Relentless Copycat
October 5th, 2006 Filed in: News & Updates Jump to commentsA fellow visitor contacted me today regarding my Illustrator tutorials being ripped by a web development company, called Prowebb. This is not the first time my work has been STOLEN. It shocked me when I’m being doubted about not being the original author of the materials. When I kindly asked for my work to be taken off their website, the response I got in return was: “How do I know you are the original owner of the content.” How can I prove it? Well, some of the tutorial screenshots have my logo on it.
It is illegal to publish any copyright material on a website without giving credit and being authorized to do so. Besides the law, there is also an ethical aspects involved. All people, not just designers, know the basic concept of claiming work that is not yours to be established as stealing. You can be inspired by someone else’s work but don’t steal. Your actions reflect your personality, and to certain extent, your capabilities. Ironically, this company is providing web design and development services.
The last email I got from them was: “I will have the tutorials you mentioned below modified to insure they are not breaking any laws.” So, does this mean it is ok to steal, as long you can find a way to around the laws?
Final Update & Conclusion
Oct 27, 2006
Prowebb has finally accepted my request and removed all my tutorials on their site. And as I promised, I have removed all screen captures and links that are referenced to Prowebb in my post. Thank you for all your support. You guys have made a difference.
October 9th, 2006 at 9:54 pm
That fact that your logo is in the tutorial is just sad -_-
October 9th, 2006 at 3:03 pm
The fools forgot to remove your logo from the logo tutorial. If you have your logo copyrighted you can go after them for this. Even if you don’t if you have had this published in any of your contributions to the various publications you can show proof that your logo is yours and that you’ve engaged in business and contractual work under the name and logo. My cousin is a business attorney and I emailed him a link to this post so that he can look it over and see if he can help you out. I’m tired of designers getting worked over by the lazy people out there.
October 9th, 2006 at 10:02 am
I wonder what is original on their site. It looks like they just take everything from others and put it together…
October 9th, 2006 at 9:33 am
Nick,
I don’t know if you have resolved this problem yet or not, but I remember coming across this link a while ago from Lorelle on WordPress.
http://lorelle.wordpress.com/2006/04/10/what-do-you-do-when-someone-steals-your-content/
There’s a lot there but it may help you with the next steps if you are having no luck.
October 9th, 2006 at 6:50 am
Stealing is already very bad, but a design company stealing? That says a LOT about this company’s methods… I mean, if they steal their tutorials, why not copy other sites for their clients? shame on them.
What I find amusing is their poll, I wonder if “in the future” means “when we find them and rip them”
And another thing that I really don’t understand, is why a design company uses a premade for their site… this has nothing to do with stealing (though maybe they didn’t even pay it) but if they can design for others, why can’t they design for themselves?
Anyways… do contact their host. I’ve done it before and depending on the host it works perfect.
I love your site by the way, I visit it from time to time, you’re really talented. Keep it up!
October 9th, 2006 at 4:59 am
I hope they paid for the theme that they are using on their website. Its a theme from Joomla template design company called Rockettheme. See http://demo.rockettheme.com/ and select the Sep 06 - Mobius theme…
October 9th, 2006 at 12:11 am
Here I finally found the URL of the copycat: http://prowebb.com/mos/category/Tutorials/Illustrator_Tutorials , if you want to know who.
October 9th, 2006 at 12:03 am
What a shame, sorry to hear that.
October 8th, 2006 at 5:39 pm
If they’re “modifing” to insure they are not breaking any laws, it means that it is stolen work…
So bad people and they usually think they’re pros…
October 8th, 2006 at 11:58 am
haha my favorite is how
http://www.ndesign-studio.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/5.gif
actually has your logo in it.
rippers suck.