I've Been Robbed!
Posted 21 April 08 under design, ripoffMary just pointed me to a new web startup that seems to borrow heavily from some design work I did about a year ago. Mere coincidence or shameless rip? You be the judge.
The people’s exhibit #1: the design I did for hab.la in early 2007:
And what’s this? Digsby bills itself as “IM + Email + Social Networks”, but I call it a ripoff with a capital WTF:
I’m not sure what to think. The resemblance is there. Theirs has a little more depth; mine, a little more racism. I’d be more up-in-arms if I had any stake in hab.la or if I was trying to build a design portfolio, but as it stands, I’m pretty flattered.
Comments
Leave a Comment
(please be nice/human)
Honestly, it doesn’t strike me as a rip-off. The layout of the two sites is quite different, as is the color scheme. The only similarity is in the amorphous blob characters. And even there the styles of the sites are pretty different.
I’ve been on both ends of this. Many people have wholesale ripped off my work—they get a friendly email warning, then I notify their Web host. And someone once accused me of ripping his work off, despite having never seen his site before.
Coincidences happen, especially when dealing with amorphous blobs.
— Rob Goodlatte · Apr 21, 11:24 AM · #Rob: Yeah, you’re right — the two sites are very different (and equally unoriginal). As far as my blob inspiring theirs, the world will likely never know. Or care :)
— David · Apr 21, 12:59 PM · #If it’s any consolation, I think the sombrero is a sexier hat on the amorphous blog than the ball cap.
— Ginny · Apr 22, 09:53 AM · #