02/04/2007 
8 Comment(s)Inspiration-Based or a Rip-off?
I recently read an interesting article by Jen at Pop Stalin. The subject of the piece focused on whether a web designer is really a web designer if they rip off design work from others. The examples used by Jen were two websites and a Wordpress template. They are; the original open source template Greenery, the website Inspiration Bit who use the template as it was intended, and Aetomic the indicted culprit of the piece.
However, whereas Jen's argument is about designers stealing work from others without giving credit, the focus of this discussion is more around the line between stealing and taking inspiration from.
If you take a look at the two sites the similarities are quite obvious. Both support a two column layout with an elongated strip of the header sandwiched in-between. Both containers are exactly the same width. The same background image is used, and both designs enjoy the natural touch with grassy design imagery. It is very clear that the original template played a heavy part in the overall layout.
What is also apparent though, are the many new alterations made for the Aetomic design. I consider a design rip-off as the lazy way out for untalented individuals, however in the case of Aetomic I see that talent and effort that has been employed to transform it from it's Wordpress heritage into a site supporting an appearance unique in many aspects. This point which leads me to the million dollar question; does Aetomic deserve to be branded as a rip-off, or a site built upon heavy inspiration? Here's the full low-down to help you decide:
Similarities
- Same fundamental layout
- Same background image
- Very similar drop shadow
- Same container width
- Same menu link hover image
- Similar main image subject matter
Differences
- Greater colour pallet, with the introduction and heavy use of blue.
- Larger vertical header
- Fixed background image
- Different main image
- Blocks of content in black containers
- Banner at top left of screen
- Contact form built into right-hand column
- Content below central sandwich image
- Logo at foot the of the page
- Green to Semi-transparent 'ribbon' around edge of header image
So where do you think one can draw the line between a blatant, lazy and untalented rip off, and a design foundered on heavy inspiration? Do you think Aetomic is a rip-off?
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On 28th of February 2007 Josh said:
Both look similar to me, but I see why some people see it as a ripp. I dont think its really a ripp but I would be mad if someone did this to a design i made.
On 28th of February 2007 J Phill said:
Hmm, that looks a little too similar to me. Just seems like a different background image and some new colors.
On 28th of February 2007 Ian said:
At the end of the day if the people who have had the website built for them are happy with it and users find the site easy to use and there are no copyright issues the so what, it could also be argued that the people who design templates for open source projects are happy to see their work used anywhere as it shows what they created is sort after. I personlly cant see anything much wrong with it.
On 28th of February 2007 Andrew said:
There is a line and it is hard to place.
In this instance it is the fact that it is a designer that appears to have done it that draws the line. It just feels wrong. I wouldn't be comfortable using someone else's images and CSS, but that is my own principles speaking.
On 28th of February 2007 James said:
Yea, it's a rip-off i have a friend who calls himself a 'designer' and simply sells templates from 'OSWD' to other people. It should be called fraud.
On 1st of March 2007 Jen said:
Steve, thanks for taking the conversation across the pond and thinking enough of it to create your own post about it.
I just reread my comments on my blog to you and they read kinda "snippy" but just wanted to let you know, they weren't to be. :)
On 1st of March 2007 Owen said:
The fact that Aetomic have removed the credit from the template is deceitful. There is nothing wrong with using a template for your site, but removing the credit is sending out a false statement to visitors.
In my opinion that's shady practice.
On 1st of March 2007 kitsimons said:
It's slightly harder to cry "rip-off" when it's using an open source template (or did I misunderstand?). But credit should still be given if required by the terms of use, regardless of cosmetic changes.
In this case, Inpiration Bit is much closer to the original template than the Aetomic appearance.
Still, whether you can claim to be a web designer when using a template is another matter entirely...
On 1st of March 2007 Dustin said:
I have a problem with both Aetomic and Inspirational Bit, and that would be the lack of crediting the original design(er). Now, i skimmed though each site quickly, but i didn't see credit given on the front page and thats where is MUST be in my eyes.
I can't code, but i love to modify. Thats how i achieve what i want to see on my site. I always leave credit as the author(s) have put some serious time in. Yeah, Aetomic changed the site up, but at least leave a little credit saying "Originally by: Pat Heard" or "Inspired by: Pat Heard"
On 4th of March 2007 Montoya said:
I would never have a problem with someone modifying my open-source templates, as long as they gave me credit... which is clearly what these 2 sites did not do.