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Coincidence, stolen or inspired?

Tuesday November 1, 2005

I have been getting a number of emails about a CSS rebooter having ripped off this design, so I just thought I’d set things straight.

Firstly, it’s good to see the community in action like this because there are some unscrupulous bastards out there who will steal anything and use it to make money. So thank you for telling me, I for one appreciate that much.

Secondly, the design in question. I have actually been through this process with another site and the conclusions I came too were inspired, maybe, stolen no.

So just for clarification. If you steal my flowers and the layers over them, I will kick you in the nuts but if you have been inspired by them it’s fair enough and I really don’t mind.

The other thing to consider is it wasn’t too long ago someone found a design on template monster that you would swear was a rip off of mine but it had been done nearly 12 months before hand; had I ripped that design off? No, it was an unhappy coincidence and I would have been really pissed off had anyone suggested otherwise.

So, thanks for the mail but I am fine with what I see, it’s rather nice actually.

  1. Stefan

    1593 days ago

    I think you’re right. It’s no ripoff, but definitly strong inspired.
    In my opinion a ripoff starts if someone steals pictures and/or code 1:1.
    Everybody got inspired of something or somebody and if not another website then from art, nature or anything else.

  2. Tor Bollingmo

    1593 days ago

    Hoho, I was going to mail you about it. But then I thougt about it, and it’s more a inspiration on the technique, and it’s not by far as eyecandy as your graphics.

  3. Mohodin Rageh

    1593 days ago

    John, I thought you would have been up in arms raving and ranting all day about this website, but the way you have conducted yourself is commendable.

    I have seen the website and the flowers look similar but not identical. The designer is probably a newbie, otherwise he would have stayed away from anything remotely similar to a design as well-known as yours.

    I agree with you that this may be a remarkable coincidence!

  4. karmatosed

    1593 days ago

    Lol yep I was going to email on that too. I actually think you have a valid point – the mimicking is the highest form of flattery thing. Nice to see someone taking it that way infact.

  5. jacob

    1593 days ago

    I disagree, the fact that it’s not as nice as yours doesn’t mean it’s not a rip off. If you ask me it’s designed with lots of ALT TAB. But hey, as long as it’s less popular and less good-looking I wouldn’t mind either.

  6. Adam

    1593 days ago

    John: This site immediately stood out to me last night for its heavy, heavy inspiration. I didn’t think it was a blatant rip either but had you wanted me to do something about it I wouldn’t have argued.

    I certainly don’t support ripping and it’s unfortunate that there have been a couple of “coincidences” this time around. Didn’t have any last Spring …

  7. Simen

    1593 days ago

    Inspired, but neither the code nor the picture(s) looked as though they’d been ripped. It seems to be a newbie (50webs.com turned out to be a free hosting provider) but certainly he’s allowed to be inspired? Web standards, indeed. The site is using h5 elemts for its headers, but there’s no h1 at all, and there seems to be an excessive amount of divs in there.

    If I were you, I’d take it as a compliment!

  8. Khairudin Lee

    1593 days ago

    I’d say heavily inspired. No profit gain and no harm done.

    But, seriously, nothing beats your bushes and flowers John.

    =)

  9. David

    1593 days ago

    The typography on the rip off sure is bad.

  10. Devlin Palmer

    1593 days ago

    Don’t worry, your’s is better anyway.

    That design looks a little similar, but not ripped off. Maybe inspired, but I think it’s just a coincidence.

  11. Nice Paul

    1592 days ago

    This one’s worth a mention for those who haven’t seen it (I know John has):
    http://www.fivedigital.de/

  12. jose

    1592 days ago

    i have seen that site from day one… and i must say that it is not a rip-off of this site :) it was really inspired by this site but not a RIP-OFF.

  13. Giorgio Martini

    1592 days ago

    403 Forbidden — somebody else getting it too?

  14. Elliot Anderson

    1591 days ago

    Anyone bother to get a screenshot? Im getting a 403 too.

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