Protecting results

We have had the same problem. Best solution for us was to only allow pdf's to be published to the web. This would require a little more work for anyone if they wanted to re-post and go around all the advertising that is with our results. We give the organizer any style result they want if they have to do "season" points but they only post the pdf.

A very sensitive issue, at all levels.

Screen-scraping of results is annoying and a highly questionable practice. Jim's suggestion regarding PDFs is as good a solution as is out there. Using Flash is also a potential solution, but a technically difficult one.

Certain nefarious slimeballs have taken this tactic one step further and have stolen live-to-web results feeds. The bottom-feeders at Ski Racing Magazine, for example, setting new and ever-lower standards in sliminess, illegally carried live-to-web FIS World Cup results earlier this season, encapsulating FIS's page in Ski Racing's own advertising. The FIS saw it and cut them off.

At one event, I tried PDF with cut & paste disabled. The results still got posted in HTML on unofficial sites. I'm not sure if the PDF was cracked or if somebody re-keyed from the PDF.

I hadn't considered Flash, but given that some people's computers will not open PDF, I'd be worried about locking people out.

Some years ago, there was a technique using 'munged' HTML, has anyone tried it?

I'm not totally opposed to unofficial sites as long as they pay respect to an event's organisation & sponsors.

How about this: we all got paid for our timing efforts, and aside that these unofficial websites are increasing the exposure of the event that we're working for, in that respect possibly just as much helping the cause as hurting it?

If you have a high profile race, its results might become public property in a way. And as part of the free gathering of news the media should be able to publish the results. This way I'm defending those top 10s that you see published. I will not make a case here for stealing extensive results portfolios or live feeds.

Hi, I'm just back from the Tour de Langawi. It was a great trip and the cooperation with Timing Ireland was excellent. We used both Alge and Lynx equipment.

Have a look at www.cyclingnews.com

I've no problem with sites copying over top 10's. But, for example, my work on the Tour de Langkawi, Tour of Britian and other events is extensively copied, reformatted and reproduced. Usually, not so much as a link is offered to the official site. My work is not acknowledged.

Photographers get better respect.

This is particularly frustrating as I want to introduce innovations in the presentation and interpretation of the classifications, but the effort is pointless if the official web sites are being bypassed.

It's not possible to copyright results & even if it was I could not afford to assert such a right.

So, I'm looking for ways that will frustrate unfair use of my work.

Seamus:

Can you please tell us a little bit about specifically what equipment and software you used at the TdL? Did you use photocells, chips, or tape switches? Which Alge and Lynx equipment? Any photos?

Fred Patton has consistently posted excellent photos and descriptions of his cycling endeavours at UCI World Cup, UCI World Chmps, Tour de France, Tour of Georgia, Tour of China, US Chmps, US Intercollegiates, etc. Since you're the first Timing Guy to go to Lankawi, it would be nice to hear more about the setup.

I've created an album about the Tour de Langkawi which I hope will answer some of your questions.

For me, the technology side is only half the work. I get a great satisfaction out of working on multi-national, multi-cultural teams. That's why I really enjoy going to Malaysia.