Well, that's the thing about the internet. It's not only a source for research but a source for plagiarism. it's humongous resource is available for any person looking for a quick buck to higher a designer to produce 'his' design so it could be sold.

Anyway, I guess the positive part to look at it is that these designers are rather well known or have a product that's really sold in the market. But I can understand what it feels like.

As much as righteousness goes, I don't think I'd spend more than RM100 on a mere t-shirt. I guess it's cause i'm not in the target market they're looking at.

okie, just to make one thing clear. sometimes designs are inspirations and have been known to be almost impossible to be totally original. so unless a design is 60% exact like the inspiration, then it should be considered as plagiarism.

on a second note, as much as designer may design to their own liking, if they retain to believe that they're designs are superb and they're reluctant to give consumers what they want, their product will not sell.

apparels are a matter of trend. if that type of design is the new thing, everyone would be buying it and you can't complain because most of the market is built upon people like this. if you think your design will create that trend without the help of marketing, think again.

so yea.. make sure you design improvising on inspiration and not design following on inspiration.

cheers.

design has been a very subjective thing for a very long time.. however, I think the only thing that can't be copied is style. but that too in the near future can be forged with scanning and high definition printing.

anyway, the only law available in trying to protect designers work nowadays is the licenses governed under Creative Commons. just don't be too confident that with that, your design won't be used by others.

sigh.. people.. designers..

the whole reason nada- started this is to vent out his diappointment and findings so easily found on plagiarism and the like.

I'm not gonna side anyone here but act as an outside reviewer. I've been reading this thread and following thus far. Before it becomes a war of intellects or a "eh, move la! my car better than yours la. - Hitz.FM" scenario. I'd just like to share a few words and try to make peace with everyone here.

According to my investigation of this topic, the war began when dinodog_Jr said this. To my understanding of what he said, he refers that it's okie to copy as long the designer is responsible enough to admit it. This statement itself made it a double edged knife because you're saying it's okie to copy as long they admit it. You also implied that those who aren't honest would make you look down on them which strengthens the statement that copying is something should be allowed.

Before you say anything, just read on.

jayhan said everything well here and it's on the spot right. he refers that everyone has 'copied' from an inspiration and adapted into their work. a 100% style that's truely unique isn't easy to copy but it can be copied. just like what he said.

now, I can understand why nada- took it very personally and preached to all designers still studying. since he started the topic, his post was to instil a degree of justice and try to act upon plagiarism. That said, he's just being protective hence vented out his anger.

it sounded personal and like anyone here, i'd also be pissed if someone said that to me. however, if it was said then normally it's for a reason or it wouldn't be put into such a long paragraph.

in conclusion to all this, I think everyone should lighten up and retrace their steps of what they might've said or how they might've phrased what they wanted to say.

maybe what dinodog meant to say was to be a 'humble copycat', a designer who's copied an inspiration at least 60% should just admit it if asked. what nada- was doing was just protecting his belief and strong justice towards plagiarism.

so that's that about this topic. i should've studied law or become a negotiator at times. be at peace everyone..

p/s: just remembered I said this before..



This post has been edited by etsuko: Apr 28 2006, 10:27 AM

i think if the copyright were strong here.. not many companies will be suing because not all of em can afford to do so.. especially if the typical people knows this and a small time designer has created a hype for themselves.. these low lifes will just piggy back on the smaller one knowing that these small ones can't do anything about it..

why? because they don't have the money to sue..

they do.. and there are sources or powers that even promote them..and I ain't talking about friends.

actually, you can't blame them for thinking that because they might've decided to just change the negative thought of design being plagiarized and allowing the other person to earn more than they do, to something positive like 'wow! my style/design is unique at a point that someone is trying to copy it.'

actually, as long other designers realize where the original originated from I think the plagiarism protection ethics will organically come in on its own.

for instance, the reason you noticed a plagiarism act is because you know where the works originated from. which is good and because it's this good, clients who understand these things will not use the person's work unless the copyright has been cleared up.

so for the clients who just allows this to happen later, it's either they don't know and aare waiting for other designers to tell them about it or are just being arrogant people who don't care about design at all.

i know of one..forgot if it was Honda or Toyota's website. the idea was imitated entirely.

so where do u draw the line for imitation or plagiarism..?

if someone copies your design or style it's imitation..? and if the person just blindly takes your work and claim it as your own is plagiarism..?

why does it always come down to these kinda things.. anyway, instead of bashing each other up (though it helps sometimes).. can we just carry on with the reasons, the problems and the possible solutions Malaysia can implement in being known less as a country who only produces 'pirated' stuff most of the time.

so it's like that discussion we were having sometime ago. is being a copycat right or if acknowledging yourself as a copycat is right. anyway, i think i understand where you're coming from but I still dun like the idea of imitating at all costs. you might be inspired by a certain something of a design then you'll use it but taking the whole thing from (website examle) background right down to footer style is just plain plagiarism.

sometimes a lil change of something that's inspired you might be something innovative you've not come about.

as to the idea of a client approaching me and asking me to copy a website entirely or asking me to edit a template they'd have purchased, I'd either suggest someone else to do it for them or I'd tell them the hourly rate they'd have to pay me wouldn't be worth asking us to edit their template.

simple, honest and not allowing myself to bend my own principles.

sigh.. i try and i try..

if you all wanna do this, go right ahead la..

i'll just sit back and see when the mod/staff/admin comes in and 'kancho' u all nicely later.

LoL!