Is Imitation the Sincerest Form of Flattery???
I’m not sure who came up with this phrase but I have to say that I disagree with it. When I come across a design of ours that has “inspired” another designer – and there have been quite a few lately - it sets the tone for a pretty bad day and I find it hard to get things done. There’s nothing worse than spending countless hours on a design project, trying to get it just right and then someone comes along and well, you take a look.
This is the third time in two weeks that I have found someone who has been very inspired by our work. I have decided to post a column about it as a way of making others aware that its happening to everyone, not just us. So here is the first in a series of posts.
Elum Lucidity invitation introduced in 2007:
Dolce Press’ business card design can be found here:
Humm… looks pretty similar to me… When I called to discuss this with the owner (I spoke to a man) he said that his client (shown above) wanted a “wavy pattern on her cards.” Is there only one wavy pattern out there? I guess so!
Here’s another interesting piece by the same company.
Elum Empress invitation suite introduced in 2007
Dolce Press’ invitation can be seen here:
They did change the small image in the center of the intersecting lines… You be the judge.
This is an update to this post: 7/3/2009
So I happened to stumble across yet another eerily familiar designs of ours on the Dolce Press website:
Elums Quilted Blankies Birth Announcement designed in 2005:
Dolce Press Business Card designed not too long ago:
I am now at a total loss for words on this one. Yuk!
So I happened to stumble across yet another eerily familiar designs of ours on the Paper Chez website: Elum Orchid Bloom designed in 2005:
Paper Chez designed 2008:
Here’s the link to the Paper Chez copy of the Orchid Bloom invitation. They even named it Orchid…
http://www.paperchez.com/enlarge_orchid.html
You make the call.
amen! and i totally agree – it is completely ok to be upset and beyond annoyed when someone copies. so sorry this happened to you.
posted by Julianne Smith on June 29th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Ugh – I feel your pain. Just weeks after I had launched my new corporate logo (after months of painstaking review, revamp, and review), a highly-trafficked local group suddenly had a remarkable similar (flaws and all) logo on their site and twitter. This was me, beyond angry, frustrated, and a little sad at the same time.
posted by Lisa Jeffries on June 29th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Jeez! That is just eff’d up! No wonder you’re mad. Is there anything you can do about it legally?
posted by Karen Walker on June 29th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
that totally stinks….
posted by ~amy~ on June 29th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Sigh…I completely understand. I have had the entire “pricing” page from my website plagiarized word per word AND earlier last year a company in Canada decided to use a few of my own photos with my invitation designs and post them as their own. They didn’t even try to alter, they just copied and pasted from my site to theirs. Very frustrating indeed. But let me tell you this…over the years I have also had several clients come to me with pictures of invitation designs they want me to duplicate. Luckily, I have found the words to make them understand that in order to avoid copyright issues, changes should be made to the layout/design where it holds the qualities they like about that particular design yet making it their own. I would like to see more clients and designers taking this approach. It would be a win-win. By doing this, the original designs remain an inspiration, the new designer will face a creative and fulfilling challenge in creating something with similar impact, and the client would have a custom piece taylored to their taste and needs.
posted by Dio Perez on June 29th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Brad & Melissa – I’m sad to say you’re not alone. Dolce Press has one of our designs on their website too. Her timing was impeccable – she put it up the week after the design appeared in Martha Stewart Weddings and claims it was completely random that the two designs bear such striking similarity.
Wonder who else she’s knocking off?
posted by Trish Kinsella on June 30th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Doesn’t surprise me one bit to see such copies. I constantly police the web for rip-offs of my work. One lady in NJ stole my coconut palm trees and was selling 9,000 sheets+ on ebay.com. Fortunately, I found her and gave her a call. Another “designer” ripped the art and was selling on her invitation site! Another in New Zealand and another in UK was selling my ’seaside stars’ design.
My lawyer said you can sue $150,000.00 for EACH offense + attorney fees when your copyright work is stolen! Imagine how much that can add up to over time! I am sure you already have a good copyright lawyer and can ask them for their advice regarding this. It is just frustrating and upsetting to see so many copying now-a-days.
Frankly I am finding more and more do not have a stitch of design experience or schooling in design or art. I am delighted to keep an eye out for your copied work and will let you know if I see any. ALL of us DESIGNERS (with 10+ years under our belt) need to stick together and contact each other when copies occur. xo
posted by Michelle Mospens on June 30th, 2009 at 10:06 am
Wow. It never ceases to amaze me what people will do in a “creative” field. We’ve been through this several times. Like you mentioned, changing a part here and there doesn’t make it your own. I have had customers bring me cards that they want me to recreate to “give me the business” and I politely thank them for thinking of me, then direct them to my original work or come up with a completely new design. Thanks for bringing this up!
posted by Marie Katz on June 30th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Copying is getting (and has been) to be a serious problem. I blame the internet, as well as people who are rabid bargain hunters. Not only do you have to police the web to make sure your own designs aren’t being copied, but as a commercial printer, I have to be vigilant in making sure the files sent to me are original–sometimes an impossible task. I just found out the other day that a design I’d printed a few months ago was that of another press–infuriating, but really hard to stop. I know the craft community has a “don’t copy” label for their websites–maybe designers and printers could band together to do the same?
posted by Kseniya on July 3rd, 2009 at 8:19 am
That is a great idea.
posted by biddyb on July 3rd, 2009 at 8:31 am
While I completely agree that these above examples are way too obvious to be purely coincidental, I do feel that I have to address something that has been on my mind regarding the inspiration/copying thing. Sorry in advance if this irks someone.
The example of the interlocking circles design is not exactly original. This motif is actually a pretty old design (by that I mean centuries) and it has been used in various applications ever since. Of course, there are also different variations on a similar theme; I have an interlocking marquis design. Since mine is a slightly different shape and was ‘inspired’ by Moroccan tile design, is this considered copying? If not, can I call dibs on anything remotely associated with interlocking circles, that are printed in purple? It just seems that at times this topic becomes too ridiculous to be meaningful anymore.
Here’s another example: When I first began printing, I really wanted to create a wicker (caning) motif and I began to work on it. Before I had completed my design, I was out shopping and came across one of your desk sets that features a very similar design to the one I was working to create. Of course, I stopped what I was doing and didn’t give it another thought because I didn’t want to be accused of copying— even though I love surface design and texture and again, the place of inspiration was different. When I next saw the motif, Target was using it in their summer collection. Were they copying your design, or Victorian era chair caning for a retro mid-century modern feel? Who knows? It’s a popular design; it’s been used for clothing, housewares, wallpaper, handbags and, of course, stationery. Again, it isn’t particularly original.
I guess what I am getting at, is at what point does something become a copied design? A double border? A single? Polkadot background? Gingham stripes?
Like I said earlier, these “designs” of Dolce Press’ seem to be more than merely coincidental, especially since it seems to be a common occurrence. And as a designer, I think copying sucks. I just also think that in some instances we need to use a little bit more perspective.
posted by Carrie on July 3rd, 2009 at 7:50 pm
I’m inspired by other artists and there is clearly a difference between INSPIRATION and flat out COPYING. I’d be enraged.
To play devil’s advocate . . . I think when something becomes commonplace such as the design of the envelopes in elum’s boxed desk set . . . is it copying or just a design trend? I have a similar stationery set that I purchased in Rome (Medici by Rossler) in 2001. Should I think that elum has copied the design or that hey, it is coincidence — there is only so much you can do with an envelope!
Or can it be that some artists have been inspired to come up with similar designs? The examples you’ve shown appear to be infringing on creative copyright. I’ve come up with designs completely on my own and to discover that there were similar ones on etsy. I get bummed because I don’t want them to think that I am “copying” their idea or vice versa.
The upside is that there are so many creative individuals out there who are inspiring a beautiful movement. Many who work hard to create one of a kind designs — it is up to us, the artists, to heed and pay respect to our fellow artisans to NOT copy.
I love your work and I hope that you won’t have to experience these “per-paper-trators” again.
posted by rose chan siow on July 4th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Hi, I would just like to offer sympathies. I produce stationery too and have had this happen to me. Now I would sue just to set an example. I love the way you’ve named and shamed on your blog! Very brave and the right thing to do. I also think that by the time someone has copied you, you are already on to the next thing – probably something better whilst they can only follow…
posted by Anzu on July 5th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Oh! I am so with you. I am so annoyed when this happens to me … and to make matters even worse (since people who do this obviously have no style or design sense of their own) the copy-cat usually does a lame job at replication … just adds insult to the injury. Kudos to you for calling the culprit out!!
posted by Stephanie J Designs on July 8th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
As a bride (and designer) I totally understand your frustration. I do appreciate the fact that you pointed them out though, most people wouldn’t. As a bride planning a wedding I will make sure I don’t send a penny to anyone that makes a living out of copying someone else’s hard work. Thanks again!
posted by Brenda on July 10th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
I feel your pain and have been there more times than I would like. That line about the flattery is just irritating. All I can say is that with your creativity, you are always going to be one step ahead of the copy cats! That doesn’t take the sting away, nonetheless. Keep up the amazing work:)
posted by Robyn on July 23rd, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Hi Melissa & Brad,
Oh what timing. I was going back to catch up on your blog — unfortunately, it’s been a while since I’ve been here. Actually tonight as a matter of fact, I posted a blog I wrote a few weeks ago that are tips to help brides when selecting wedding invitations. A couple of the tips mention the issue of copyrighted designs. I think the brides need to hear this as much as other companies and as retailers we feel your pain too. We recently had another store open up close by that happens to be much smaller and though they’re colors are different, they are essentially trying to copy the product mix we’ve so lovingly and painstakingly created for our customers over the last 6 years. It too is frustrating and we have no way to guard against it. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and as you said, I entirely disagree! I hope things turn around for you and I would put them on notice!
posted by Renee on October 16th, 2009 at 12:10 am
Funny, we were just about to do a blog with the same title! As a retailer we face it on two fronts: trying to keep customers from photographing invitations they like (to “show someone”) either at the store or at bridal fairs. And on a different level, trying to keep our store fresh and different, only to have another store open in our ‘backyard’ with the same lines we carry! I feel your frustration!
posted by Jan on October 16th, 2009 at 6:23 am