Yet another case of web theft.

 

Whilst browsing t'net last night looking for nice sites, I came across one that made me think " I have seen that before." Then I remembered a site I saw a while back. Same design.

 

Should I contact one of the said site owners and tell them of my find? Also, How can I tell which is the original?

 

I haven't provided a link (yet) as I am not really one to name and shame.

well its definately not your responsiblity to report it or police the web in anyway, but if you are in an especially do gooding mood you could email them. how do you know it is not just by the same designer or even owned by the same company? if you don't mind posting the links i wouldn't mind witnessing the fraudulence

you have to check the domain registration date to find the original website.

 

and tell the website owner.

Reporting the website to there hosting company is the best option.

Hi Helen,

I would be careful with this one as a lot of people use templates (although a slim shot) it could be that two people are using the same template. Is the content the same?

Hi Helen,

I would be careful with this one as a lot of people use templates (although a slim shot) it could be that two people are using the same template. Is the content the same?

 

Im pretty sure it's not a template. As it is quite a unique design.

Could you post the links and let us take a look?

ok. I won't post the actual links but..........

 

one is reloaddesign.co.uk

 

the other

 

hicksdesign.co.uk

 

The sites aren't identical, but the design is a little too similar for my liking.

you have to check the domain registration date to find the original website.

 

and tell the website owner.

 

 

 

That wouldn't help at all people could of had a domain for 7 years and changed the design yesterday the date of registration has nothing to do with it.

 

As you really have nothing to do with either designer it is a hard call, as you never know, they could have designed both sites, they could have given permission, you don't know who is copying who. While it is good to notice these things it is such a hard call to act or not to act when you don't know them so contacting them might be a good idea but then it comes down to them.

 

 

Reporting the website to there hosting company is the best option.

 

Just don't do this one as this is the person who's design was been stolen responsibility to reposrt it to the others host, this would get you into a lot of trouble if you did this. So I will just warn everyone not to do this suggestion unless it is your design that has been taken.

well it its clear in my mind that one has been heavily influenced by the other and i know which one i like! but it isn't an exact copy so is it still a case of copyright infringement? at what point does one cross the line in website design and things become copyright infringement or designright infringement? i know in the world of patents you only have to make a small change to what ever it is that you are taking 'inspiration' from (i once heard 10%) in order for it to be legal. you know i really like that site i think i might rip it off too.. only kidding i wouldn't do that!

I read somewhere that you shouldn't worry about people copying your designs, but you should worry when they stop...

 

The Hicks guys are incredible designers, and their logos and designs have probably been copied so many times that they stopped counting. Well noticed though.

Well Hicks is a very well known designer, he did the boagworld.com and headscape.co.uk (yes they're similar but part of the same organisation). I've definitely seen the reload website before, but Hicks is absolutely the original owner, so I would email him. It may just be he says back "No Worries, I work / worked for Reload Design".

Well Hicks is a very well known designer, he did the boagworld.com and headscape.co.uk (yes they're similar but part of the same organisation). I've definitely seen the reload website before, but Hicks is absolutely the original owner, so I would email him. It may just be he says back "No Worries, I work / worked for Reload Design".

 

Won't do any harm ;-)

It just looks like a classic case of I like that site I will try to copy it.

 

A quick glance at both source codes they aren't copied so both have been coded themselves I think so there is nothing either can do because all he has stole is an idea and am sure nothing will be able to be done.

Designs are being copied all the time this is quite obvious (if it isn't the same designer!)

 

I'm sure I saw the hicks design in a webdesign mag a while back, so thats where the exposure came from. Its kinda flattering that someone attempted to take your design means your doing something right.

 

I always get inspiration from sites but never copy, I did when I first started but none was paid for work and I was still learning and nothing ever came out how it was supposed to!

You sure its not just a template that 2 companys have bought (or 2 phoney web designers have bought for their clients) Ive seen that a number of times