Web site accused of taking paper's content

The publisher of an entertainment paper is accusing an upstart Web site of taking his content without permission, while the Web site's owners said it's all just a mistake.

Michael R. Scriminger, co-owner of Fourth Coast Entertainment Magazine and Web site, said WhatsUpNNY.com has taken content without linking to Fourth Coast.

Paul A. Simmons, co-owner of WhatsUpNNY.com, said it's a simple mistake due to a partner jumping the gun on a deal between the two entertainment calendars.

"We talked in February about getting together," said Mr. Simmons, who also owns Aamco Transmissions and the Watertown Wizards. "When I told a co-owner that we had a meeting next week, he went ahead and put up the material."

But Mr. Scriminger said the material went up soon after the March edition came out March 1.

Mr. Scriminger, who started Fourth Coast nearly five years ago with his wife, said he suspected the Web site had taken events from his listings since it started six weeks ago.

"They said they wanted to meet and I wasn't too interested in meeting," he said.

At first, he asked the Web site to link to the Fourth Coast Web site for his unique information.

"We work extremely hard and someone can just take our information and be selling ads and now it's competing with us," he said. "Where does it stop?"

He decided to prove that content he had was appearing on the WhatsUpNNY site by planting a false band listing.

In the March edition, Fourth Coast Entertainment Magazine printed a fake event to see whether its events were being copied. On March 12, it said, Platinum Trash, a fake band, would play at the Pit in Canton, a fake venue. That listing then appeared on the WhatsUpNNY.com site.

"I gave them another chance yesterday and they told me they weren't maliciously doing it and they want to work with me," he said. "I'm not working with them."

Mr. Simmons said he told his partner, Thomas J. Spaulding, that Mr. Scriminger had agreed to a meeting. Mr. Spaulding, who is a former Samaritan Medical Center spokesman and is now North Country Transitional Living Services' director of marketing and program development, then put up some Fourth Coast material on WhatsUpNNY.com, Mr. Simmons said.

Mr. Simmons said he hopes Mr. Scriminger will accept his apology.

"I really think we're two groups that could still work together and help each other," Mr. Simmons said.

He said the three people who have access to posting items on WhatsUpNNY.com have agreed to confirm band appearances with nightclubs.

Both said their aim through their publications is to help the community and spread knowledge of local events.