As most of you know I am a blog designer. I work very hard to create unique and beautiful designs for my clients. Unique being the keyword here. I am not a confrontational person, nor am I the type of person to defame anyone! But today I am taking a stand, a stand for my business and a stand for other designers that might have had work "stolen" right out from under them!
This all began yesterday morning when I received an email from a "fellow" designer. She was concerned about a sentence on my blog design website that was "strikingly similar" to a sentence on her site. First and foremost, the sentence she is referring to comes directly from a customer's testimonial. So the sentence in question wasn't even written by me! After being taken aback by her seemingly disconcerting email, I did a little background research about her. What I learned still has me shocked and dismayed.
The "fellow" designer that was concerned about a sentence on my site, and calls herself "morally conscious", is S-T-E-A-L-I-N-G from other designers and claiming the work as her own. Yes, stealing. Morally conscious, I think not. But again, I am not going to defame anyone here. This person knows who she is and if she happens to read this post then so be it. She knows what she is doing is wrong, unethical and definitely NOT morally conscious.
Here is an example of what she has stolen (blog names and author profile photos have been removed or covered for security purposes):
Original Design
Copied Design
So tell me what you think? Coincidence? Not likely. Yes, there are differences in the copy. Such as, there is no background, the fonts are little different whether it be color or font weight, the pattern on the orange stripe, and the square in the header image doesn't have scalloped corners, but this is clearly a copy of the original. If you ask me, I would say she downloaded the header image and edited it a little to fit "her" design.
This angers me! The original designer created this CUSTOM design for their client, only to have it stolen from them. Not only did she steal the design, she also deceived her customer by collecting payment for a custom design, and provided her with a copy of a design that doesn't even belong to her. The thing that shocks me the most out of all of this...she is so naive to think that NO ONE would notice. Well, honey if you are reading this right now, I NOTICED. I think I speak for ALL designers when I say, we'd appreciate it if you could stop stealing others' designs and start creating your own. If you can't, then blog designing shouldn't be your profession.
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Have a wonderful Thursday everyone, do the happy dance 'cause it's almost Friday! Woo hoo!
I think this is very well said. Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame :(. I respect that you are not naming names publicly but would you tell me privately? I wouldn't want to pay for stolen designs.
ReplyDeleteWhat shocks me the most is that she brought herself to your attention by emailing you.
ReplyDeleteBut I have to tell you, my friends and I are learning the hard way ourselves, that not only are there very bad people out there who will steal your ideas, but surprisingly these people have supporters too. I'm sorry for you, but I guess we're all learning some valuable lessons about trust these days.
That would make me upset too. You work very hard and do a great job at what you do. It's not fair for others to rip you off.
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame. :( I sent you an email. Thanks for stopping by! xoxo
ReplyDeleteAww, thanks Mandi! The original design was actually designed by another designer, I haven't personally encountered this yet BUT I felt the need to get this off my chest because, like you said, I do work hard and so does every other talented designer out there. I just hope that I never have to deal with this.
ReplyDeleteYes, it does shock me, but I think the what shocks me the most is that she stole this design from a very well known blog design team. The fact that she had the audacity to steal from anyone let alone them and think she could get away with it. I re-checked her design company FB fan page shortly after this posted and coincidentally the portfolio image she had of this design was gone. I can only assume that the original designer contacted her.
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely a shame that there are people out there like this. :(
Thanks Jennifer! I know there are probably people out there gasping right now. "Oh my, how could she?" But even though this girl didn't steal from me, I am a designer and this hit home. I could only imagine what I would do if someone stole a design from me and claimed it as their own. I would have a conniption fit! LOL
ReplyDeleteSo hard when your hard work gets taken by others. While I understand everyone gets creative inspiration in different places, stealing is not okay.
ReplyDeleteI know first hand how hard you work on your designs and how seriously you take your work. It's so disheartening to hear that there are truly unauthentic designers out there. Glad that I found a fantastic one (you!). xx - Monica
ReplyDeleteWow.. Kinda dumb to call you out.. I wonder how many other people's designs shes stolen... Yours looks way better anyway! (:
ReplyDeleteYes it was! LOL I don't know how many others she has stolen, but I have seen quite a few of her "premade" designs that have been modeled very closely to some other designers' premades. Thank you for your kind words, I love designing and I hope I never have to go through this. I think if I did it would make me reconsider designing. xoxo
ReplyDeleteWOW! So sorry you had to go through that. But now that that's outta the way.... happy Monday! :)
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