OK, what I'm about to ask of you (namely advice) is totally serious, and please don't make me name the company involved, although my guess is that some of you will know it.
Whilst at a recent trade show quite a few people representing several parties approched me about a certain website whoes owner had just been sentanced to 12 months for collecting and distributing images of young children. The website is VERY popular in UK schools and makes (or rather did make) a nice living off Google ads alone.
Since many UK RBCs (Regional Broadband Consortiums) have blocked the site and many schools since receiving the all clear have still refused to unblock access to it it was suggested I purchase it as my site is possibly teh only neutral name in eucation who can get it back up and running and profitable (it is a good site, it just needs bringing back up to speed).
Now my question is this, or rtaher these:
1. Can someone who has been jailed for a child protection crime be stripped of their company as it brings them in direct contact with schools and teachers?
2. The company is current reported as being run by someone else (a family member). If I were to purchase it would the founder receive funds?
3. Yes, I am obviously going to seek professional legal advice, but it's nice to get teh opinion of the 'man in the pub'
The site in question is pretty poorly designed, but got 27,000,000 hits in a 10 month period, and they've not even SEO'd it! I'd be stupid not to try and buy it.
Wow. No real legal advice but I'd definitely consider the kind of PA disaster that could happen if such a site was linked to any kind of paedophile related publicity.
My gut instinct would be to let it slide by.
I was going to say what Pete said.
Or see if you can buy his content and launch your own version of the site under your own empire.
I have zero legal advice to offer, but I reckon the overall idea would be very well recieved by teachers. As you say, the resources are very good. I think you know the main hurdles (I.e., the reputation etc), but I think handled delicately, you could make it work.
We blocked it (along with almost everyone else) and it went down like a ton of lead ballons.
Arfle!
And how very odd! It would be like fucking a mirror ball...
<edit> In fact, she makes exactly the same point herself in the article. </edit>
Yeah, it is Sparklebox, and we are possibly the only name who could keep it going (rebranded of course, there would be no other way). The problem is that the employees have gone underground (they are totally innocent BTW) and getting in contact with them is next to impossible. Emails sent and now letters in post, but it's all a waitign game. It's one thing to say replicate what they did, but they have years of content on their and it is all good stuff, and to see it vanish would be pointless. However their may be many legal hoops to jump through, but they got 27,000,000 hits in a 10 month period, and that can't be ignored. The thing my company has goign for it is its total integrity. We have a name that can do this if only I can get their attention.
Ah well, the waiting game begins.
Oh, and the BBC (who've been lurking on my site) have let me know their is a program about this on tonight on Inside Out (West) at 19:30 tonight. After this I may get a bit more public in my interest.
The company and it's employees are sound and has been (massively) let down by one person. I'd hate to see them lose their jobs and the site sink, especially when I'm in a postion to do something about it.