 08:26:28 AM UTC

    closed beta

    it wasn't submitted to google, google has picked it up from somewhere, the domain is brand new (4 days old at this point, 2 days old at the start of this thread!)

    The address was only shared with a few people, its out of my control if google and norton pick it up, as its out of my control if someone blogs about the site.

    I have explained myself fully, I have quickly finished and released the beta and proper design, I cant do much more can I?

  16. User picture
    • cotojo (Platinum) on Sat 21 Feb 2009
    • 11:09:24 AM UTC

    I do not see this as a

    I do not see this as a problem any longer, the issues were resolved quickly and Shuurl is now in public beta.
    At some point someone got hold of it and it is possible that it was blogged about and google could have picked it up from there, or through social bookmaking.

    Colin
    http://freepcsecurity.co.uk

  17. User picture
    • Tropica (Rookie) on Sat 21 Feb 2009
    • 07:59:23 PM UTC

    thanks

    thanks for all your supposrt so far, and thank you for some of the great suggestions!

    I have added a few new things to SHUURL, mostly tracking features, popular links etc...
    (and finished the design!)

    • User picture
      • cotojo (Platinum) on Sat 21 Feb 2009
      • 08:04:54 PM UTC

      Hi Tropica

      I've been there a few times and it looks great :)
      I know that some of my readers have also used it also, I'm sure that it will be quite a success and wish you the very best.

      Colin
      http://freepcsecurity.co.uk