DomBlog Design Theft
The image below might look familiar to anybody who has ever seen or used my DomBlog template.
The site is called Blogger Park [File has since been moved] and it obviously is a DomBlog template. The thing is they've tried to remove all references to me and this site. When I originally designed it I included the following comment in the header:
<!-- DomBlog Template v1.6.0 [July 2003] - by Jake Howlett. Please leave this line intact! // -->
It might look weird asking for my name to be left in, but it's just another hamrless form of self-promotion. It doesn't really bother me when people remove the line. What bothers me is when the comment is changed to this:
<!-- Blogger Park 5.0, (c) 2005 Ampersand Solutions, All rights reserved // -->
Not only this but the site is advertised as being "Powered by Ampersand Solutions" and the first blog entry proclaims (emphasis my own):
Ampersand Solution is coming up with a new blogging software called Blogger Park...
This software will be available for download from the Ampersand Solutions web site from 1st of March 2005.
My first reacton was to remain calm and post a response. Which said:
Nice looking blog you've developed. Looks a lot like mine.
To which the response was:
Jake !! Welcome to Blogger Park... First of all I would like to congratulate you for the excellent work that you have done on domblog and codestore in general. We have indeed used some common functions from domblog and other such open source applications and it has given us a kick start.
The concept of using date & time as a blog key in domblog was not so good :-)
Flattery normally goes a long way with me but I'm still not buying this. Ok, you changed the key for blog entries. It doesn't make it your own, with which to promote your own business. If you've improved it, let me know and I'll push out a new version.
I've been on the internet long enough for the same thing to have happened a few times already. It doesn't bother me anymore, but I still think those involved should be name and shamed. Plus, I know you guys love to see these people outed.
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Way to go Jake, I think you're right on this one. Do you include a license with any work you allow to be downloaded? LGPL etc? Maybe its worth making it clear so it doesn't happen again?
Call in the wigs!
it´s a shame!
Without or without a licence it's going to happen every now and then. But, no, I don't include anything with the download. You guys can do what you like with it. Apart from trying to make a profit from my work. Obviously I expect you to learn from the techniques included and use them in your own business. Just don't try and pass a complete "solution" off as your own work. Even a "Based on DomBlog" would have done in this case, even if it were hidden away somewhere. It's the way they've goen to such lengths to hide the fact that gets me.
All this guy has done is change some images and the document key. These are the simple things I *expected* people to do with the template before using it. The template is simple for this very reason. Because he's done some work on it doesn't mean it's "new" or it's his.
Interestingly, they've removed the DomBlog reference from the CSS file but not the JS file
Jake
This is shameless. If I was you and this site was for personal use I would be more than slightly miffed. But this guy is running a business and ripping off your code with no credit. I wonder how long before he changes the comments in the .js file? A couple of things:
1) You should him submit to {Link}
2)You should use the nofollow (Link} attribute on his link so he gains no promotion from it
tq
Shameless is the about right. Don't worry though Tom he won't be getting any Google ranking from me ;-)
Sickening. They obviously didn't want to touch the js file incase they break the template, dumbasses. I cannot believe these people are passing this off as their own. I'd be well peeved.
You go Jake!
Well that first post now has has a url which tells people where to get the blog template - here - as if they didn't already know!
A few comments on "Ampersand Solutions blog" could help make things clear?
Ok guys, let's not go medieval on him. I'm sure he'll get the point without the need to bombard him with nasty comments. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt for now.
Nice logo of Blogger Park! Ofcource they don't mind I use it and pretend it's one of my own :))))
I think the guy is getting the message, as I am posting this anonymous access to Blogger Park has been denied
Looks like they've hastily made that part of their site unavailable...surprise surprise...
So he has. I'll take that as an admission of guilt. Although I feel slightly guilty now. Hang on, no I don't! Why should I.
Are they so daft to think they could get away with this without anyone notcicing? - all mention has been removed hastily as well - even from the company homepage. How Amatuer
Well they are obviously the clued up company everyone would want to use !!
I don't think you need to feel guilty Jake. Like you say, they've really taken it a bit far and are literally trying to pass off your work as their own - and trying to sell it!
Quite right that you asked people not to harass them though, and no doubt they've learned from their mistake (we hope)....
By the way, has anyone seen my new blogging software? I've called it MovableType.... ;)
What a shame ... the site seems to be down!
It's even worse than that. Look closely at their "Webcounter" application.
Somehow the engine behind it is suspiciously like the old DomCount from Rhizomatics {Link}
Ha Ha ... The flash intro on their site refers to "Ethical & Professional Standards". Unbelievable.
Hi, Jake.
We, in Spain, have a name for these people ... "Malas personas", a literal translate to english will be "bad people", but when someone in Spain say to you that you've got very angry ... Well, these people are "bad people". They had to taken advantage of your work for your business ...
I suggest to you, like other friends had said, to license your downloadable templates under Creative Commons ( like in my web ) or GPL.
Later, if you want, you can demand anyone rob your template.
Sorry, my english is awfull. I hope all of you can understand what i mean.
Your English is fine Juan. I understand what you mean and maybe I should apply a Creative Commons thing to all my content. Leave it with me.
Ohhh, take a look at their T&C (under About) if you fancy a good laugh! I quote:
1. Copyrighted Information. Please note that the pages on the Site may contain other proprietary notices and copyright information, the terms of which must be observed and followed.
LOL
I know a few good lawyers.
And this is the way these guys build up a company & sell "their" solutions !! This is a shameful stuff. Nothing more. Disgraceful.