Stealing Trend
June 21st, 2007 Filed in: News & Updates Jump to commentsSo, what is the next web trend after the Web 2.0 trend? Steal. I’ve been noticing this trend for a while and in fact it is rising. Rippers now on the Internet steal anything from text content, graphics, icons, design templates, to coding scripts. Almost every other week, I get an email from visitors telling me who stole my work. By the way, thanks for reporting copyright violations to me. This becoming an issue and I really want to bring it up. I have setup a Flickr gallery to showcase the ripped work. Here are some of the sample cases.
TV Print Ads (new)
Two days after I published this post, someone sent me another email reported my work being stolen by two Bosnia & Herzegovina TV stations - OBN.ba and RTRS.tv. He was nice enough scanned the newspaper ads and sent it to me. Although, I’ve never seen the actual ads but I believe they just ripped my high resolution wallpapers (without any editing). This is ridiculous, from a TV station?
SWsoft Sitebuilder
SWsoft Sitebuilder is an online application that allows users quickly build their website without any programming or design experience. The hosting provider will install the Sitebuilder on their server. Their clients will use the online wizard to pick a template, fill in the content, and then upload to their web space. I found several of my artworks were included in the application as a template. I certainly did not give them permission nor sold my work to them. It was actually a media/hosting company who reported this to me.
Canvas Printouts
Believe me or not, I found these in a local shopping mall, Pacific Mall. If you live in Toronto area, you probably have been to the mall or know about it. It is located at Kennedy and Steele. I was shopping at the mall and found my works were selling at a retail booth. They printed my work on a large size canvas and selling for $35CAD. I quickly took some pictures with my camera phone and asked the owner where did they get the products from. The owner told me they brought their products through several level of connections, thus unable to trace the manufacture.
Best Web Gallery being ripped
Shortly after I launched Best Web Gallery, I found a site just ripped it exactly the same, but replaced with a different logo. They even copied my gallery entries and screenshots. As usual, I sent them an email and asked them to remove the design and related content. However, I didn’t receive any response. So, I submitted to Digg and got more attention. Then, the site quickly removed the theme in the next day.
How did I catch them?
Well, the Internet is very small. Unless you don’t publish your site online, otherwise the chance of you getting spotted is very high. Most of them are reported from visitors. The others are traced from referral links and tracking codes.
What should you do if someone stole your work?
I’m sure I’m not the only victim. What would you do if someone stole your work?
Send them an email? Half of the time, they don’t even have a contact number or email address on their site. If you are lucky enough, they will apologize and remove your work. The worst I’ve seen they just ignore your emails and pretend nothing happened. Or even worst they will claim as original and question you back “are you sure you are the original creator?”
Find a lawyer and sue them? It is probably not worth the value to sue them because most of them are small business or personal website. The lawyer fee will probably cost you more.
How do you handle your copyright infringement issues? Any advises or suggestions that you can share with us?
August 29th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
The TV station and local gallery one are the worst I find. I mean, a TV station for chirst sake! As for the gallery, I can picture a million scenario’s on how you could approach the gallery keeper.
August 29th, 2007 at 7:13 am
Some people like direct copies while some other just inspired by your work and create something new.
August 27th, 2007 at 4:57 am
Not only are you extremely talented, but in my opinion you contribute a huge amount to the web design community through the online communites you have created, inspiration, ideas and tutorials. Its a shame people have taken advantage of this.
August 24th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
Wow, I’m just annoyed that someone would do that. I myself, love the layouts you’ve made. And I also have been busy trying to make layouts for myself. I find your work inspirational, but I would never take any part of it and state it as my own. I have however wanted to know some of the plugins you are using.. xD I really like the navigation, and am thinking of making my own tabbed navigation. But I, unlike some idiots, am a bit more creative, and would like to make my OWN work, rather then steal it. So what i’m saying is– You have awesome work, love the design, can’t believe somebody’s been ripping you off! D:– :D
August 21st, 2007 at 10:52 am
hey you should check out http://perthglory.com.au. Today I was driving and I saw their new ad spread over a huge billboard and the first thing I thought of was your work. I know its not a complete rip and they could argue they were inspired but I still see it as stealing because the same techniques and everything is visible.
August 18th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
I’ve had a bit of my photography ripped off by others so I can relate. Threatening legal action for violation of a copyright is the way to go. Find out who their ISP / Hosting company is and CC them - the hosting company will usually pull the plug on undesirable customers who are attracting bad legal attention.
Good luck and remember to stand up for yourself.
August 17th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
I really hate liars and thieves. And I get really frustrated when someone steals. I’m from Serbia and here almost every second web designer is a thief. I am web designer too, but I never steal because I think this way: “It’s better to make bad original than to make a good copy”. I just need TWO, but ONLY two opinions from anyone here about this one:
http://www.sabornedeljice.com/index.html
http://www.stonebriar.org/
Is this a steal? Please, tell me. I just need Yes or No. Notice that just a few days ago even the search box in the header was there, same as the one at Stonebriar. Header (background) is stolen, that’s obvious, but is it enough, when you look at it now, to say: “It’s a steal”?
Thank you!
August 15th, 2007 at 10:39 am
I actually found the site through searching for Google for Wallpaper. How bizarre!?!?
Love the site though, very along the style I tent to design along myself.
Rippers are scum, and will get what comes to them.
August 14th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
My husband and I came across your site because I am re-developing my art site. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you I really love your work and found this blog entry interesting.
I particularly love how mystical and fairy-taleish it is and the rainbow effect in your main graphic is positively magical!
On the one hand, what a compliment to have so many people wanting your work - on the other hand you should be compensated (particularly in the cases where people are making money off of your work) or at least be consulted, in the event people are using your work in a non-profitable way.
Also - you might not want your work printed on to canvas and sold!!!!! JEEZ!
This is a problem that cannot be escaped. You can only deal with it after the fact.
Your site looks like a great resource for information - I’ll keep coming back to see what you’re up to!
August 9th, 2007 at 10:56 pm
I want to thank you for the contribute to the world wide web community.
Your work is very impressive and a lot of dedication.
Thank you for the free tutorials that you have on the site
Best,
Marcelo