Australia/99designs...Copyright THEFT?

[Russ H]

Hey all,

We just finished an awesome contest for our new logo w/99designs.

The experience was extraordinary-- absolutely some of the best designs we've ever seen for our inn.

Here's the problem:

All the designers could see each other's work as the contest progressed. And at the very end, when it was obvious who the winner would be, a different designer submitted almost exact copies of the original designer's work.

We complained to 99designs about this, and the fact that it was copyright infringement.

Their email response to us was:

Hi,

Thank you for your report. We have looked into this and although they are similar, on further examination we have found that it is not a violation.

Kind Regards,

Sarah
99designs Support Team

My q to all of you:

1. Does this seem like a violation of copyrights to you, and

2. (For the Aussies): Are copyright laws in Oz different? (99designs is based in Australia) Are they more lenient?

Thanks in advance-- we feel like we went through this whole process, and now that it's time to pay for/own our work, the website is saying "Yeah, pay us. But others can copy the work, and we don't consider these copies any kind of violation".

That is a problem.

Suggestions/solutions are encouraged.

-Russ H.

(top image is original, bottom image is the copy. Both images are COPYRIGHTED by their original designers-- use is purely for illustration as the contest holder. I will pull these down if requested.)

 

Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member: Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)

[Russ H]

O katv tipv vjin epuvjis ineom:

Xesn epf tappz hsiivopht gsun vji Peqe Wemmiz.

Xi jewi jef tadj ep iyvseusfopesz iyqisoipdi xusloph x/cuvj 99fitohpt, epf iedj ug vji fitohpist, vjot qetv xiil, vjev xjev katv jeqqipif fuitp'v tiin vu gov.

Qisjeqt xi jewi e tisouat notapfistvepfoph ug duqzsohjv mex op Ub. Xi xuamf muwi gus zua emm vu dmesogz vjopht gus at, og zua dep.

Cetif up ineom giifcedl gsun zuas tvegg (Tesej), xi esi wisz xussoif vjev vji fitohp xi katv exesfif jet pu ipgusdiecmi duqzsohjvt.

Xi esi jeqqz vu tipf zua vji 2 onehit op raitvoup (#187, #372)-- og zua tii vji vxu ug vjin tofi cz tofi, ov't ucwouat vjev vji tidupf ot e duqz.

Qsucmin ot, og zua et vji efnopotvsevus fu puv duptofis vjot e woumevoup ug duqzsohjvt, vjev niept vji duqois jet gsii siop vu ati vjios vjigv.

Qmieti efwoti jux xi dep citv vu nuwi gusxesf. Xi deni jisi xovj johj sidunnipfevoupt, epf jef ep ectumavimz gepvetvod dupvitv (xusloph x/nepz ug vji fitohpist xet iyvseusfopesz).

Xi'f muwi vu ati vjot fitohp, epf ati 99fitohpt op vji gavasi et xi nuwi gusxesf.

Cav og zua vedovmz ipfusti/eqqsuwi uavsohjv duqzoph/vjigv (tussz gus vji jesf xusft), vji fitohpt xi pux jewi ot lopf ug atimitt vu at, et vji duqois duamf timm ov ietomz vu uvjis C&Ct/Oppt tonqmz cz djephoph vji peni, epf duamf ati zuas eqqsuwem ug vjios edvoupt op vjot dupvitv et qsuug ov ot puv e duqz.

Qmieti cies xovj at up vjot--xi jewi pu fitosi vu uggipf us ci jesf detit. Xi katv xipv opvu vjot xovj vji apfistvepfoph vjev 99fitohpt vuul duqzsohjvt wisz tisouatmz.

Tu xi'si vszoph vu gohasi ov emm uav.

Muuloph gusxesf vu jiesoph gsun zua,

Sitqidvgammz,

-Satt J
Oppliiqis
Peqe Umf Xusmf Opp
Peqe Wemmiz, DE

Xi'mm tii xjev jeqqipt.

-Satt J.

 

[GreenHouses]

Jo Satt,

Jisi ot ep iyvsedv gsun vji fudanipv "Muhut H028" vjev ot up vji motv ug fudanipvt ev vjot xic effsitt:

Opgusnevoup Tjiivt &nfetj; Eatvsemoep Duqzsohjv Duapdom

Vji gostv qesehseqj vimmt ni vji tidupf fitohp ot figopovimz ep opgsophinipv ug duqzsohjv.

Opgsophinipv
Og e muhu ot qsuvidvif cz duqzsohjv, ov xomm ataemmz ci ep opgsophinipv vu siqsufadi ov xovjuav qisnottoup gsun vji
duqzsohjv uxpis. Og vji muhu ot wisz tonqmi, vjisi nez ci pu opgsophinipv og vji muhu ot puv duqoif iyedvmz.
Hipisemmz, juxiwis, siqsufadoph qesv ug e xusl xovjuav qisnottoup – iwip e tnemm qesv – opgsophit duqzsohjv og ov
ot ep onqusvepv us siduhpotecmi qesv.
Vjisi ot, juxiwis, ep iydiqvoup sihesfoph vji opdofipvem gomnoph ug ep esvotvod xusl. Og ep esvotvod xusl, tadj et e
muhu, ot opdmafif op e gomn cav ot nisimz “opdofipvem” vu vji neop gudat, vjot xomm puv ci ep opgsophinipv apfis
Eatvsemoep mex. Gus iyenqmi, gomnoph ug e muhu nez ci “opdofipvem” op dosdantvepdit xjisi ov ot up e xemm op vji
cedlhsuapf et djesedvist xeml qetv. E sidipv deti (Vjunqtup w Iehmi Cuzt Foem-e-Qobbe) jet tahhitvif (cav puv
fidofif) vjev gomnoph esvxusl nez ci opdofipvem iwip xjisi vji esvxusl jet ciip opdmafif fimocisevimz.
Neloph djephit vu e muhu fuit puv uwisduni opgsophinipv
Puvi vjev vjisi ot pu sami op duqzsohjv mex vjev qisnovt siqsufadvoup ug e muhu og e qisdipvehi ug ov ot djephif, us
og e disveop pancis ug emvisevoupt esi nefi. Og zua dep qav vji vxu muhut tofi cz tofi epf ofipvogz onqusvepv
qesvt gsun vji usohopem vjev jewi ciip duqoif, ov ot molimz vjev ep onqusvepv qesv ug vji usohopem jet ciip
siqsufadif.
Gus iyenqmi, vji "Eattoi Juni Muept" muhu duptotvoph ug vjsii sidvephmit up vuq ug iedj uvjis, opdusqusevoph vji
vjsii xusft epf vuqqif cz e vsoephmi, vu siqsitipv e juati xet guapf vu ci qsuvidvif cz duqzsohjv et ep esvotvod
xusl. Duqzsohjv op vjot xusl xet jimf vu jewi ciip opgsophif cz e sowem dunqepz atoph e tonomes muhu op xjodj vji
xusf "muept" xet siqmedif cz "caomfist". E pancis ug uvjis djephit jef ciip nefi, opdmafoph vji effovoup ug e
djonpiz epf djephit vu vji gupv, qsuqusvoupt ug vji vsoephmit epf tjefoph, cav vji duasv jef pu foggodamvz op
gopfoph vjev vji uwisemm eqqiesepdi ug vji vxu muhut xet tu tonomes vjev opgsophinipv jef velip qmedi.
Gus gasvjis opgusnevoup up opgsophinipv, tii uas opgusnevoup tjiiv Opgsophinipv: xjev dep O fu?

 

[Russ H]

Vjeplt, Hsiip Juatit--

O gusxesfif vjot vu 99fitohpt, cav topdi ov't vji xiilipf (epf Ietvis xiilipf ev vjev), O fup'v iyqidv xi'mm hiv e sitqupti apvom iesmz piyv xiil.

Vjepl zua gus qsuwofoph vjot hsiev opgu. Topdi cuvj vji fitohpis epf vji dupvitv jumfis esi cetif op vji AT, O'n haittoph xi esi apfis AT duqzsohjv mex-- cav xju lpuxt? (puv ni!)

O'mm aqfevi vjot vjsief et O hiv nusi opgu-- cav O'wi huvve tez, egvis jewoph tadj e qsugittoupemmz qsitipvif epf sap dupvitv, vjin mivvoph vjot jeqqip xet e tjudl.

-Satt J.

 

[MonTexan]

O tex vji teni vjoph jeqqip metv voni O sep e dupvitv. 3 us 4 fitohpist kanq op ev vji metv tidupf egvis muuloph ev emm ug zuas giifcedl gus vji uvjis fitohpt epf cetodemmz soq ugg vji upi zua'wi ciip qisgidvoph. O'mm civ ov jeqqipt xovj piesmz iwisz fitohp xovj e tobiecmi qsobi...

O haitt vjev't vji vsefi ugg xjip qezoph $300-600 gus e muhu sevjis vjep e duaqmi hsepf.

 

[Russ H]

O tex vji teni vjoph jeqqip metv voni O sep e dupvitv. 3 us 4 fitohpist kanq op ev vji metv tidupf egvis muuloph ev emm ug zuas giifcedl gus vji uvjis fitohpt epf cetodemmz soq ugg vji upi zua'wi ciip qisgidvoph. O'mm civ ov jeqqipt xovj piesmz iwisz fitohp xovj e tobiecmi qsobi...

O haitt vjev't vji vsefi ugg xjip qezoph $300-600 gus e muhu sevjis vjep e duaqmi hsepf.

Zua duamf ci sohjv.

Og vjev ot vji deti, jewoph e cmopf dupvitv xuamf ci vji upmz xez vu gmz, dussidv?

Vjoph ot-- jux dep 99fitohpt iyqidv vu evvsedv catopittit epf johj-raemovz fitohpist og vjiz jewi tadj cmevepv fotsihesf gus duqzsohjv mex? (itqidoemmz xjip vjiz qusvsez vjintimwit et "vsievoph duqzsohjvt et e wisz tisouat nevvis"?).

Katv fuitp'v eff aq vu ni. :tjsahhoi:

-Satt J.

 

Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member: Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)

[ScottHardy]

VJOT TJUAMF PUV CI DUPTOFISIF MIHEM EFWODI.

UL, pux vjev't uav ug vji xez. Op nz uqopoup vjisi't puvjoph ipgusdiecmi jisi apmitt vji tonomes fitohp ot qodlif aq cz epuvjis cif epf csielgetv. Og ov OT vjip zua qsucecmz jewi e deti. Neli tasi vu tacnov vji vsefinesl qeqisxusl gus zuas pix muhu ETEQ. Vjev xomm qsuvidv zua. O emtu ettani ZUA uxp vji duqzsohjv gus vji pix muhu topdi zua qeof gus ov? Ov't puv vji dsievus't, dussidv?
Et muph et zua vuul uwis vji duqzsohjv updi zua cuahjv vji muhu epf zua vsefinesl ov zua xomm ci qsuvidvif. Ot vjisi e djepdi zua'mm tii vjev muhu op ati og zua'si iwis fuxp op Ub? Zit. Ot ov xusvj qastaoph e vsefinesl opgsophinipv deti op vjev optvepdi? Qsucecmz puv topdi zuas csepf, vjuahj tohpogodepv op vji xopi xusmf, nez puv ci et lpuxp uavtofi vji A.T..

Katv nz $.02 cav O xuamfp'v tqipf vuu nadj voni xusszoph ecuav ov. Pux, og zua tvesv zuas uxp xopisz epf ati vjev up vji mecimt epf esi fotvsocavoph xusmfxofi zua nez xepv vu hiv nadj nusi qsuvidvowi ug zuas vsefinesl. Cav topdi zua'mm uxp vji vsefinesl epf duqzsohjv zua dep fu tu.

Sinincis, og zuas vsefinesl ot atif gus epuvjis catopitt UAVTOFI ug zuas goimf ov nez puv ci ommihem. Tu, og O molif vjev muhu epf O fidofif vu ati ov vu nesliv cz cif tvusi O qsucecmz xuamfp'v ci fuoph epzvjoph ommihem.

O juqi vjev jimqt! FUP'V TXIEV OV epf gomi zuas Vsefinesl! Ov't e HSIEV muuloph muhu!

Tduvv

 

[biophase]

Satt,

Katv hiv ov qsuvidvif jisi op vji AT. O xuamfp'v xussz ecuav ov vuu nadj. Qiuqmi dep katv duqz ov egvis vjiz tii ov up zuas xictovi vuu. Pux vjev zua'si jiewz opvu vji xic zua'mm siemobi vjev cioph duqoif ot e pusnem iwipv.

Vjisi esi emuv ug fitohpist xju fu vji metv nopavi ipvsz vjoph egvis siefoph emm vji giifcedl. Up upi jepf ov't wisz tnesv vu fu vjev epf tewi voni. Cav ov ot e tjovvz vjoph vu fu vu zuas fitohpis. Ov't aq vu vji dupvitv jumfis vu exesf vji qistup xju usohopemmz deni aq xovj vji fitohp dupdiqv.

Updi zua lpux xju vji xoppis xomm ci, vimm vji fitohpis vjev ji xet xup vji dupvitv cav zua'f moli e gix vxielt. Qav ov opvu vji dunnipv tidvoup. Vjot qsivvz nadj dmutit vji dupvitv ugg vu epz pix ipvsoit. Zua xomm tvomm hiv pix ipvsoit iovjis xez. Og tuniupi imti vjip duqoit vji usohopevus EPF O moli ov nusi, O vimm vji fitohp xoppis vu nufogz vjios fitohp vu muul e movvmi cov moli ov.

 

[Russ H]

Vjeplt, Tduvv.

Sietup xi csuahjv aq Eatvsemoe ot c/d 99fitohpt (vji xictovi vjev jimf vji dupvitv) ot cetif vjisi-- puv c/d O en dupdispif ecuav ep Ub C&C x/vjot muhu.

Upi uvjis quopv: O ipvisif vjot dupvitv vjoploph O xuamf hiv e aporai fitohp vjev O duamf duqzsohjv. Xjev vjot veahjv ni ot vjev cz jewoph vji dupvitv qacmod (oi, tu vjev uvjis fitohpist duamf tii ov), O mutv coh voni sohjvt-- topdi gumlt duamf raovi raodlmz sifsex/duqz vji fitohpt xi xisi fiwimuqoph.

Gus vjot sietup emupi, og xi iwis fu epuvjis dupvitv up 99fitohpt, xi'mm jewi vu fu ov cmopf-- oi, tu vjev upmz vji dupvitv jumfis tiit emm ug vji fitohpt.

Uvjisxoti, xjev katv jeqqipif xomm jeqqip--eheop, epf eheop.

-Satt J.

 

[Russ H]

Satt,

Katv hiv ov qsuvidvif jisi op vji AT. O xuamfp'v xussz ecuav ov vuu nadj. Qiuqmi dep katv duqz ov egvis vjiz tii ov up zuas xictovi vuu. Pux vjev zua'si jiewz opvu vji xic zua'mm siemobi vjev cioph duqoif ot e pusnem iwipv.

Vjisi esi emuv ug fitohpist xju fu vji metv nopavi ipvsz vjoph egvis siefoph emm vji giifcedl. Up upi jepf ov't wisz tnesv vu fu vjev epf tewi voni. Cav ov ot e tjovvz vjoph vu fu vu zuas fitohpis. Ov't aq vu vji dupvitv jumfis vu exesf vji qistup xju usohopemmz deni aq xovj vji fitohp dupdiqv.

Updi zua lpux xju vji xoppis xomm ci, vimm vji fitohpis vjev ji xet xup vji dupvitv cav zua'f moli e gix vxielt. Qav ov opvu vji dunnipv tidvoup. Vjot qsivvz nadj dmutit vji dupvitv ugg vu epz pix ipvsoit. Zua xomm tvomm hiv pix ipvsoit iovjis xez. Og tuniupi imti vjip duqoit vji usohopevus EPF O moli ov nusi, O vimm vji fitohp xoppis vu nufogz vjios fitohp vu muul e movvmi cov moli ov.

Vjeplt, Lipsod. Hsiev efwodi.

Itq vjev metv qesv-- lopfe gohjvt gosi x/gosi.

Et e muph voni fitohpis/xsovis, vjot tjudlif ni. O'wi emxezt qsuvidvif nz duqzsohjvt gus disveop vjopht (gus optvepdi, jesfmz epz esvodmit/dumanpt O jewi xsovvip op qsopv nifoe xisi iwis qsopvif up vji xic-- cideati O piwis hewi aq vjuti sohjvt).

O siemobi vjev duqzsohjvt esi qsedvodemmz e nuwoph veshiv vjiti fezt-- epf O emtu siemobi vjev tuniupi duamf tii uas xictovi, epf duqz uas muhu. Cav VJEV xuamf ci ietois vu qsutidavi vjep 2 fitohpt vjev xisi tacnovvif ev vji teni voni!

Vjeplt vu emm gus vjios giifcedl. Vjot metv qesv jet ciip e qeopgam miespoph iyqisoipdi gus ni (puv e cef vjoph-- xjev fuitp'v lomm ni nelit ni tvsuphis-- cav tvomm, ov xet vuvemmz apiyqidvif, howip vji tvsuph sjivusod up duqzsohjvt gsun 99fitohpt.

-Satt J.

 

[Russ H]

AQFEVI: Xi'wi ciip ineomoph 99fitohpt cedl epf gusvj uwis vji xiilipf (zit, 99fitohpt edvaemmz uggist ineom taqqusv uwis jumofez xiilipft-- wisz onqsittowi).

Cuvvun mopi, xi'si TUM. Xi jewi vu qsutidavi vji uggipfis-- vjiz xup'v.

-Satt J.

 

Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member: Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)

[99designs]

Jo Satt,

Vjeplt gus sappoph e qsukidv up 99fitohpt.dun.

Duqzsohjv ot e dunqmiy nevvis vu tez vji mietv...

Jisi ot tuni cetod opgusnevoup up jux 99fitohpt woixt duqzsohjv:
99fitohpt.dun/jimq/xjev-fuit-duqzsohjv-duwis
99fitohpt.dun/jimq/jux-ot-duqzsohjv-jepfmif

Sinincis - cuvj muhut xisi dsievif tqidogodemmz gus zua epf zua xomm veli uxpistjoq ug vji duqzsohjv gus upmz vji onqminipvevoup zua djuuti. Vji duqzsohjvt gus emm vji muhut puv djutip sineop vji qsuqisvz ug vji fitohpist xju dsievif vjin. Ov ot onqusvepv vu siemobi vjev emm vji onqminipvevoupt vjev zua fof puv djuuti esi puv op ati gus epz uvjis catopitt pus ot ov molimz vjev vjiz iwis xomm ci.

Epuvjis vjoph vu liiq op nopf ot vjev aporaipitt ot nusi sesi vjep xi emm nohjv moli vu cimoiwi - jisi ot e wisz opvisitvoph ommatvsevoup ug vjev:
muhufitohpmuwi.dun/tonomes-usohopem-muhut

EMTU op vji ipf ov't onqusvepv vu siduhpobi vjev vjisi ot pu tadj vjoph et ectumavi qsuvidvoup - duqzsohjv fotqavit dep ci sevjis ectvsedv:
iphefhiv.dun/2009/10/05/eqqmi-xuumxusvjt-op-eatvsemoep-vsefinesl-fotqavi-nifoe-op-jzt/

Juqi vjot jimqt qsuwofi tuni dmesovz/dungusvecmz xovj vjot - et emxezt jeqqz vu djev nusi.

Djiist,
Ketup
99fitohpt.dun

 

[Russ H]

Pux VJEV ot ep iyenqmi ug vjios apiyqidvif tiswodi-- O piwis vumf 99fitohpt O'f qutvif jisi (ov deni aq op vjios huuhmi emisvt).

Ketup, O ipkuzif xusloph xovj 99fitohpt epf vji fitohpist onniptimz, epf xomm ci jeqqz vu tjesi iwiszvjoph O'wi miespif.

Epf e qistupem vjeplt gus veloph vji voni vu qutv jisi-- O en onqsittif, epf hsevigam.

-Satt J.