Shock! Fashion Designer Knockoffs

by Pixeleen Mistral on 30/01/07 at 10:58 am

Designer copy victims banned from knockoff shop

By Seola Sassoon

News yesterday and this morning spread across my screen in the Sellers Guild chat channel about a ‘new designer’. In fact, it wasn’t a new designer, but an account with blatantly ripped items from many popular designers.

I teleported in to immediately recognize some Nyte N Day, ETD, and Gurl 6 designs – some of which I personally owned so I can tell in the details for certain – not to mention tens of other styles of recognizable clothing from the top designers in SL.

The avatar selling? Rach Snookem

I received this picture from a watchful consumer to show prim similarities.

Babetoo_and_alluring
Shockingly similar

As you can see, it’s EXACTLY the same prims, same prim count, with only a noted difference of hair textures, which were sub par compared to Six’s wigs on Gurlywood. Six calls hers Babe Too, “rip off girl” calls her Alluring. In fact, she’s so bold that with the Panache hairstyle, she didn’t even change the name! This isn’t the first time that Panache has been ripped off either.

Panache
Panache?

Six was banned from the area, along with other top designers of SL who were also ripped off – some of whom heard through the grapevine about their items, and upon trying to teleport — couldn’t. Six was removed last night, after a pursuit to get the hairstyle removed, and was able to tp in and see that it was taken down.

Some notable names on that ban list? Elikapeka Tiramisu of ETD, the seemingly most popularly ripped off items, Dominik Bauer of Gurl 6, and several other designers.

IMs to the store owner and ‘creator’ have gone ignored. So have the complaints to LL. If you decide to check it out, you can tp in but please move off the land and cam in. Don’t give this thief the traffic. But you will easily notice some of your favorite designs all over the place. I put on some of my outfits that I had purchased from some designers and stood next to the ‘sale item’ and it was identical to me. However, I did not have the forethought to take a pic and at this time, those items are gone from vendor displays and the main store.

So far, Linden Labs has ignored the complaints. Some residents are saying to quit complaining and make new items that the thief doesn’t have. It’s not as simple as that. You spend real time making new items and the thief steals them over and over with no work included, you’ll run yourself ragged. Why should designers be in a rat race over a thief, so that they do all the work and someone else profits?

It’s not right and never will be and something should be done. Let’s hope there’s enough screaming to get LL to yank this person instead of a canned DMCA response.

I spoke with Elika briefly about the issue. Elika’s designs had been changed and/or removed but I still wanted a designer’s opinion. Elika was happy that Rach took down some of the similar styles, but in this writer’s opinion, it shouldn’t have happened and pressure shouldn’t have been put on by people, as opposed to LL.

Elikapeka Tiramisu: it was only yesterday
Seola Sassoon: I just hate to see my favorite designers getting ripped off, so I want to put the name out there in a story for the Herald
Elikapeka Tiramisu: well
Elikapeka Tiramisu: apparently knockoffs are acceptable and aren’t considered ripping
Elikapeka Tiramisu: and since she took down the identical hairstyles the knockoffs are acceptable to the owner and to whoever else thinks it’s okay
Seola Sassoon: Well, I know I put on some of the outfits I saw that I had in my inventory and it was pretty damn close
Elikapeka Tiramisu: to me there is a fine line from getting inspiration from and taking from
Seola Sassoon: Oh yeah, I totally agree
Elikapeka Tiramisu: as long as they get a quick buck from people who don’t know any better…i’m sure that’s all they care about
Seola Sassoon: I mean, I won’t lie and say I didn’t get inspired for ETD and Nyte designs, but I’m not good enough and if I was, I wouldn’t copy exactly
Elikapeka Tiramisu: i don’t know….to me there is absolutely no fun in creating something that is already done.
Elikapeka Tiramisu: especially prim for prim
Seola Sassoon: Making money, that’s all they care about
Elikapeka Tiramisu: shoppers thrive on originality
Elikapeka Tiramisu: i’m sure they’d gain more income if they did their own thing
Seola Sassoon: some others say that the ‘root’ prim was different but nothing else
Elikapeka Tiramisu: which was funny about the styles they took down
Elikapeka Tiramisu: ya
Seola Sassoon: I peeked there this morning
Seola Sassoon: And I put on one of my outfits and was like ‘no way’
Elikapeka Tiramisu: well they took down the style that was set up in urbane
Elikapeka Tiramisu: so i guess they’re off the hook
Seola Sassoon: As usual
Seola Sassoon: I’m just glad nobody cares to buy crap knockoffs if they know who did the original usually
Elikapeka Tiramisu: ya me too
Elikapeka Tiramisu: i am actually surprised at the support and happy too
Elikapeka Tiramisu: the last thing i want is people to think I’m some kind of egotistical person who says everyone copies me, because i don’t feel that way at all. I know we all feed off of each other’s creativity…but they crossed the line
Seola Sassoon: Oh I totally agree, I mean, there’s only so far different ‘styles’ can go, I mean, it’s all lingerie, shirts etc.
Seola Sassoon: But when you copy the exact wrinkles and such
Elikapeka Tiramisu: ya i agree

Some other designers who felt they had been knocked off also aired their complaints about the issue, however declined to answer on the record, because the issue is seeming to die down with the removal of some objects and do not want to push this person farther to doing more, if LL won’t do anything anyways.

However, the main feeling among those I spoke with is upset over the fact that LL won’t do anything. The textures AND prims were copied in some cases which leaves one to think not only was a texture ripper used, but the infamous copybot as well.

As a result of renting space with a covenant, *rumor* is Chance Unknown (the owner) will revoke her rental privileges. The store is still there however and this certainly doesn’t mean that she won’t pop back up however.

The support from shoppers and fellow designers alike is immense and welcome. When one knows, the others band together and I have witnessed rival designers coming together to get an ‘alleged’ rip off artist to flee. Early this morning, there was a note card warning going around to every designer about this person, sharing of info. If we continue this trend, the time for rip offs will get less and less. Within roughly 24 hours, the outrage had been born and everyone knew, and the offending designs have for the most part vanished.

Right before press of this story, word has come that Six’s designs are now gone and Rach Snookem is removing and redoing designs ‘similar’ to Elika’s designs and the ban list has been cleared of more than 50 names. There is currently a group of designers meeting with Chance to present a case.

41 Responses to “Shock! Fashion Designer Knockoffs”

  1. Amanda

    Jan 30th, 2007

    It’s called Free Enterprise. It happens in RL all the time. Deal with it.

  2. Anon

    Jan 30th, 2007

    Hey, stealing from artists doesn’t equate with Free Enterprise, no matter what RIA would have you believe.

    I for one would pay 2 or 3 times as much for a product if I knew I was paying the actual person who actually made the product.

  3. Fiend Ludwig

    Jan 30th, 2007

    @ Amanda – it is a total lapse of sensibility to call theft of intellectual property “Free Enterprise.” But I do agree with one thing you said; it certainly does happen all the time.

  4. King Frederick

    Jan 30th, 2007

    “It’s not right and never will be and something should be done. ”

    lol

  5. Cat Scratch

    Jan 30th, 2007

    >>As you can see, it’s EXACTLY the same prims, same prim count, with only a noted difference of hair textures,

    Not without seeing the the edit windows open showing that info I can’t. You have a compelling argument and I am not saying they are not rip-offs, but I did see a chat transcript over at Second Citizen yesterday where someone (Chance Unknown I believe) was shown saying the opposite. Simillar but not the same.

  6. Seola Sassoon

    Jan 30th, 2007

    As for free enterprise, as Elika pointed out, there’s a difference in being inspired by and completely copying.

    Cat, I didn’t do the pic, but I did have the chance to right click when it was dropped by a friend of mine and it was the same number of prims. You are correct, though, that I should have worded that a bit differently.

    It also came to my attention today that some of the men’s shoes were also ripped and were the same prim count as another men’s designer.

    Many designs were taken down at this point. Now if the ‘creator’ did nothing wrong and didn’t copy them, why take them down? If they were your own original idea, what’s the problem in it?

    I am glad to see however, that the designs ARE gone, regardless of which designer was allegedly ripped from.

  7. laika

    Jan 30th, 2007

    Why should designers be in a rat race over a thief, so that they do all the work and someone else profits?

    welcome to the real world.

  8. Prokofy Neva

    Jan 30th, 2007

    LL keeps making it abundantly clear that they will not pursue or prosecute design thefts. It’s up to us to register copyright, get copyright lawyers, do all the things that RL businesses do. Since many people playing SL don’t have the resources and knowledge to do all this, there’s only one thing left for all the prim divas to do, peck each others’ eyes out. But since that doesn’t hurt in SL, you’re out of luck.

    To some extent, publishing names and using community peer pressure and naming and shaming might work, but in a big world, you can’t reach everyone. We’re all told that designs and textures are worthless now due to the existence of CopyBot anyway.

  9. Amanda

    Jan 30th, 2007

    I suppose none of you have ever bought any of these items in RL???
    Fake Kate Spade or other designer bags (like the kind you find on a table in NYC)
    Faux or “lookalike” Rolexes or other expensive watches
    Biolage/Paul Mitchell/Matrix shampoo marked “for sale in professional salons only” sold at discount prices in supermarkets/drug stores
    “Designer imposter” fragrances

    Hey, just read “In Style” or any other magazine — there’s always a section that shows you the high-priced designer items next to a cheaper lookalike that you can afford at a local department or discount store. Is that wrong too?

    Price wins out — if it’s cheaper the masses will buy it. If it’s expensive, they probably won’t. If the cheaper item is not quite as good — eh, I only paid a little for it.

    Again — it’s part of the free enterprise system. It’s not the Lindens’ responsibility to protect your products; it’s your responsibility. As the person above said, you’ll have to get copyrights, and prosecute offenders. Can’t afford it? Well, there’s not much you can do other than complain. Or quit.

  10. tp

    Jan 30th, 2007

    More news at 11, Hoochie hair scalped from laggy stripper shemale!

    Think of it this way. If the RIAA nor MPAA can keep track of movies and music
    it’s pretty laughable that a virutual goods designer is going to complain when
    there digital work is ripped.

    DMCA is a joke and Linden Labs knows it. The only real business that works in SL is
    Casino, Social Prostitutes, Or land sales. The end.

    A smart designer would limit supply and quantity of virtual goods and sell them off as
    parts of a rare or limited edition set. This way once they sell of the base they don’t have to give a shit about who rips them off as they have allready done the business.
    Stagnant malls and shops are a joke and nobody seriously shops like that anyway.
    Hell people are escaping that kind of shopping just by going online these days.
    It’s like reverse engineering the escape factor from driving and having to browse a store just to do it on foot as an avatar in a 3d space… Not a good business model at all.

  11. Seola Sassoon

    Jan 30th, 2007

    Amanda, there are strict regulations in place for knock off designers though. While you can ‘appear’ to have the same design but there’s quite a difference. For instance textures used, stitching used, thread used, the branding, the metals, etc. There IS a difference. Buying Primo and the knock off, both are actually different if you care to compare the smell, but they are similar. I would think, if you make such a staunch argument about ‘free enterprise’, you’d know the difference.

    Same with songs, you can repeat 7 notes, but 8 is infringement.

    It’s quite different than walking into Gucci, taking the items off the wall, walking out with them and selling them for yourself without paying for them in the first place, or walking into your local wig shop, taking 50 wigs without paying then trying to sell them at the flea market.

    So, no, flatly put, you’re wrong. You cannot exactly duplicate an item thread for thread, stitch for stitch, material for material etc. and resell it, because then you are subjected for copyright and patent infringement. A certain percentage of a design MUST be different than the original, whether it be chemicals, metals, fabrics, or creation.

  12. Dominik Bauer

    Jan 30th, 2007

    Oh LOL they banned me solely cause I banned the from my sim GuRLyWood. I’m shocked, I so wanted to go there today :) Isn’t using CopyBot against TOS? -> ’4.2 You agree to use Second Life as provided, without unauthorized software or other means of access or use. You will not make unauthorized works from or conduct unauthorized distribution of the Linden Software.

    Linden Lab has designed the Service to be experienced only as offered by Linden Lab at the Websites or partner websites. Linden Lab is not responsible for any aspect of the Service that is accessed or experienced using software or other means that are not provided by Linden Lab. You agree not to create or provide any server emulators or other software or other means that provide access to or use of the Servers without the express written authorization of Linden Lab. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you may use and create software that provides access to the Servers for the same function (or subset thereof) as the Viewer; provided that such software is not used for and does not enable any violation of these Terms of Service. Linden Lab is not obligated to allow access to the Servers by any software that is not provided by Linden Lab, and you agree to cease using, creating, distributing or providing any such software at the request of Linden Lab. You acknowledge that you do not have the right to create, publish, distribute, create derivative works from or use any software programs, utilities, applications, emulators or tools derived from or created for the Service, except that you may use the Linden Software to the extent expressly permitted by this Agreement. You are prohibited from taking any action that imposes an unreasonable or disproportionately large load on Linden Lab’s infrastructure.

    You may not charge any third party for using the Linden Software to access and/or use the Service, and you may not modify, adapt, reverse engineer (except as otherwise permitted by applicable law), decompile or attempt to discover the source code of the Linden Software, or create any derivative works of the Linden Software or the Service, or otherwise use the Linden Software except as expressly provided in this Agreement. You may not copy or distribute any of the written materials associated with the Service. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you may copy the Viewer that Linden Lab provides to you, for backup purposes and may give copies of the Viewer to others free of charge. ‘

  13. Amanda

    Jan 30th, 2007

    Seola SASSOON? OMG, you COPIED that name from a famous person!

    As for the clothing in question: Did you or whoever the designer was actually put forth any sort of copyright claim after the fact? No? Then how can there be a violation.

    Bottom line — someone did a knockoff of an overpriced item and you don’t like it. Frankly, I’m heading to her store as often as possible to give her business instead of wandering around some of the “stores” looking at prices like L$500 for some really cheesy looking shoes.

  14. Amanda

    Jan 30th, 2007

    PS: You DO know SL isn’t real, right? Maybe you need to visit your first life more often.

  15. Crissa

    Jan 30th, 2007

    OMG, someone ripped off your hair designs?

    Who cares?

    Besides, it’s not like these are copybot mimics – if they were there wouldn’t be minute differences or even different textures.

    What? Upset you can’t copyright a hair-do?

    Have you never seen a cartoon?

  16. Seola Sassoon

    Jan 30th, 2007

    “”"Seola SASSOON? OMG, you COPIED that name from a famous person!”"”

    Uh duh, natural names can’t be copywrighted. What a silly remark.

    “”"”Bottom line — someone did a knockoff of an overpriced item and you don’t like it. Frankly, I’m heading to her store as often as possible to give her business instead of wandering around some of the “stores” looking at prices like L$500 for some really cheesy looking shoes. “”"”

    And if you don’t like the prices don’t pay them, but don’t be a jackass and tell people what things are worth. In fact, the prices AREN’T cheaper by much more than 10L in some cases and others it’s MORE. So take the wad out of your panties about the pay. Just because you want to whine about what creators think thier time is worth doesn’t mean they are holding a knife to your head to pay them.

    I guess you have no sense of rationality when I said that knockoffs ARE different in several areas. Of course, you are so intelligent, I’m sure you didn’t miss that, but you omit that whole argument cause it doesn’t fit into that surely well thought out whine. *rolls eyes*

    But hey, if you wanna be the moron that DOES pay more for knockoffs, be my guest… lmao

    To Crissa:

    “”"OMG, someone ripped off your hair designs?”"”

    Not mine, I merely reported on it.

    “”"Who cares?”"”

    I do, and so do countless other designers who put hard work into thier items and have someone come and take that away.

    “”"Besides, it’s not like these are copybot mimics – if they were there wouldn’t be minute differences or even different textures.”"”

    Besides, it’s not like you know what copybot does. Copybot itself doesn’t tear the textures and save them. It saves prims only. A texture ripper steals the textures.

    “”"What? Upset you can’t copyright a hair-do?”"”

    Actually, you CAN. It’s under the DMCA. It’s virtual intellectual property if you create it. But DMCA takes FOREVER and by then the offenders are long gone.

    “”"Have you never seen a cartoon?”"”

    Uh yes. But I’m not sure what the hell your point is? If you are talking about something like Family Guy who spoofs real movies, shows and events, then I’m sure you are aware that property in that case is considered a parody. (Hence Wierd Al Yankovich able to make so much sampling other songs.) Anything used in a parody manner is acceptable and not considered an infringement.

    I’m sure you are aware however, that’s QUITE different than walking out of a store with items for sale and not paying for them, then setting up shop and trying to sell them as your own.

  17. Joannah Cramer

    Jan 30th, 2007

    “Seola SASSOON? OMG, you COPIED that name from a famous person!”

    Last names in SL are created/provided by Lindens, not the players… if you are going to make up silly accusations in lack of actual argument, at least please direct them at the right people.

    (human names also aren’t subject of copyright, but that’s beside the point)

  18. Seola Sassoon

    Jan 30th, 2007

    Dominik

    “”I’m shocked, I so wanted to go there today :) “”"

    Bummer eh? lmao

  19. FBI

    Jan 31st, 2007

    Frankly the Herald is proving its worth here.
    A free press protects free enterprise.

    There is no excuse to copying intellectual property, and no tolerance to theft of this type. This is why countries with IP laws innovate and those without them do not. Only with a free press can personal property be protected.

  20. Hypocritical Idiot

    Jan 31st, 2007

    Ironically, if this were some older, ancient type of times, no one would flinch at this sort of copying. Amazing how society dictates what’s right and wrong.

    No one would flinch as incest either. Big deal. Everything you mentione happens all over the world. People copy other peoples’ products and sell them all the time. What’s the difference between you and them? The view of “stealing”. NOTHING else. And why is your view different?

    Because some politician told you what to think.

  21. Hypocritical Idiot

    Jan 31st, 2007

    Have you ever stopped to think that the person copying this design is doing it for THERAPEUTIC reasons?

    Who are you to say what’s right or wrong just because you can appeal to society? Geezus, think for YOURSELVES.

  22. Frederic Preost

    Jan 31st, 2007

    In RL , clothing designs cannot be copy righted.

    It is so silly that person took time to “copy the shape” of the hair, but is it not done with all other million things?

    Houses trees furnitures etc etc.

    What about one prim rug? Slap the new texture, and anyone complaining that someone is ripped off the designs?

    Rugs with prim pillows?
    Dont you see those all over the places with “Original textures”?

    ***

    No one is calling sweatshop seamstress who is sawing knockoffs “a couture designer”.

  23. Anonymous Coward

    Jan 31st, 2007

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property

    Learn It – Live It – Love It

  24. Anonymous Coward

    Jan 31st, 2007

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DMCA

    Did any of you take measures to protect your copyrights? Doubtful. DCMA is not applicable until you do.

  25. Seola Sassoon

    Jan 31st, 2007

    I suggest you check out the US copywright and the US patent law websites. (I say US, because LL is based in the US and all your materials are held in the US, therefore US jurisdiction applies.)

    Upon creation, you technically get the rights to it whether by law registered or not. Now what’s debatable is in a court of law, who made what first.

    Hundreds of cases have been filed against people who didn’t hold a patent or a copywright but still won thier cases based on the fact of ‘I made the first sale’, ‘I announced in a press release’, etc.

    “”"In RL , clothing designs cannot be copy righted.”"”

    No, but they hold rights as the creator, even upon creation. The designs can also be patented. You can patent the design and/or utility.

  26. Michael Seraph

    Feb 1st, 2007

    Okay people, it’s C O P Y R I G H T as in the right to copy. And even if the designs in this article didn’t fit the legal definition of copyright infringement, it was theft. Simple theft. The account holder responsible should be banned. And if LL won’t ban ‘em, we should shun them.

    On a lighter note, is somebody going to claim I stole the name Michael? LOL.

  27. Seola Sassoon

    Feb 1st, 2007

    No, but you stole Seraph!!!! You were trying to copy Seraphim! How dare you! :P

  28. Trolly Trollop

    Feb 1st, 2007

    I here announce that the orange plywood cube is copyrighted by me. If anyone using a orange plywood cube is in direct violations according to DCMA.

    This is stupid, Elika has cried wolf so many times no one cares if it’s true. Deal with it and either take some action or accept it. Maybe she copied the hair prim for prim but they it is eluded that she copies clothing too. Pleease, Elika copies clothing too if anyone photosources they are copying and they have the right to be copied it’s not their original work. Scripters have to deal with it all the time, nobody ever blinks an eye when it happens to them.

  29. Kalia Meiklejohn

    Feb 1st, 2007

    This is rediculous, prim for prim copy is lowdown. How pathetic are you that you can’t create your own designs? It’s not like there aren’t plently of things that havent’ been done. I feel sorry for people who get ripped off buying fakes they didn’t even know where fakes. I also feel terrible for those desingers that had their hard work stolen.
    Big name designers that this happened to should get together and take this scam artist down.
    She’s been named and shamed…the sad part is, there are clearly others cut from the same cloth.
    Don’t you just love people who don’t have the balls to post under their own names?

  30. Seola Sassoon

    Feb 1st, 2007

    Trolly, this wasn’t only Elika’s designs and in fact, I DID have some of Elika’s items that I saw for myself. I also owned some other designs for other designers that I saw there.

    And scripters have to deal with it all the time? Uh no. There is currently NOTHING out there that copies scripts that are hidden.

  31. Yo Brewster

    Feb 2nd, 2007

    Which is why I’m not interested in creating anything non-scripted in Second Life as it’s to easy to copy things. It takes days to make an original but minutes to make a copy – sad really sad.

  32. Seola Sassoon

    Feb 2nd, 2007

    Yo B.

    /insert dramatic voice

    But the apologists swear ANYONE can make stuff in photoshop and all it takes is 5 minutes to create an outfit!!! It takes the designers no time at all and therefore should be free to copy!!!

    /drama voice off

  33. Just a thought

    Feb 2nd, 2007

    :Yawn: While it is true that scripts are damn hard to ‘copy’ there are plenty of them out there that are, in essence, copies of the exact same function. How many flight assist devices are there? cloaking fields? Non-physical movement devices?

    For a coder it’s easy enough to copy a function – if they really wanted to. They do not have to see the code to do it either, they just need the end result and a little time to figure out how to do it. The end result is often the same – perhaps a smoother animation or less lag due to differences in the code … but the same function.

    So then, there really isn’t any difference between copying a script function …. and copying a prim object … really aren’t so grand after all are they?

  34. Seola Sassoon

    Feb 2nd, 2007

    Yes and we all wear what everyone else calls clothes and hair.

    What’s your point? That because two things end up doing the same thing, then it’s okay to copy someone’s work?

  35. Just a thought

    Feb 2nd, 2007

    Nope, my point is that it isn’t a “Shock!” and it’s nothing new. As such your OP/ED bit is just another entry into a blog that thrives on sensationalism and the need to try to “Shock!” people.

    Now had this been a blatant, direct copy with no differences whatsoever – aside from texture – and the user banned for it …. then it’d be news worthy and not just another bit of sensationalist drivel.

    Something else to add incidentally – while it may not be ok to copy prim objects – direct copy mind you – people are still going to make their own versions, possibly with more than just a few differences (if they’re talented), just as coders already HAVE to do when making their own version of a function that has been done to death. The difference between the two groups? Most coders will see the variant, test it out, then contact the maker to give them credit and congrats for making a better working copy (if it works better that is). A Builder will whine and complain if someone makes an object that is far too similar to their own – no matter how many (even very few) differences there are between the two.

    On the face of it – neither one is ok to do: However that is how some “original” builds occur: a variant of a copied object (usually done manually) that came about as a ‘mistake’ during the copy process. I don’t know how these hair copies were made … But I do know that instead of complaining about them the makers could have had them taken down until such a time as they were modified to be variants.

  36. Seola Sassoon

    Feb 2nd, 2007

    So yes, you are saying because the end result is the same, it’s okay to copy as long as you change ‘just enough’ to pass the similarity standard….

    “”"Now had this been a blatant, direct copy with no differences whatsoever – aside from texture – and the user banned for it …. then it’d be news worthy and not just another bit of sensationalist drivel.”"”

    Grabbed your attention didn’t it?

    The shock isn’t so much the fact that it was done (we all know it happens), but it was done from a large set of some of the most popular designers, who were all banned, and who tried to get something done and were told ‘oh well’.

    Alas, you don’t deem what is newsworthy. Many people found me to tell me they were glad I put the avatar’s name out there. Newsworthy to you isn’t what is to others. Anything where information is shared with people who might not know in the first place is newsworthy to me, even if I don’t like the idea personally.

  37. Cat Scratch

    Feb 2nd, 2007

    Seola,
    It was informative. I like much more proof (like the pictures I mentioned up at the top)but these are similar enough in my book to call foul.
    The problem I had in the past (and reason I left the seller’s guild) was because there was way too much naming names before proof was established. If someone had an argument with someone else they could have gotten on that list, accused them of selling freebies and the whole list would have spread it like wild fire before proof was known. I found the people involved to be on witch hunts and very loose in standards when accusing someone.
    All that said your article didn’t have that feel to me. The fact so many major designers were banned from the prop was a big piece to the puzzle for me. Kudos for a good read.

  38. Just a thought

    Feb 2nd, 2007

    Nope – read it again. and again, and again, and again until you finally have that single moment of clarity where you realize: “Hey! A variation isn’t a copy!”

    And no, this isn’t newsworthy – what caught my attention was the slew of comments showing off just how much of a whiner a builder can be.

  39. Seola Sassoon

    Feb 2nd, 2007

    Thanks Cat. As I said in the story, I wish I’d had the forethought to snap some of the stuff I was wearing next to the pics, but I was on for about 10 minutes before I had to go to work, so I didn’t.

    I know what you mean about Seller’s Guild, which is what initially induced me into going to see for myself. Even if the rip off artist had done it, but I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I would never have wrote the story. As it were, I saw the ban list myself and talked with the designers after seeing some of what I owned and what was on the wall.

    Unfortunately, I worked for 4 hours and in that time, the list was cleared, the designs I knew for sure myself were gone and there was barely proof of burden, but alas a buddy of mine had sent that pic of the hair to me so at least there was something to go on.

    The icing to write the story for me came from the ban list itself. Why in the hell do you ‘preemptively’ ban the most common names in designs if you have nothing to hide?

  40. Cat Scratch

    Feb 2nd, 2007

    >>The icing to write the story for me came from the ban list itself. Why in the hell do you ‘preemptively’ ban the most common names in designs if you have nothing to hide?

    Exactly! That pretty much sunk the cred points for the accused here. I am all for free enterprise but originality will see that a business is respected.

  41. Adderall.

    Sep 21st, 2009

    Adderall treating anxiety in adults.

    Freebasing adderall. Adderall.

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