People stealing designs!
Printed From: MALAKYE.COM
Category: In Your Profession
Forum Name: Design Discussion
Forum Discription: Trends, Tips / Tricks, New Fabrications & Techniques, and so on...
URL: http://www.malakye.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=228
Printed Date: 10 Sep 2010 at 11:38am
Topic: People stealing designs!
Posted By: janedoe
Subject: People stealing designs!
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2007 at 11:39am
|
Yesterday, I was informed by someone that they received JPEGs of CADs from another company, and they recognized that they were my designs. FIFTEEN sneaker designs. They used the EXACT linesheets I made with my EXACT designs. They didn't even change the file names. They just deleted our company logo and copyright line. This other company is showing MY ORIGINAL work to TONS of customers and passing it off as theirs. Has this ever happened to anyone? I've never heard of anything quite so ballsy.
|
Replies:
Posted By: Teddy B
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2007 at 12:30pm
|
Yeah, see my post about it http://www.malakye.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=137 - here .
In the world of suck, that is pretty much king. I haven't had the pleasure of catching anyone doing it, but I know my stuff has been lifted before.
That blows.
-------------
www.tedbramble.com
|
Posted By: killer
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2007 at 1:09pm
That sucks...
Everyone does it.. Billabong stole this- anyone remember this deisgn from last season
http://mysticrealmstudios.com/drew/dw60.html
The industry is full of sh*t like this..
|
Posted By: spermpit
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2007 at 4:51pm
http://youthoughtwewouldntnotice.com/blog3/
great blog...
-------------
http://olddirtydermot.com/
|
Posted By: janedoe
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2007 at 5:33pm
Yeah, the whole art/design theft thing is terrible. I know it happens, I know you protect yourself, too and can fight back (which my boss is doing), but the thing that made this particularly crazy is that this other company basically is taking MY sneaker catalog with original work and selling it as their own. To OUR customers. It's so gross. I know my stuff is in competitor's showrooms (I've been told by customers), which is also crazy, but the fact that there are companies with a full design staff who will steal 15 designs from me for the season before they are out in the stores... it's unbelievable. And that's only what I know about.
BTW, I love the links. They are awesome!
|
Posted By: Buzzy
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2007 at 6:55pm
|
When I first started seeing how much artwork is 'borrowed' out there, I used to take it as some sort of backhanded compliment. That wore off quickly. I agree. It's a nasty issue.
How about this...I once received a stolen resume! The guy took the resume from a guy who had once worked for us, put his name on it, and sent it in. How crazy was that!!
-------------
Buzzy...
|
Posted By: killer
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2007 at 11:31pm
haha - Great Site OldDIrty!
Had too peep through that to make sure no one one caught me hackin.
LOL
|
Posted By: killer
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2007 at 11:32pm
Buzzy-
The resume story- I have heard that a bunch befor. Not sure if its a myth or not.. lol
|
Posted By: Teddy B
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2007 at 11:34pm
|
The flip side to this JaneDoe, is that you've reached a design level where you have a definite style and design sense that sells. So good that people will snake you. Ego boost maybe?
Or not.
-------------
www.tedbramble.com
|
Posted By: bounds
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2007 at 11:09am
C'mon guys...this is the most cannibalisitic of all industries. I have been a graphic designer for over 12 years and have been ripped off at least 20 times. I have always worked in the apparel field. I remember meeting with the Gap(yeah, I know...) and showing them a line of tee's for their 1969 line and they said nice nice but no thanks only to come out with direct knock-offs the following season. I have seen my boardshort patterns ripped and my particular screen tee style mimicked. Guess what? I am still here and making a good living and yes, I have tweaked art I have found awesome. I will never directly steal but I will knock off if right for the brand. I have a mortgage and property taxes to think of, I can't be mr. originality 100% of the time...there is always someone better than you with a great idea that can help spring a thousand new ideas based on that idea that might not be yours wholly. I regret that they ripped you off in such a manner. Protect yourself and keep dated copies of things before you show a client. Litigation or a threat to sue can cease and desist prodcut and they can simply pay you off instead of a lawsuit. I laugh now when I see my stuff on Ecko or Old Navy or any of the surf companies...why? because I work for half of them anyway, so I am getting paid for it nonetheless.
-------------
Bounds
|
Posted By: Accent
Date Posted: 30 May 2007 at 5:26pm
my question to you is, how did they get those designs in the first place?
it has to be someone you know..
-------------
http://www.accent.tv/ - Accent Creative
|
Posted By: killer
Date Posted: 31 May 2007 at 1:30pm
Accent-
Design concepts are what is stolen not the actual work. Like having an old cassette tape dispensing the ribbon to write out a word. Everyone did it- but someone thought of it first. The billabong shirt that makes up a skull from organic elements that they robbed from an artist in japan , that was then robbed by RipCurl. Its good ideas not actual work.. It happens all the time from simple designs to entire companies.. How many action sports watch companies around now- it was a good idea so people jumped on it.
|
Posted By: janedoe
Date Posted: 01 Jun 2007 at 8:22pm
Accent-
I know, that's the scariest part-- who would give these to a competitor, right? But, after playing detective, I figured out and know who leaked those out to this other company. And, as it goes, these 15 sneaker designs have all been sent around to the world and even submitted to manufacturers and turned into samples by other companies... it's full circle, and a small world. Can't wait for a factory to try to solicit business by sending me photos of my own designs...
|
Posted By: Niram
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2007 at 12:52am
It happens all the time, super "apparel" brands loose focus. Cant be original. REMEMBER- there is a difference between design and development.
-------------
MALAKYE WORKS!!!
|
Posted By: chilson
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2007 at 8:48pm
drive a stake in the chest, that will send a message.
personally I stay away from this site most the time, your asking for it when pimp yourself here, fakers are ready to snake your art, or shall we call it inspirational artists forum.Its kinda like this,
I hate all these people who didn't grow in skateboard culture when the art was called weird, or oddball to some degree. But now that mountain dew is extreme and skateboarders are cool, I just want people to think, would I be here in this market if it wasn't COOOOOOOL, or TRENDY, cause when the trends change so will you,
|
Posted By: chilson
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2007 at 8:51pm
|
oops, I vented a little, this post really gets me, I feel for those who been robbed of there originality
|
Posted By: killer
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2007 at 9:53am
Chilson -
YO CHILL SON!
You dont have to grow up on a board to get design.. Some of the badest asses in the field have never known the feeling of landing a double set that took half the day. If your passion is skating do it. If your passion is design who says you have to skate. Sick typeography and illustration skills are not built on a pair of indi trucks. So befor you stake anyone look at your own work and maybe you should think about skating less and designing more.
|
Posted By: chilson
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2007 at 11:42am
hey killer,aka big talker, big teacher papa of design, thanks for your great knowledge, oh you are the industry aren't you, you know.Somebody must not like real skateboarders. Wow I thought killer was such a extreme name. DUDE, your little lesson you thought you where giving me, is nothing new.
to get skateboarding and skateboarders it helps to be one. thats all,
I also wouldn't call myself a designer, I design some stuff, but really I just make art, and have fun.
|
Posted By: janedoe
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2007 at 12:37pm
Chilson-
Maybe you are unclear on what this post was about. I maybe should have titled it "Sleazy companies stealing their competitors designs." I do not "pimp" myself out on this site. Any of the designs I make for my company is totally confidential, and I would NEVER show it unless it was already in the stores. This was a situation where a competitor got their hands on my line sheets and passed it out (exactly, not even a change of the file names) as their own to their customers, the same retailers that we have. So how these guys got the CADs is another story, also sleazy... like who gave this to them, which I figured out. Obviously, art theft is common and has happened to me MANY times, but I had never heard of anything quite so ballsy, wanted to know if anyone else had something happen to them of this caliber. As mentioned, these designs have already been put into products-- I've seen photos-- by another company, and I will be shopping the market to look for them in the stores.
|
Posted By: chilson
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2007 at 1:48pm
janedoe,
I'm sorry for your loss, also think you should of titled it "Sleazy companies stealing their competitors designs." its happened to me alot too.
But seriously, find a bored friend, give him the number of the company who ripped you off, and have a little fun w/ them. get'em scared,even for a minute. Just because some huge company has more money and power does not mean you shouldn't throw a wrench in the cog wheels. good luck to you
|
Posted By: killer
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2007 at 2:51pm
JANEDOE
That is wild- I have heard of factories knocking stuff off and even companies that manufacture using the same factories will steal concepts ect. Having someone steal cads is another story.. Had you sent them overseas?
|
Posted By: killer
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2007 at 2:58pm
Chilson-
If you where born in 77 how where you ever apart of skateboard culture when it wasnt trendy? Society embraced skateboarding through the late 80's. .Just thought it was wild that you jumped on this site and vented on your design and skate ideals. So just chill relax read the forum.. If you dont see your self as a designer dont stress.. Keep skating keep doing your thing..
|
Posted By: chilson
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2007 at 3:26pm
so your saying skateboarding in the early ninetys was popular culture.
funny. maybe you should go check your stats sheets cause you probably have some. Oh and I guess I'm a wild guy, pretty crazy huh, having ideals,
|
Posted By: chilson
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2007 at 3:28pm
it was a fun, but I'm done.
see ya round killer
|
Posted By: janedoe
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2007 at 3:30pm
Killer-
Well, it did get overseas, but not by me! I think it was whoever leaked it or stole it.
|
Posted By: killer
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2007 at 6:02pm
|
That sucks. I do graphic design and I actually worked a few days from home for a company and they would bring in temps - I guess someone brought in a flash drive and zipped up all my clipart ect. Really sucked. I then just kept everything in the future on my on flash drive so it left the office with me.
|
Posted By: killer
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2007 at 6:17pm
Chilson-
The early 90's most of all. The ball bearing covers (small wheels). Technical tricks, the huge pants, the oversized clothing, crooked straight brimmed hats, Plan-B. Yup- that all became part of the main stream and you where part of it. Dont beat your self up for it.. You did what you liked. Even though skateboarding picked up so much steam that ESPN had their fist Extreme Games by 1995 and things just grew.
So who cares - and jsut enjoy it.
|
Posted By: chilson
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2007 at 7:08pm
Aren't you the historian, you read your skateboard history i see.thats funny, how come in a huge chunk of nys there was not one skate shop,
one place to buy airwalks or vans, boards or anything. There was trends within skateboarding, yah, there always will be, but in 1990 skateboarding was not POPULAR, there a difference or there would be shops(unless u lived in SF and chilled @ emb). When things are popular, there are stores to sell there merch, also thanks for telling me not to beat myself up. I was really getting down on myself, funny how much time you have spent on this message board, maybe more time than I spend skateboarding. best wishes and fun debating, I see things differently thats all, don't worry, its ok somebody on this board thinks different, your still top poster,
|
Posted By: kaoskustoms
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2007 at 8:22pm
Hey, boys and girls,
I'm sorry to read about all the ripping off going on. It totally sucks! But don't take it out on each other... contact the company, or "artist" and let 'em have it. Like Bounds wrote it's nothing new and it will continue to happen as long as you, the artist and designer, continue to work for companies that allow it. I was told once "there's nothing new under the sun" The "action sports" industry is no different than any other. It's all about makin' a buck! As long as there are artists that will "work for t-shirts" aka: low-wages. Then this crap will continue on and on... As artists and designers we all want "mega-brand" on our resumes and we sell our souls to get it. Busting our butts and brains. All the while thinking that we will be rewarded for increasing 3rd quarter sales with our great designs. I hate to burst your bubbles, but it's not going to happen! As soon as you get to the point where you deserve a 6 figure salary you'll get kicked to the curb. Why? because there's 20 kids fresh out of design school ready to work for nothing, or just to see their designs in "mega-brands" fall collection. Our egos are our worse enemies. If ALL the talented artists refused to work for "mega-brand" then there would be no good designs to steal! The owners of "mega-brand" don't give a rats-ass about the artist. Face it they want whats "hot" they want what's selling! If you truely want to protect your art then start you own company. It's a ton of work, and a huge gamble, but extremely rewarding when it all pays off! As long as you are working for someone else you have no control. You are just an employee and can be easily replaced. Sad but true.
Case in point: many years ago I was brought in "freelance" by an "action sports" agency to concept a TV campaign for Vans. I came up with an original idea, (which involved cheeleaders getting in the way of athletes) created the storyboards and presented the work to the marketing director at Vans. The concept was approved and went into production. Long story short... the agency won a ton of awards for the capaign. My name never showed up anywhere! The staff copywriter took all the credit! And when I confronted the owner he just played dumb. Business went through the roof for the agency, and he later sold the agency for millions!
-------------
KaosKustoms
|
Posted By: Teddy B
Date Posted: 21 Jun 2007 at 3:31pm
|
Born in 1971 and went through the clay wheels- Logan Earth Ski era as well as the Bone's Brigade/ H-Street time, I think the early 90s were still the "unpopular" time for skating. Definately the styles were there (mmmmm Air Jordans and baggy pants, my outfit of choice with the Tony Hawk haircut) but it had nowhere near the legitamacy it does now.
The only park around was Del Mar and one in Lakewood (insurance was a bitch). Now there are parks everywhere, lucky bastards.
Is that what we're talking about? I agree with Chilson anyways. And oh yeah, don't steal people's designs.
-------------
www.tedbramble.com
|
Posted By: Niram
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2007 at 10:20pm
please see this website, many brands/companies,etc. will take what is popular and mass produce. There is a difference between great design and companies that have the resources to make product at a large scale. Hence, ripping off designs. It is a great time to be a skateboarder, too bad it hurts more than in the 70's
http://youthoughtwewouldntnotice.com/
-------------
MALAKYE WORKS!!!
|
Posted By: the Grind Box
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2007 at 11:25am
kaoskustoms you sing the gospel!
Word to all the passion being thrown around on this post.
This is a passionate subject and always will be.
This person knows what they are talking about.
The machine will go on, and always will!
We should all know this by now.
"Mega Brand" doesn't care at the end of the day.
Unfortunately at this point in the game 2000's the industry is at a point where most everything has been done.
It's now simply a matter of taking what's been done and making it customized for the brand you are working with/for when it comes to mega brands.
Example: How many brands have Luis Veton wall paper pattern that utilizes the brand icon or logo?
Answer: Every Brand!
In the action sport industry there are very very few brands that actually set trends, our industry is a micro industry within the fashion world.
Yeah some brands are members of trend sourcing companies, and some are fortunate enough to be able to attend Fashion weeks in Europe and N.Y.
But it all boils down to that, waiting to see what real designers "Haute Contour" is doing... then (as stated above) taking that info and rendering it to fit within our industry, and trying to do it for as cheap as possible....
Directly taking CAD's issss sooooo wrong!
But eventually when those designs make it to the open market, you have options.
You/ your company have dated files with copy-write info on them, great way to get some cash from the factories that do produce your original ideas.
Better yet hopefully they sell them and make lots of money:)
all the more potential money for you/ your company to gain.
Problem: All it takes is an alteration of 20-30% in most cases to claim it as an original idea.
Intellectual property is a bitch:(
This has most definitely happened to me and will probably happen again.
The Sh$%^ty part is, unless you have a tone of money personally, or your company, you are fighting an up hill battle.
Word to the battling sk8ers.
Real original underground sk8ing was over in the late 70's
Early 80's-90's was the pinnacle point of sk8ing becoming mass popular.
I remember during those times at one point you could go to Toys Are Us and get a Madrid sk8r with Indy Trucks and Krypto wheels.
Don't you remember brands like Vision? The Lucero ,the Shmitt Stick, Gonzo, Christian Hosoi That is when skers lived like F$%#ing rock stars.
Vision could put that logo on anything and it would sell.....F*%&^$ing Stupid Dumb.
To Summ up..
Yes stealing is wrong.
-------------
The Grind Box Concept Studio
"Grinding out original concepts and products Since 1990"
|
Posted By: Deaddevilman
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2007 at 5:02am
|
If you really think your designs are being ripped off... get a lawyer. You need to have documentation on everything you've designed to include who and when you met with. I see no problem with someone asking a company to sign a disclosure when viewing their portfolio and make sure you get a business card of everyone you've met with for extra proof.
Musicians protect their product, why wouldn't a designer?
|
Posted By: dickharris
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2007 at 4:44pm
The nature of non-creatively talented business men poaching the hard work of talented but not-so-shrewd-or-business-saavy creative people is the nature of the beast. I've been in bands that almost got signed, design sites/logos that got ripped off, etc.
It's something that can sometimes be protected BUT bottom line is, it' again, the nature of the beast. Most of today's popular rock songs came from some old blues riff written by some dude in the 20's that had been redone a hundred gazillion times.
I don't like it either but it is what it is.
R
-------------
=================
Rich Harris
CTO/SVP Online Biz Dev
Media Descent
rich@mediadescent.com
[Community Sites]
Skateboards.com
Surfboards.com
Bodyboards.com
|
Posted By: perceiveclothin
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2007 at 1:56pm
|
Yes, this is industry is filled to the brim with knocker-off-ers! Watch out for vertical manufacturers. If you are producing in large quantities I'd spend a little bit more money and go with a reputable company that wont sell your designs to someone else. I've seen some of my old graphics up and down the garment district in LA, but since I've gone with a better manufacturer, I havent seen any knock offs. I once saw a knock off of mine that was out on the streets before the original was!
-------------
Matt Kellick
Perceive Clothing
matt@perceiveclothing.com
|
|