Hi,

DaveNET and/or his client have ripped me off:

http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=210596

He had a logo contest some while ago, i provided some drafts, he never got back to me and today i found his client's site is using a crappy ripp of my original design.

My original:

http://flyservers.com/members4/logodesign.tv/classyhats/

Their crap rip:

http://www.classyhats.com/cgi-bin/ccp51/cp-app.cgi

Dave, i take what i do very seriously so be assured if you don't pay me or take down that logo ASAP i will have this prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law - i ain't kidding for sure.

Frank

Hey Frank,

They are really, really nice logo designs you have there, and he has definatly taken a LOT of inspiration from them - which is a bit underhanded. But the illustration of the woman/hat is totally different to yours, and the font used the the text is also different.

I seriously doubt you will ever win anything in a court battle, it's definatly not a direct 'rip'.

A agree that he should pay you for it though. ;)

Well as said i know the drawing of the woman is different - but that's about the differences; they tweaked the font a little but it's obvious where the original came from -> look at the "C" in "classy"...and yes, i would call it a rip - a blatant one even.

Looks like a sleazy rip to me. Give them the benefit of a doubt and send them an invoice, email a paypal link - START a paper trail!

Also, if they are using your copyright material without authorization, educate yourself about the DMCA and send their provider a C&D letter. That'll hurt 'em.

Thanks sightz - will do that.

DaveNet has just answered at

http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=210596

The sleazy weasel even has the nerve to claim that the logo is nowhere near a rip - incredible.

But my lawyer will make them learn.

Its not a rip. You only have in common oval and similar font, but that's what he requested in his original post so don't be surprised that final logo had it. And image in logo is completely different.

Nope.

There is a lot more in common.

Where did he ask for exactly the font i have used, uh ?
Where did he tell me where to place what ?
Where did he tell me to take a script font, make it larger, then use a serif/bold one and make it smaller and place it underneath the first one to the right?
Where did he tell me to split into the company name plus url rather than just the url?
etc etc.

So it's quite the contrary: *Everything* except the woman's drawing is the same basically.

And come on, it's not like this would have been a suprising coincidence - i mean the sucker posted a contest, didn't like my prices and never got back to me about what their client said and suddenly i find 90% of my ideas for that contest on that site - after i had shown him my suggestions that is.

So the leat he has done is taking my ideas and amateurishly trying it himself.

Uh what the heck - as said, the similarities are obvious enough.

No Comments...But Good Luck to both the parties...get this resolved soon :D...we dont need enemies in this world...life is too short for them ;)

> Where did he ask for exactly the font i have used, uh ?

here:

> But I would be interested in a decorative font design for that part as well.


> Where did he tell me where to place what ?

here:

> The logo is the little figure with the hat, perhaps surrounded by an oval shape.



> And come on, it's not like this would have been a suprising coincidence - i mean the sucker posted a contest,
> didn't like my prices and never got back to me about what their client said and suddenly
> i find 90% of my ideas for that contest on that site - after i had shown him my suggestions that is.

well... the only idea that he took from your logo is text placement and maybe font. but that's not a rip.

> Uh what the heck - as said, the similarities are obvious enough.

sure its similar - he requested logo to look like that.

Seems you don't know a lot about the importance of good logo design elements - including type treatment, importance of weight, composition etc..otherwise you would not behave like all that was minor stuff.

Anyway, the funny thing is that the sucker meanwhile has replied in the original thread and has accidently admitted someone else (apparently a cheaper designer) had "finished" the logo - so Dave *must* have shown him my designs and ask him to copy it..no way in this world someone would have come up with the *exact* same font and arrangement idea.

Well i will make sure everytime someone is looking for "classyhats" on google a nice link will pop up with hinting on that rip.

He took your design and recreated it...and sadly there is nothing you can do but be mad about it. No graphics were actually ripped, he used the same font and idea but he didnt cut and paste from your logo. I know it really sucks, but your stuck without much you can do.

Sorry Man

Hm. If you keep switching the windows and looking at it, they don't look exactly the same... I wouldn't say it's a rip, but it's extremely inspired. And it looks worse...

Anyway, I hope you guys figure something out soon.

Ok,

maybe "ripped" is the wrong expression technically speaking ( forgive me - no native speaker here) but "extremely inspired" or "recreated" hits it on the nail just the same....just like "stolen" does. :)

And yep - my lawyer *will* figure something out soon.

Just to clarify:

Of course in this case it's not about the money itself.
It's about

- the principle
- them stealing my design meaning i cant use that idea ever again for a PAYING client as they would show me the already existing crappy logo on classyhats.com which again means DaveNET stole an idea from me that could have brought me way more than $40 or $80.

you really have a lawyer to take care of this? I find it unbelievable, since most lawyer won't deal with anything unless if you are talking about five-six figures. If it's only three four figures, then most lawyers will tell you to file a small claim court.

You really have a lawyer? :)

Good luck.

Anyone know if the graphic person who made the accepted logo was from WHT?

heh - good luck with your "lawyer" but I think you'll be laughed out of court. :)

Just being honest, sorry if you think otherwise.

To be honest,
Both layouts look same to me , the white oval , and the placement of the text 'classy hat' and the url on the right. Its obvious based on your ideas, with different font and drawing.. But probably little you can do :/

Nice logo btw.

ask for half, 40 bucks. Since it seems the original was for 80 bucks. half for the inspiration.


:D

I decided to let the sucker go, what goes around comes around; would be a whole different story though if they would have stolen my drawing of the woman as well; i think Dave and his designer will get what they deserve through their own actions one day anyway.

Btw - thanks Dave, through your stupid actions i have had several people now contacting me offering logo design work.

And i'm using the woman artwork for a PAYING client now.

Originally posted by beatz
I decided to let the sucker go, what goes around comes around

That's a mature decision.

Karma baby, they will get their's.

You can't let crap like that eat you up.

Hi Beatz

I am really glad you have a person to whom to sell your work. They are getting an excellent value!

I don't think was a *deliberate* attempt to ripe you off.

We really need to educate the community-(here I am speaking more globally than WHT) about how design works.

I would guess some reders of this thread were really learned something about what goes into creating an effective logo and just what the graphics artist contributes to the project

If we could help folks understand the ethics of contests....basic protocool f...like do not ask a second artist to follow through on an idea presented by another (unless they agree)

thngs would go a lot smoother

as they do at designoutpost:)

Best

Renee

Thanks Renee - btw, you are right about designoutpost.com, i'm member of the design team there :)

Really?


Its great!

It's a rip

I think you should notify classyhats.com and inform them of DaveNET's misconduct

If a guy looked for a logo through contest, he should have worked with you to the end or at least pay you a portion of what he earned, because now, he basically fooled you for an idea and finalized the logo on his own, really bad move

Airnine

Nevertheless, it's a consolation to get new offers for design work, I wish you good luck

Airnine