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Post by Scott (Former Account) on May 19, 2007 18:16:37 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on May 19, 2007 18:35:56 GMT -8
I'm thinking this to be a very elaborate parody. The similarity to the BCFS website is not likely coincidental. In fact, the FAQ items are pretty much word for word.
Why else would the website be in english.....and I've checked a few of the PDF files that are linked to it.....all in English.
I'm guessing that this might be someone's elaborate University marketing project? Something where a student (or group of students) created a fictional company, for a marketing class project.
too funny......
Or perhaps this is a Jordan joke, from when we were on our "Latsoac" thing, joking about being from the Balkans....
But, because of the elaborate work done, it's likely done by someone that had lots of time on his/her hands.
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Post by Dane on May 19, 2007 19:00:15 GMT -8
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Post by Retrovision on May 19, 2007 19:03:33 GMT -8
lol, nice photoshop and conceptual butcher job.
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Post by Dane on May 19, 2007 19:06:50 GMT -8
Nevermind it does google, I'm just an idiot and used the wrong name.
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Post by Dane on May 19, 2007 19:23:42 GMT -8
Their e-mail address doesn't work.
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Post by SS San Mateo on May 19, 2007 20:27:02 GMT -8
The image on the "About" page on the Kosova Sealines page:  The image on the "About" page on the BC Ferries page:  |
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Post by Curtis on May 19, 2007 22:01:46 GMT -8
I wonder what happens if somebody passes this by the BCFS Website Managers  LOL LMAO!!!!!!!!! That's some excellent work! Wonder who the Genius is. |
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Neil
Voyager 
Posts: 7,309
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Post by Neil on May 19, 2007 22:29:57 GMT -8
If you google 'kosova sealines', you get several sites. Looks like it's for real, or at least was, since they may be out of business.
My guess is that they were building their website on the BC Ferries model, and never completed it. Intriguing find, Scott.
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Post by Northern Exploration on May 20, 2007 5:21:49 GMT -8
The agents are legitimate. Someone spent a lot of time on it lol. The bottom item on the press releases says the building of their ship is delayed lol.
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Post by Ferry Rider 42 on May 20, 2007 8:15:02 GMT -8
I'm going with the course project idea. From my perspective the articles contained are written with an almost self deprecating tone. But there is more:
A quick search of the IP address for kosovasealines.com found the site is hosted by HOSTMONSTER.COM in Salt Lake City. The web address was rented way back in April, 2006 and set to expire in April 2008 (note sometime domain registrars rent the IP address longer then the client asks for, just as a courtesy to the client). In other words, it looks like the client rented the IP address for a single year (the shortest possible window).
IP address for HOSTMONSTER.COM: 74.220.202.12
Creation Date: 09-apr-2006
Expiration Date: 09-apr-2008
Last Updated Date: 21-mar-2007
We all know typing “Ferry” into Google returns BC Ferries website in the number one location. So it’s not difficult for anyone in the world to find the site, particularly if they know they want to do a project involving ferries. Making a copy of the BC ferry site is quite simple, you just need to navigate the site and copy the files from your internet cache to the website server; there is no creation involved. The perpetrator did of course do some quick Photoshop work <that I am less then impressed with>.
In short, if this is a University project, the student had better make it clear that the website is not her/his original work. Otherwise this is a case of plagiarism.
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Post by Ferry Rider 42 on May 20, 2007 8:30:54 GMT -8
I should clear something up. Just because the websites server is in Salt Lake City, doesn’t mean the forgers are. They could in fact be anywhere in the world. So now that I think about, my junk above doesn’t really prove anything.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on May 20, 2007 8:31:04 GMT -8
Does anyone notice those photos of the families standing on deck??? The area is right by the bridge on the upper outside deck area past were passengers are not allowed to go. WTF is that about. It is even on the BC Ferries site somewhere those photos.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,309
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Post by Neil on May 20, 2007 11:12:13 GMT -8
There was a Kosova Sealines, although there is no indication that they ever succeeded in starting operations. The person listed as 'manager', Ilia Frasheri, does appear to have an Albanian e-mail address. I don't detect any wierdness in the copy, other than poor English- certainly no attempt at humour. There is even an Italian translation.
So are people saying that the company may have been real, but the website wasn't? I still say it's amateurish, but legit. A never completed website by a failed ferry company.
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Post by Low Light Mike on May 20, 2007 12:53:16 GMT -8
So are people saying that the company may have been real, but the website wasn't? I still say it's amateurish, but legit. A never completed website by a failed ferry company. But what of the word-for-word similarity to the BCFS website? "Similarity" is too soft a word. How about the word-for-word duplication of the BCFS website. Check the FAQ section on both website. One is obviously a copy of the other. Do some spot-checks on the various answers in the bottom-part of the FAQ page, per the below links: www.kosovasealines.com/faq.htmlwww.bcferries.com/travel_planning/frequently_asked_questions.htmlNo, the Kosovo site is not simply a "never completed website", it is an obvious copy of the BCFS website, with many items exactly the same, not just in appearance, but in content. Although some words have changed, but in a superficial sense only. If it's legit, it's a poor way of doing business; to blatantly copy the form and content of another company's website to such a thorough degree. .....so maybe the BCFS website is the copycat? |
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Post by Ferry Rider 42 on May 20, 2007 13:19:36 GMT -8
After digging around the site a bit more I am now moving more in line with Horbyguy. I suspect a failed startup company who where in the process of putting up a company webpage. Still, I do believe this is a case of directly copying files from the legitimate BC Ferries site. Then using those copied files, it would be very simple to just changed information within to better suit their company needs.
Earlier in the day I read the ‘about’ page and saw the usage of the word ‘protagonists’ which made me think it was just cheeky students making fun of themselves. Also the promise of a 10 year terminal/ship replacement and upgrade program seemed a bit to ambitious for a true startup. But, looking past those points, it does seem like too much work for a school project. The tipping point for me is the Italian translation.
The true BC Ferries website is very well laid out, and has some amazing auto updating features (cameras, vessel positions, and delay tracking). I suppose this new ferry company though so too so they decided to go ahead and plagiaries everything they could. I suppose it saves valuable time for a small company, but it really isn’t an honorable way to conduct business.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,309
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Post by Neil on May 20, 2007 14:06:21 GMT -8
This could be called a "never completed website", in the sense that Kosova Sealines never finished converting the BC Ferries site they copied before they went belly up.
There are literally hundreds of ferry companies in Europe, some very small. Some never get off the ground. As Ferry Rider 42 says, the BC Ferries site might have been an attractive option for a financially stretched new firm looking for an instant English template.
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Post by Queen of Vancouver on May 20, 2007 16:41:02 GMT -8
Some one is going to be in poopoo.
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Post by Low Light Mike on May 21, 2007 2:53:32 GMT -8
Here's something that you won't find on that website:
On the Balkan coast
Theres a place called Kosovo
Thats where you wanna go to get away from it all
Bodies in the sand
Serbian drinks melting in your hand
Well be falling in love
To the rhythm of a Yugo band
Down in Kosovo
Ooo I wanna take you down to Kosovo
Well get there fast
And then well take it slow
Thats where we wanna go
Way down to Kosovo
Well put out to sea
And well perfect our chemistry
By and by well defy a little bit of gravity
Afternoon delight
Cocktails and moonlit nights
That dreamy look in your eye
Give me a Balkan contact high
Way down in Kosovo
Everybody knows
A little place like Kosovo
Now if you wanna go
And get away from it all
Go down to Kosovo
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Post by Mike C on May 21, 2007 10:25:04 GMT -8
I want to be in their KS Priveliges club! www.kosovasealines.com/karta.htmldamn... I wanted to see their fleet. Count how many pictures they managed to photoshop into their colours. |
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Post by Hardy on May 21, 2007 14:38:24 GMT -8
For the life of me, I cannot understand why BCFS did not approach KosovaSealines to purchase some of their extra vessels!  Instead we search around and end up with Sonia, when all along, right under our noses, are vessels which LOOK so very compatible with ours!! ;D Sarcastic humour aside, I wonder if anyone did manage to mention this to BCFS? It is too bad that I have been running around and only have my cell phone, otherwise I might be tempted to call Kosova --- anyone got cheap international long distance? |
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Post by Dane on May 21, 2007 15:27:36 GMT -8
I e-mailed them asking if the company had sought permission. That was after the thread was posted by Scott, but I haven't heard back. No suprise, it's a long weekend.
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Post by Dane on Jun 4, 2007 10:32:23 GMT -8
Its on the front page of the Sun today.
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Post by SS San Mateo on Jun 4, 2007 11:12:25 GMT -8
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Post by Retrovision on Jun 4, 2007 11:30:35 GMT -8
It's neat that they picked up on the story, but can you say "slow news day"? Another development is the lack of anything but the front page and and Email link through this the only graphic left: www.kosovasealines.com/trageti.gif |
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Instead we search around and end up with Sonia, when all along, right under our noses, are vessels which LOOK so very compatible with ours!!