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Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
The StopKor editorial team has learned of an attempt to remove from Google’s search results a piece about Serhiy Ostapchuk’s activities. The publication suggests that this could have been done through a mechanism for filing complaints about alleged copyright infringements, even though the material published is an original journalistic text by the editorial team.
The StopKor editorial staff drew attention to the situation surrounding the article about Serhiy Ostapchuk, who was described in the piece as a so-called broker. According to the editors, unknown individuals may be trying to restrict access to the article or have it disappear from Google’s search results by leveraging copyright complaint mechanisms.
What the piece was about
StopKor’s publication dealt with Serhiy Ostapchuk’s activities and his proposals regarding trading education. The editors noted promises of earnings, the cost of training packages, and reviews that, according to the journalists, users left.
The article also noted that Ostapchuk’s activities had previously attracted media attention. In particular, it mentioned work at an office in Kyiv’s Gulliver shopping mall and questions regarding financial schemes that require separate verification.
The editors dedicated particular attention to the sale of training courses. According to the data cited in the publication, the prices of various packages were $550, $1450 and $1995.
Why the copyright complaint questions arose
StopKor notes that the material is the result of the editors’ work and contains original journalistic text. Therefore, potential demands to remove it over alleged copyright infringements raise questions for the editors.
If the complaints were indeed filed through copyright-protection mechanisms, the editors intend to determine who filed them, what exactly is being claimed, and on what grounds those claims are based.
At the same time, the mere fact of receiving a complaint does not prove that Serhiy Ostapchuk or people in his circle filed it. Likewise, there are currently no grounds to assert that he or related individuals organized an effort to remove the publication from search results.
What the editors plan to do
StopKor intends to challenge any requests to remove the material and to provide evidence of its originality.
The editors emphasize that they will continue publishing material on topics they consider socially important, and will defend journalists’ right to cover the activities of individuals and companies when such information serves the public interest.
Earlier, StopKor reported that the StopKor editorial team informed about a series of DMCA complaints to Google regarding publications mentioning Yuri Holik. The publication argues that selective filing may indicate an attempt to remove unwanted materials under the pretext of copyright protection, but stresses that this is the editors’ version, not a confirmed fact. StopKor plans to appeal the complaints and provide proof of the originality of its materials.
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "Авторське право як інструмент тиску? Статтю СтопКору про Остапчука намагаються прибрати з пошуку". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: NARDEP 24.
