Patrick Lismore   •   over 12 years ago

i would like answers please! You have me close my competition app website but allow others

Hi, congrats on the competition and well done to all the winners. 
When I first heard about this competition I thought it was a great chance to do some really good for the world and use my skills as a sofrware developer to help further the MDG's,
Within hours of the competition being announced , literally hours I had the idea for my app, I knew which data sets I was going to leverage with the app and the app was going to be deployed across all platforms , web, social media, mobile.
http://www.WorldBankData.com  
As I got excited about the competition and the stunning application I was going to develop I started getting odd questions from my web hosting company who I had been with for many years, they were asking me what I was going to do with the site.
This was odd as I had been with them for years and host many websites with them and they had never behaved in the way they were behaving, I give them the reply about the this competition and how the site is home to the application that I am building for it.
That went ok , then I received an email from facebook saying they were going to suspend my facebook account because they had a complaint from the World Bank and that I needed to address their concerns within 24hrs.
Email sent to facebook about by competition app which was being built for this competition.  
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me: Jim RosenbergAddress:Head of Social MediaWorld Bank1818 H St NWWashington DC 20433www.worldbank.orgPhone: 202/473-1084Email: jrosenberg@worldbank.orgLocation on fb network:http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=144473202264864Description of copyrighted work:cOur legal department is having that url, www.worldbankdata.com, taken down.Our name and logo is registered under US Copyright law. Registration no. 1314973How copyright infringed:This page uses our name and points to a URL which is causing reputational harm and violation of US copyright laws.Additional info:This page uses our name and points to a URL which is causing reputational harm and violation of US copyright laws.Our legal department is having that url, www.worldbankdata.com, taken down.
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I was shocked , absolutley shocked at this.  It made sense why my hosting company was giving me a hard time.  This was my response to Mr Rosenberg.
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Dear Mr Rosenberg,
My name is Patrick Lismore I am writing to you regarding an email you sent to facebook regarding one of my facebook apps.
 
I would like to ask what problem The World Bank has with my website and the apps that I am developing for your AppsForDevelopment Competition which was launched by you on October 7th. 
 
I would like to address you points one by one firstly,
 
This page uses our name and points to a URL which is causing reputational harm and violation of US copyright laws.
 
Please clarify where my website or apps use the name of your Organistaion "The World Bank" and please show me where my website and apps suggest, imply or state that we are "The World Bank" .
 
My website content, terms of use and blog posts are very clear that we are not "The World Bank" , that I have entered the AppsForDevelopment competition run by the World Bank. 
 
Our name and logo is registered under US Copyright law. Registration no. 1314973
 
Indeed it is,
 
R8 Technology's World Bank Data App & R8 Technology's World Bank Data App's website does not use the name "World Bank" & Trademarked Logo.
 
I am promoting R8 Technology's World Bank Data App which is being developed for your competition.  A non-commercial app solely for the purpose of this AppsForDevelopment competition.  I am resident in Belfast, N.Ireland, United Kingdom not the USA. 
 
Please see my website terms of use
http://www.worldbankdata.com/terms.aspx 
 
The logo on my facebook apps page & website are custom developed using R8's distinctive R8 Watermark. 
 
How copyright infringed:This page uses our name and points to a URL which is causing reputational harm and violation of US copyright laws.Additional info:This page uses our name and points to a URL which is causing reputational harm and violation of US copyright laws.This page uses our name
The page does not use your name "World Bank"
 
and points to a URL which is causing reputational harm and violation of US copyright laws
 
The URL points to R8 Technologys World Bank Data Apps website , a website specificly setup for the purpose of the AppsForDevelopment Competition announced by the World Bank on October 7thhttp://www.worldbank.org/appsfordevelopment
 
Please specify and direct me to the content that is causing your organisation reputational harm.  So I can deal with this in a responsible and professional manner.
 
My apps intention is to do the opposite, they are to enhance the work of the World Bank and the main goal of the apps and website is in line with the goals of the AppsForDevelopment competition.  Which is to increase awareness globally of the Millennium Development Goals.
 
Our legal department is having that url, www.worldbankdata.com, taken down.
 
Why would you not have contacted me directly to address any concerns you have instead of engaging in such hostile actions.  I asked the World Bank would they like me to stop developing my apps for the AppsForDevelopment Competition.  The response I received was the below email from facebook this morning.  Not a great experience thus far with the AppsForDevelopment competition. 
 
Now that I have addressed the items you raised with Facebook. 
 
Please let me know what I can do to resolve any concerns you have.  I will state again, I am developing non-commerical social media, mobile and web apps that leverage data made available through the open data inititative and the sole purpose of winning the AppsForDevelopment Competition announced and run by the World Bank.
 
The apps and website are not being used and will not be used for any malicious actions.  Its there as a home to the non-commercial AppsForDevelopment competition apps I am developing and our weekly blog as someone engaged in your competition.
 
I encourage you to review my website thoroughly and read the Terms of use.  http://www.worldbankdata.com/terms.aspx
 
I will ask again , if The World Bank wants me and the startup tech company I am about to launch to stop developing our apps for your competition please tell me.  No need to engage in such hostile actions when a simple phone call, skype call or email can resolve any concerns you have. 
 
I await your response,
 
best regards
 
Patrick Lismore
48 Meadowlands
Jordanstown,
Newtownabbey BT37 0UR
N.Ireland
 
Tel : +44 ( 0 ) 7793538593Skype :  patricklismore
Twitter  @patricklismore             @nisw            @r8technology            @R8YP

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You can imagine how outraged I was when today I see apps being promoted also with the words World & Bank in their name. 
Where is the equality , why allow some and not others.  
The competition winner uses the words "World Bank" in their name.  
Another app called "World Bank Data Mobile" extactly what I was developing is allowed but mine gets shut down. 
What is up World Bank.