The User (@Amazing_Tactics) Who Steals Studies For Cash

@Batchess24 said in #53:

Thank you @RuyLopez1000 for the investigation.

I found 5 studies that were outright cloned from other study creators:

• lichess.org/study/v0lhOcWH by @green_frog96 Ultimate Guide - Danish Gambit
• lichess.org/study/xeJWiWcZ by @xjay42 Hanging Pawn's Italian Game
• lichess.org/study/qkiEGvJu by @chessbeginner210 English Opening!
• lichess.org/study/pP795tZz by @chesswithchesse The Amazing Queen ́s Gambit!!
• lichess.org/study/BHnEwdRH by @deadlygambits Bird Opening

It's unacceptable.

To make things worse, they tried to cover their tracks by cloning first to a private study, then a second time to the public study that we see. So that there's no trace of the plagiarism, and obviously zero attribution given.

I've deleted the plagiarized studies and will contact noctie about it. We will also be more vigilant in the future about it.

Mr. @thibault, we are grateful!
A huge shoutout to @thibault for seeing @RuyLopez1000's blog and responding to the @Amazing_Tactics's scam! Thanks also to the people (including me) who shared the blog and to the blogger, @RuyLopez1000!

YES! BTW, I just realized that @Amazing_Tactics even uses AI to write blogs!! DM me for more info/read my blog

@DiligentKnight23 said in #59:

This is a screenshot of @Amazing_Tactics’ blog. They literally admitted they stole studies. And it’s way more than four. So case solved everyone

I think there might be another hidden acc that is leader, maybe that person changed it. Who knows?

BTW please read my blog!! link is in my previous post :)

There only one leader so that means he changed it himself

@SuperUnicorn_N said in #57:

This is a screenshot of @Amazing_Tactics’ blog. They literally admitted they stole studies. And it’s way more than four. So case solved everyone

Thx.
Thx means thanks.

I should feel honoured they liked my study so much they felt the need to appropriate it.
But what an individual, to take people's work like that. What a crazy thing to do. Not much else to say that anyone else hasn't.

@TMCA_Jivin_1500 said in #62:

This is a screenshot of @Amazing_Tactics’ blog. They literally admitted they stole studies. And it’s way more than four. So case solved everyone

I think there might be another hidden acc that is leader, maybe that person changed it. Who knows?

BTW please read my blog!! link is in my previous post :)

There only one leader so that means he changed it himself

There is a setting to hide leaders.

@DiligentKnight23 said in #65:

This is a screenshot of @Amazing_Tactics’ blog. They literally admitted they stole studies. And it’s way more than four. So case solved everyone

I think there might be another hidden acc that is leader, maybe that person changed it. Who knows?

BTW please read my blog!! link is in my previous post :)

There only one leader so that means he changed it himself

There is a setting to hide leaders.

Cool thx

For lichess (a non for profit) they can set the terms of service and enforce them with only minimal risk of being sued (by any party).
But the US law is unclear, and generally chess games and puzzles cannot be copyrighted, even the analysis probably can't be copy righted.

I have heard recommended by Patent Attorneys in the US that only the 'format' is subject to copyright, and recommend just quoting where the puzzles come from, and then can in fact be taken without permission and made profit from, and the originator of the game, puzzle, analysis, in fact has no legal claim.

Adding emojis to the original study, may in fact legally be sufficient to claim ownership and sell by US law, despite lichess policy. So for Lichess is just a terms of service, and like any social media runs the risk of being sued by users for any enforcement of terms of service on either side lichess chooses.

And at some point, to reduce liability, lichess might need to change their legal status, to prevent lawsuits, offering a blog, that could then make lichess considered a news service, and subject to extra regulation, including copyright. So if lichess risks being sued like any social media site, in any country where they opperate, for either being too lax or excessive on copyright.

But I would not be surprised, at least in the US, if there is no reprise to someone 'stealing' your studies and selling them, say on their own webpage, even if fully proven was copied.

And would be careful to avoid using the word 'stealing', as you can't claim theft when someone takes something that was never yours, such as intellectual property that cannot be copyrighted. Even so much, that lichess at least in the US risks being sued for defamation, claiming someone 'stole' a study, when in fact it is not theft at all, and should be expected, and someone entering a study should know that they have no legal right to the intellectual property once published.

'Stolen' might imply, like the person needed a password, and got the password, and should not have had access, but even in that case, due to the nature of chess not beng copyrightable, even that is probably not 'stealing'/

Obviously, freeware like lichess is unlikely to have the resources to consult attorneys around the world, for the implications of the terms of service, and usually requires a lawsuit.

@ChessBeginner210 said in #64:

I should feel honoured they liked my study so much they felt the need to appropriate it.

If I remember correctly, the quote "Copying is the sincerest form of flattery" is from Oscar Wilde.
You can be somewhat proud that you became one of the victims of your obviously good work.

Erm everyone in this list that has has blogs “stolen from” either don’t exist or don’t have a single blog made

W blog tho keep up the good work!

@SuperUnicorn_N said in #57:

This is a screenshot of @Amazing_Tactics’ blog. They literally admitted they stole studies. And it’s way more than four. So case solved everyone

It's very easy to edit a webpage for those who know how to do it.