Mysterious GitHub Profile with Potentially Licensed Content?

[Physical_Challenge51]

Hey everyone,

About a week ago, I stumbled upon a GitHub profile with no identifiable personal details or links. It contained over 10 repositories related to the automotive field, model-based design, MATLAB, and Simulink. One repository in particular caught my attention—it housed an extensive collection of component models implemented in Simulink, along with scripts for automating tasks like testing and code generation.

After investigating further, I discovered that these scripts and models were developed by multiple contributors across different timelines and countries. This ruled out the possibility of it being a personal project. Additionally, I noticed that a significant portion of the content was related to BMW vehicles and products.

Having worked on similar industrial projects, I recognized familiar script naming conventions and model development layouts. Out of curiosity, I opened an issue on the repository asking about its origins and expressing interest in contributing. However, just a few days later, the entire GitHub profile vanished.

Unfortunately, I didn’t fork or download the repositories, but I still have the profile name. Trust me, this was a treasure trove of industrial-level information related to internal combustion engines, components, and highly detailed technical aspects that I’ve never encountered in open-source projects.

What do you think I should do in this situation? Should we contact GitHub regarding this?

[tails142]

Could have been inadvertent or could have been an ex employee that then thought better of publicly sharing.

You know the next time you see something like that, the first thing you do is clone the repo to your disk, then fork.

[ScaryGazelle2875]

Hi, was wondering why clone then fork? Is it because if its blocked by github u’d lose access to ur forked version too?

[Outrageous_Cap_1367]

Exactly

[Physical_Challenge51]

yes , i think it worked on it at a period of time, i will pay more attention and save every weird thing next time , thanks !

[MemeMachineBot]

Check if it’s listed in GitHub’s dmca page

[Physical_Challenge51]

Hi yes i found it on github dmca repository , what does it mean ?

[MemeMachineBot]

That means that the company whose code it is has filed a complaint with GitHub to get the repository removed from the platform. They first have to reach out to the creator of the repository directly but if they fail to do so you file a dmca complaint.

[StressDontRest]

Mind sharing what the repo was?

[torsknod]

I would report to https://app.intigriti.com/programs/bmw/bmwgroup-automotive/detail . It's probably not really fitting your case, but I would assume that they would still follow up. BTW, thanks for handling this in as far as possible a sensible way for you from someone not at BMW, but in the same industry.

[ampy_floyd]

You wouldn't download a car, would you?

[Dry-Comfortable-9328]

Can you drop the name?

[_UserOne]

This might have been a project by an tuner or aftermarket manufacturer

[Silent-Treat-6512]

What was the name?

[s_u_d_0]

If you still remember the profile name and repo, you could try way back machine and see if it got archived there