My tshirts design ripped off (pic)? (1 Viewer)

[Ferox13]

I was looking at the Rotten Cotten site yesterday and saw this shirt. This definally came out with it the last few months:

Here's a shirt I did and used to sell on my website - i did this years back:

Definally a bit of a coincidence that its the exact same wording too. I remember offering RC a few designs years ago but that one wasn't part of it buy it might have put me on their radar...

I'm not totally pushed on it as i'm not selling tees at the moment. What should i do? Should i try get a few shirts off them. I never copyrighted the design so it would be hard to prove anything..

 

[Wilbert]

I was looking at the Rotten Cotten site yesterday and saw this shirt. This definally came out with it the last few months:

Here's a shirt I did and used to sell on my website - i did this years back:

Definally a bit of a coincidence that its the exact same wording too. I remember offering RC a few designs years ago but that one wasn't part of it buy it might have put me on their radar...

I'm not totally pushed on it as i'm not selling tees at the moment. What should i do? Should i try get a few shirts off them. I never copyrighted the design so it would be hard to prove anything..

Just make sure JANER doesn't see it!

 

[Ferox13]

LOL....

Actually my one is a cry for post natal abortion...

 

[Diddles]

Yours is better.

I'd mail them and say it's a bit cheeky to be using your design.

 

[europhile]

Dunnes Stores has a bit of reputation for this sort of thing too. You should watch your back.

 

[cephalopod]

too late, abortion coathanger t-shirts are walking out the door of Dunnes Stores. Everyone wants one.

 

[Ferox13]

Damn you DUnnes stores..

Ironicallatasic story about that shirt:

I was selling outta a mates shop in Temple bar and one of them was hanging up in his shop window. Some (not so) Youth Defense/Pro Lifer noticed it and took offense. He stormed into the shop, ripped it outta the window where it was on a plastic hanger and starting ranting at the poor girl who just works the counter.

He then proceeds to hurt the item at her - clocking her in the head with the shirt and hanger (obviously taking the tshirt slogan too literally)...Any waya the cops were called but she didn't press charges but they did take the shirt to submit it to the DPP to see if it was deemed obscene. Never heard from them again. I was pissed that they didn't get any written statement from the cops that I could have used in future advertising..

 

[flashback]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todd_Goldman
see : Accusations of plagiarism

In the end he (Todd) backed down and the original artist won...

 

[Ferox13]

Wow cool and he was a Something aweful guy too:

 

[Ferox13]

I just sent em an email. I asked for some shirts in compensation - i was pretty nice..
If the guy is an asshole then i'll change my tone..




I think a few shirts is a resonable request..

 

[DilbertPart2]

Were you able to get them?

 

[broken arm]

ACID (Anti Copying In Design) is a membership trade organisation, set up as a round table action group in 1996, by designers for designers – now a hard-hitting "not for profit" trade organisation created to combat the growing threats of plagiarism in the design and creative industries. By helping its members to understand and protect their rights, ACID is intent on stamping out intellectual property rights abuse.



ACID provides an accessible, practical framework for those who believe that their IP rights have been infringed and positive help to those who wish to leverage the value they create in their intellectual property. Developing a proactive IP strategy is key to creative businesses in the 21st century to maxmise the benefits of intellectual capital, intellectual know-how and intellectual property rights created.

http://www.acid.uk.com/

 

[Ferox13]

Thanks broken arm....

He got back to me - heres some snippets:

'....In my opinion, it is similar but not defiantly not the same. Its not close enough for you to sue me nor send me a cease and desist. In fact I can't see how you think it was copied..........Abortions and coat hangers just go together and "its never too late", well that must just be a coincidence.....

 

[Wilbert]

He's kind of right, in a way. You can't copyright an idea, just the expression of that idea in a particular way. I mean, you didn't come up with the abortion/coathanger idea but the expression of it (i.e. the style of drawing, the white on black look) is definitely similar to yours.

I think the simplicity of the design is what would allow him to get away with the coincidence defence.

The lesson is, always copyright your designs!

 

[portrid]

I've been in the high court with this guy for months

 

[broken arm]

I've been in the high court with this guy for months

barry face it. his is better.

 

[portrid]

barry face it. his is better.

I don't believe for one minute that he played on all those albums - it's a question of artistic integrity and staying true to your vision

 

[bloopitybloop]

it is similar but not defiantly not the same.

double negative, you win!