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 11th, 2006 at 5:15 am
PS: They’re hotlinking your images, too, so you might want to do something about that.
October 11th, 2006 at 5:12 am
Don’t know if you know, but some of your tutorials have also been ripped by a site called GFXTURK.com. Here’s one: http://www.gfxturk.com/3d-effects/t-3d-graphs-397.html
This is another site that seems to be composed entirely of ripped tutorials.
October 11th, 2006 at 3:17 am
Thank you, Donna and Grafik, for the copyright clarification.
To Mr. Anonymous,
I'm certainly not just picking on this particular company/individual. If you could send me all links who have stole my content, I 'm sure will do something about it. As a designer, I respect copyright, I will not steal people creative content and take credits of it. Imagine someone stole your art, put his signature on it and claimed it is his. How would you feel?
I also want to make another point, up to this moment, ProWebb has not taken any of my content down yet. They just ignoring my message and emails…
October 11th, 2006 at 12:52 am
#45 Anonymous, you obviously have a very poor - err should I say non-existent understanding of international copyright law. Hopefully this will clear things up for you, from www.copyright.gov/help/faq :
“When is my work protected?
Your work is under copyright protection the moment it is created and fixed in a tangible form.
Do I have to register with your office to be protected?
No. In general, registration is voluntary. Copyright exists from the moment the work is created. You will have to register, however, if you wish to bring a lawsuit for infringement of a U.S. work.
Is my copyright good in other countries?
The United States has copyright relations with most countries throughout the world, and as a result of these agreements, we honor each other’s citizens’ copyrights.
October 11th, 2006 at 12:51 am
Is it just me or does Anonymous read guilty, like hello Mr Anonymous have you never heard of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act?
If you can prove that material you created is being used on a website that is not under your control, the company hosting the website is OBLIGATED BY LAW to remove that content, if they ignore the request then it goes to the domain registrar.
Did you miss © N.Design Studio 2006 it’s on every page on this site, you don’t have to display it on every word and image.
October 10th, 2006 at 11:29 pm
Oh and by the way, i see that your tutorials aren’t copyrighted. I would suggest that if you don’t want anyone to take anything from you, you should copyright it as your own…otherwise it just says that you are not the rightful owner of that material. I don’t know if I’m the only one that stopped by your site that thinks it’s wrong to be so angry at only this one company. Send a message out to all the companies that have stolen from you and be sure to copyright your stuff. It’s the only solution. Other than that, you just seem like a big baby blaming it all one one person. If you would like to contact me, I can show you many others who have the same exact tutorials as you do and you will see that it’s wrong to accuse one company by itself.
October 10th, 2006 at 11:12 pm
Hi Nick,
its a shame to see this sort of action.
Iva already done what richard did and contatcted the companys porfolio clients to warn them.
Hope you can shut them down.
Best regards from portugal
October 10th, 2006 at 9:20 pm
Nick, I have been following your site and work for a few years now, and I’m so sorry to see you being ripped off. I cannot believe the attitude that these guys at ProWebb have taken. They really don’t realize how much trouble this is going to cause them. If they were smart (which I doubt), they would have taken simple action and taken the copied material down. It is YOUR logo on the page even, for crying out loud.
They are goading you on and need to be taken out.
October 10th, 2006 at 9:03 pm
Hey, i’m sorry but i think that it’s really rude to be picking on this one company. I mean, you don’t want to know how many websites I’ve seen with those SAME EXACT tutorials…i’m not saying that you’re not the original author, because i believe you are…but i seriously think it’s not right to make an article about this ONE company. If you want to make an effective article, you should talk about companies in general who take from your site, because there are many more other than this one that you’re talking about.
October 10th, 2006 at 5:50 pm
Oops, I just re read my message and I found that “none of the material in your website is not” is a bad way to say what I meant
Please drop the “none of” if you want to carry on the torch with the next 10.