[Apurv]

Dear all,

Many of you would be aware that the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), which conducts the GMAT examination has sued Scoretop.com for publishing copyrighted and confidential material on its website and is looking to also sue users who have accessed that material.

While we at PaGaLGuY are committed to helping you provide the best possible resources to prepare for GMAT, it does not include using unfair or illegal means, as has already been informed to you in PaGaLGuY.com's Terms of Usage. Using what is not yours without paying, or accessing materials that are meant to be confidential are both punishable offences and PaGaLGuY.com does not support either.

We hereby caution all users of the GMAT section against posting ANY copyrighted material on the forums, whether it is Kaplan, Veritas, ManhattanGMAT or anything else that is meant to be bought for usage and not shared for free.

We'd further like to make it clear that in the case of any agency finding a User posting copyright material, we will cooperate fully with that agency to identify and trace the offending user with the help of IP addresses and legal authorities. PaGaLGuY.com does not support illegal means of sharing and will not shield users who indulge in posting such material on these forums. Although our Moderators make sure such material gets deleted from the site, but if you still are aware of such material's existence on PaGaLGuY, please report it to us.

If any of you has already posted copyrighted/paid GMAT preparation material on these forums without our knowledge, please let us know immediately by mailing to editor[at]pagalguy[dot]com and we will help you correct your mistake and clean it up. If you have posted such material on the site and choose not to cooperate with us, we will not hesitate in cooperating with the authorities to trace you if and when they take up the issue with us.

Please spread the message in the community and help us keep PaGaLGuY a clean and legal place to prepare for GMAT.

To summarize the above - we ask you to be cautious while posting/uploading material and verify if it is legal to do it. If we find anyone posting material illegally on PaGaLGuY, the responsibility of preotecting himself/herself from legal action lies solely on him.

Those using the site in a fair and legal way, please continue to do so and ignore this message .

All the Best,
Administrator

[Psychodementia]

I was surprised when Scoretop was operating so blatantly in the 2004 to 06 period so it was not surprise to read this: Courts Give Graduate Management Admission Council Domain Name Ownership, Hard Drive in Copyright Infringement Suit

Funny to see that the site scoretop.com itself has undergone change.

I need to go through all my old posts and take out stuff. But a good warning for people who might have put up stuff unintentionally and with no monetary objectives in mind.

Arun

[Govi]

It was quite anticipated, ST was shut down during '06 when it grew its user base popularising the so called "JJs" susbequently it changed the content to "in house tutor generated questions" or VIP section as they called it. This too, seemed to cast a doubt over their authenticity.

I was informed a few days back (when the ST news was posted on GMAC) that the 1000SCs, 1000CRs and the 1000RCs documents are ST generated content.

I recall that GMAT section specific threads (Sentence Correction, Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension) that were started, have posts and discussions from these documents. Many posts still have links to these docs. I request users to avoid discussing them henceforth.

I too need to go through my earlier posts and edit them. I hope members take a look at their posts too.

Sachin

[vyomb]

did my favour by removing the links....put on net by me..

[baccardisprite]

Getting In GMAT Cheating Scandal: Answers from GMAC - BusinessWeek

A link to a set of FAQs on the consequences of GMAC's lawsuit against the offending website.

[p_jez]

Mods/Admins,

I recently recieved a PM from a Puy asking for the questions I encountered on the test. I've strongly replied to him (her?) as well.

Do let me know if I should report this at any specific place on PG.

Cheers

[pagalguy]

Originally Posted by p_jez

Mods/Admins,

I recently recieved a PM from a Puy asking for the questions I encountered on the test. I've strongly replied to him (her?) as well.

Do let me know if I should report this at any specific place on PG.

Cheers

That is pretty low. I am glad that you took the high road and gave in a strong reply. We can't stop people from asking on PMs - but we do need more aware folks like you who spread the word and stay strong

[jamadarza]

mods/Admins,

I had used Score top material via subscribing to VIP membership. Now I have received a email from GMAC stating that "We are writing to inform you that this information shows that you have purchased GMAT(R) study materials through VIP membership in REAL GMAT EXAM QUESTIONS .

Please be aware that the unauthorized distribution and use of our copyrighted material – including Guides, GMAT Prep(R) Software, GMAT(R) Focus, and purported "real" GMAT(R) test questions – violates our policies and is illegal under the United States Copyright Act. Such violations can result in score cancellation, prohibition from testing again, notification to schools, and, in some instances, more formal legal remedies. Violations include selling, posting, purchasing, and discussing any copyrighted materials. GMAC(R) takes these actions seriously and continuously monitors Internet forums, Web sites and other venues where our copyrighted material is illegally sold and distributed"

Now that I have decided to take GMAT on 20th Aug. How will the above message hamper my future career?? Can u help pls.

[Psychodementia]

Just to clarify please read:

thecomplaint

If you look at the details of the document you will see that the Plaintiff (GMAC) has named the defendants as "Lei Shi, d/b/a "Scoretop.com" (obviously "Stone" of ST) and importantly "John Does 1-5". As you know "John Doe" refers to someone whose name is not know yet. The case further clarifies that "the true names and capacities of John Does 1-5 are unknown to GMAC at this time. Upon information and belief, each of the John Doe defendants has helped administer the scoretop.com website and/or has posted GMAC's copyrighted material on the scoretop.com website."

So I think from a legal perspective it is only these 6 people who will be directly affected. The rest of the 6000+ names found in the database are nothing more than email ids. So my personal opinion is that there can be nothing much happening here.

Just my $0.02.

Arun

[Darth.vader]

To add, GMAC has said that it will initially focus on those who posted 'real' questions. This would take most of the VIPs out of the investigation. I doubt GMAC will pursue rest later.

@PsychoD, I heard about scoreTop first time from you ( In one of the Amit saboo's sessions, nearly 2 years ago. ) good to see you are active again. ATB with IMD and INSEAD apps.

Originally Posted by Psychodementia

Just to clarify please read:

thecomplaint

If you look at the details of the document you will see that the Plaintiff (GMAC) has named the defendants as "Lei Shi, d/b/a "Scoretop.com" (obviously "Stone" of ST) and importantly "John Does 1-5". As you know "John Doe" refers to someone whose name is not know yet. The case further clarifies that "the true names and capacities of John Does 1-5 are unknown to GMAC at this time. Upon information and belief, each of the John Doe defendants has helped administer the scoretop.com website and/or has posted GMAC's copyrighted material on the scoretop.com website."

So I think from a legal perspective it is only these 6 people who will be directly affected. The rest of the 6000+ names found in the database are nothing more than email ids. So my personal opinion is that there can be nothing much happening here.

Just my $0.02.

Arun