[robinparker]

I had always thought that plagiarism (and I'm not talking about using somebody else's idea as a starting point - I'm talking about actually nicking somebody else's graphics/stylesheets and claiming it as your own work) was solely the domain of cowboys and fly-by-nights, but I've recently found that a reputable agency that I'd previously had a lot of respect for, has ripped off somebody else's work to the point where most of their "design" was actually just a screen shot of a website they'd come across, with different copy and a different logo.

This makes me wonder if plagiarism is actually more widespread than I'd previously thought - is it just something that everybody does?? Or am I not alone in being absolutely opposed to it?!

[cjgraphix]

I've had people rip my work and call it their own. I went on a multi site witch-hunt for the person and had them booted off their hosting, and accounts removed from multiple 'freelance job' sites.

Their is NO EXCUSE for ripping someone else's work and calling it your own. It's one thing to view some code to see how things were done and replicating them (some people learn that way)... but calling the work your own is just WRONG.

[Larixk]

Heard someone I had to work with on a project say: "Yeah, I'm not such a great scripter, but hell, all web work is pretty much copy & paste".

Made me want to punch him.

[cjgraphix]

Originally Posted by Larixk

Heard someone I had to work with on a project say: "Yeah, I'm not such a great scripter, but hell, all web work is pretty much copy & paste".

Good thing I can't punch people online, or via IM, or phone. Probably have a lot of assault charges filed against me.

[robinparker]

Glad it's not just me that feels so strongly about it

[djhektik]

I lost a full time job once for this. I worked for a marketing agency, and they asked me to make a site "like cnn.com" so I had a look at cnn.com and followed the general idea of the site, im my own way. when I handed in the work the boss said no, it doesn't look like cnn.com. I then realised he actually meant "a replica of cnn.com". next day I was told I wasn't needed any more

[steveb]

Ha! You're better off out of it.

I get my INSPIRATION from other sites. I look at what makes them attractive, take notes, and then go off and start designing. The end result usually looks totally different from the "original", but I've had a goal to work with.

[Susanna-Cole]

I've haven't really had people rip off my codes, but I have had them rip off or basically copy my graphic design.

I think plagiarism happens a good bit... it's especially easy to copy a code and edit it to your content and pictures/graphics without anyone really catching on. That is at least if it's a basic code.

I will confess though, when I was about 12, and making my first website I used another site's code and then changed it to my content and graphics. Of course the website was owned by a friend, who didn't mind, but I'm sure this happens a lot without permission, when people are learning, they'll use other peoples codes to get the hang of coding.

[haku]

If it's just a personal 'for fun' website, and nothing commercial, being used exclusively as a learning tool, then I'm of the opinion that that probably isn't such a big deal. It's people who rip off a site and then try to make money off it that I think are pretty sleazy.

[Pugsley]

sleazy is such a good word

[niggle]

There's no such thing as total originality.

We don't live in a vacuum, we all see, appreciate and admire work all day every day. When we come to produce work of our own we synthesise and blend our collective influences into something "new".

Take from one source only and its plagiarism. Take from two and merge them, it's "creativity".

[Dusteh]

Yes but that is using a creative process since it involves active input. Everyone takes inspiration, however just taking is a different story.

[cam]

nice signature by the way dusteh

[niggle]

Yes but that is using a creative process since it involves active input. Everyone takes inspiration, however just taking is a different story.

Of course.

Nevertheless, we all "take". You yourself created and posted a rip of kaneda's bike from Akira, didn't you? Where does that figure in your estimation of plagiarism?

[Dusteh]

How can you not understand the difference between a homage and a rip?

If I had made the bike model and then tried to pass it off as my own design - then that is plagarism.

Makes me wonder how you go about designing yourself seeing as you can't grasp the basic concepts.

[niggle]

How can you not understand the difference between a homage and a rip?

If I had made the bike model and then tried to pass it off as my own design - then that is plagarism.

So if you get caught and own up, it's an homage but if you don't then it's plagiarism? Interesting distinction.

[Dusteh]

Are you suggesting I tried to pass my bike model off as my own design, and then 'owned up' that it was from Akira when 'caught'?

[niggle]

Not at all.

In fact I'd expand the question to include my own recent posting of an Easter Island moai head I used as part of a design. I admit that I copied it - is that plagiarism?

I think you may have a good point, I'm just interested to see if you can expand on it.

[Do Gooder]

i hate it when you accidentally steal an idea.

scribbling down some amazing thing - then realise it is the Channel 4 Ident/Ad you saw in D&AD/Logo for a Big Company. Baws baws baws.

I do it a lot (but luckily catch it... and slap myself)

[Dusteh]

Why don't you work it out yourself without me breaking it down into words of no more than two syllables for you.