Is this design/layout theft? - GoFuckYourself.com

Meteoseek · 11-04-2005, 04:59 PM

ok, I really don't know how to deal with stupidity, so I'm posting this here.

Here is my affiliate program created about 2 years ago:
http://www.123-cash.com/
http://www.123-cash.com/tools.html
http://www.123-cash.com/join.html
http://www.123-cash.com/wm_resources.html

I designed this site myself, design is very simple, nothing special about this. Just short preview and promotional tools.

Few days ago I accidentally found this site, it's affiliate program for paysite belonging to the same niche as mine:
http://www.sp-money.com/
http://www.sp-money.com/content.htm
http://www.sp-money.com/ccaffiliate.htm
http://www.sp-money.com/resources.htm

I had some nice conversation with the owner of this program, these are few quotes from emails he sent me:

'For one I didn?t copy any layout. That?s just a basic layout with an image on top (not to mention my image is totally different from yours). What?s so unique about that? Yes, the font is the same which probably is what makes the two sites look similar, but what is actually being said is totally different.'

'But hey, I?m not an asshole even though you appear to be one, so point out some specific things you would like to see changed and I?ll try to oblige to your wishes.'

'Again, I don?t want to seem like the villain, bad guy, or ?copyright infringer? in this situation so I?ll ask you again what I could change about sp-money.com that would make you happy. I guess changing the font would be step number one. Possibly, placing all text in a bordered table perhaps? Any other ideas you may have are open to consideration.'

The last two quotes killed me. He copies my design and wants me waste my time thinking how he could make stolen site look different from origin...

All I want the owner to use his own design/templates, however he doesn't see the problem here, as he 'didn?t copied any layout'.

I'm posting this because it's not 100% copied site and I wondering can this be considered as design/layout theft.

Your opinions are welcome

High Plains Drifter · 11-04-2005, 05:00 PM

The design is too simple to be considered stolen... but it was definately inspired.

Doctor Dre · 11-04-2005, 05:03 PM

Both designs pretty much sucks arse IMO ... but it's definitly inspired

spacedog · 11-04-2005, 05:06 PM

they're thieves plain & simple.

Personally, IMO, you need not do anything at all. I think when webmasters see that these people are thieves, they wont use their program. After all, If they can steal a simple little design, chances are there's other stolen stuff.
It does look extremely similar & yes, I say they definately used your design as the basis. They probably downloaded the whole site into an editor & made whatever changes to it. If you have a lawyer friend, have him or her send a C&D demanding change design within 72 hours & if non comliance threaten tort.

jacked · 11-04-2005, 05:07 PM

looks like he/she is a GFYer the site is down

Dalai lama · 11-04-2005, 05:08 PM

It wasnt stolen but it was inspiration indeed. I would suggest you to go and improve your own affiliate program design, it's almost 2006 you know

StuBradley · 11-04-2005, 05:14 PM

Your bullets are square and his are diamonds. I see no resemblance.

SomeCreep · 11-04-2005, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meteoseek

ok, I really don't know how to deal with stupidity, so I'm posting this here.

Here is my affiliate program created about 2 years ago:
http://www.123-cash.com/

I designed this site myself, design is very simple, nothing special about this. Just short preview and promotional tools.

Few days ago I accidentally found this site, it's affiliate program for paysite belonging to the same niche as mine:
http://www.sp-money.com/

Your opinions are welcome

How can you claim you even have a right to that template/layout? All it is, is a header graphic, 5 square buttons, and some bulleted html lists. This guy may have been inspired by your layout, but it's way too basic to claim you own it and that no one should copy it.

spacedog · 11-04-2005, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacked

looks like he/she is a GFYer the site is down

it's still up.

Irregardless if it's a simple little layout with minute changes, it is still morally wrong. I remember a big thread not so long ago about a simple form being copied & many replied, with comments like "Get over it, it's just a stupid form" & others were against the idea of copying in general. Don't matter if it's simple or elaborate, what matters is that the other party had no creative talent to devise something on their own, so downloaded a whole site to copy & made what changes necesarry. It's just wrong, & yes, it IS STEALING!!!!

to prove my point. Go steal a car. Paint it a different color, put different rims on it & put fuzzies on the mirror. When the cops pull you over, tell them you didnt steal it, that you were just inspired & it's not the same car, see, it's a different color & has different rims & besides, the other car didnt have fuzzies in the mirror.

Doctor Dre · 11-04-2005, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spacedog

they're thieves plain & simple.

Personally, IMO, you need not do anything at all. I think when webmasters see that these people are thieves, they wont use their program. After all, If they can steal a simple little design, chances are there's other stolen stuff.
It does look extremely similar & yes, I say they definately used your design as the basis. They probably downloaded the whole site into an editor & made whatever changes to it. If you have a lawyer friend, have him or her send a C&D demanding change design within 72 hours & if non comliance threaten tort.

I totally agree ... There is no way I'd use design theif as my sponsor programs

High Plains Drifter · 11-04-2005, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spacedog

it's still up.

Irregardless if it's a simple little layout with minute changes, it is still morally wrong. I remember a big thread not so long ago about a simple form being copied & many replied, with comments like "Get over it, it's just a stupid form" & others were against the idea of copying in general. Don't matter if it's simple or elaborate, what matters is that the other party had no creative talent to devise something on their own, so downloaded a whole site to copy & made what changes necesarry. It's just wrong, & yes, it IS STEALING!!!!

to prove my point. Go steal a car. Paint it a different color, put different rims on it & put fuzzies on the mirror. When the cops pull you over, tell them you didnt steal it, that you were just inspired & it's not the same car, see, it's a different color & has different rims & besides, the other car didnt have fuzzies in the mirror.

I agree with your opinion, but that's a poor analogy.

Tat2Jr · 11-04-2005, 05:43 PM

IMO - I'd really be more worried about how dated your design looks instead of worrying about if someone 'stole' it. The site looks very 1997, and you'd get farther with a complete redesign then wasting another second on if this guy stole it or was just inspired by it. Was it right or wrong? Not gonna get into that. Is it time for a redesign anyway? YES!

Meteoseek · 11-04-2005, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spacedog

it's still up.

Irregardless if it's a simple little layout with minute changes, it is still morally wrong. I remember a big thread not so long ago about a simple form being copied & many replied, with comments like "Get over it, it's just a stupid form" & others were against the idea of copying in general. Don't matter if it's simple or elaborate, what matters is that the other party had no creative talent to devise something on their own, so downloaded a whole site to copy & made what changes necesarry. It's just wrong, & yes, it IS STEALING!!!!

You got my point very well.

Also design is relative understanding, even if it's simple it's still site design. Both sites looks very similar now, they have the same structure and graphics are only slightly changed. The whole site view and concept is the same. Not to mention they are both affiliate programs for the same squirting niche paysites.

11-04-2005, 04:59 PM	#1
Meteoseek Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 162	Is this design/layout theft? ok, I really don't know how to deal with stupidity, so I'm posting this here. Here is my affiliate program created about 2 years ago: http://www.123-cash.com/ http://www.123-cash.com/tools.html http://www.123-cash.com/join.html http://www.123-cash.com/wm_resources.html I designed this site myself, design is very simple, nothing special about this. Just short preview and promotional tools. Few days ago I accidentally found this site, it's affiliate program for paysite belonging to the same niche as mine: http://www.sp-money.com/ http://www.sp-money.com/content.htm http://www.sp-money.com/ccaffiliate.htm http://www.sp-money.com/resources.htm I had some nice conversation with the owner of this program, these are few quotes from emails he sent me: 'For one I didn?t copy any layout. That?s just a basic layout with an image on top (not to mention my image is totally different from yours). What?s so unique about that? Yes, the font is the same which probably is what makes the two sites look similar, but what is actually being said is totally different.' 'But hey, I?m not an asshole even though you appear to be one, so point out some specific things you would like to see changed and I?ll try to oblige to your wishes.' 'Again, I don?t want to seem like the villain, bad guy, or ?copyright infringer? in this situation so I?ll ask you again what I could change about sp-money.com that would make you happy. I guess changing the font would be step number one. Possibly, placing all text in a bordered table perhaps? Any other ideas you may have are open to consideration.' The last two quotes killed me. He copies my design and wants me waste my time thinking how he could make stolen site look different from origin... All I want the owner to use his own design/templates, however he doesn't see the problem here, as he 'didn?t copied any layout'. I'm posting this because it's not 100% copied site and I wondering can this be considered as design/layout theft. Your opinions are welcome

11-04-2005, 05:00 PM	#2
High Plains Drifter Confirmed User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: ♠ ♣ ♥ Posts: 2,341	The design is too simple to be considered stolen... but it was definately inspired. __________________

11-04-2005, 05:07 PM	#5
jacked sperm tail Industry Role: Join Date: May 2004 Location: nj Posts: 11,019	looks like he/she is a GFYer the site is down __________________ Got Cam Models? icq: 361-607-616

11-04-2005, 05:08 PM	#6
Dalai lama Strength and Honor Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 16,540	It wasnt stolen but it was inspiration indeed. I would suggest you to go and improve your own affiliate program design, it's almost 2006 you know __________________ A program you can trust. Gallerybooster Run multiply TGPs of 1 script

11-04-2005, 05:14 PM	#7
StuBradley Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 2,625	Your bullets are square and his are diamonds. I see no resemblance. __________________ 51-566-514

11-04-2005, 05:06 PM	#4
spacedog Yes that IS me. Bitch. Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 14,149	they're thieves plain & simple. Personally, IMO, you need not do anything at all. I think when webmasters see that these people are thieves, they wont use their program. After all, If they can steal a simple little design, chances are there's other stolen stuff. It does look extremely similar & yes, I say they definately used your design as the basis. They probably downloaded the whole site into an editor & made whatever changes to it. If you have a lawyer friend, have him or her send a C&D demanding change design within 72 hours & if non comliance threaten tort.

11-04-2005, 05:43 PM	#12
Tat2Jr Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Sunny California Posts: 4,882	IMO - I'd really be more worried about how dated your design looks instead of worrying about if someone 'stole' it. The site looks very 1997, and you'd get farther with a complete redesign then wasting another second on if this guy stole it or was just inspired by it. Was it right or wrong? Not gonna get into that. Is it time for a redesign anyway? YES! __________________ NICHE MONEY >> Ass Worship • Panties • Solo Teen • Pantyhose Serving up exclusive fetish sites since 1997!