Someone totally ripped off my website!
You know I love my google analytics, I’ve told you a thousand times. Browsing the referring sites of the past week I came about Geninne’s Art Blog and her clever use of paint chips for original art. Aren’t those little scenes as cute as can be? But I digress…let me tell you about the thief!
Today my usual sleuthing around my analytics page revealed a curiously high number of hits from a site I’ve never heard of. When I clicked the link I realized that images, color schemes and even the code itself was peeled and copied directly from my own website! You know the little green birdie and pink cat that are my logo and brand identity??? They even took that! (Needless to say I’m not going to link to that site until this gets straightened out). My web designer can see the back end of this whole mess and discovered that they also copied my google analytics ID code, so it’s currently recording their web hits as well.
I suppose people don’t take copyright infringement seriously enough–the interwebs is a big old place and they might figure that they’ll never get caught. And being a reasonable person, I can understand if someone didn’t know they were using copyright material. One time I downloaded stock art and failed to select the extended licensing agreement, but of course I remedied it right away. I’ll give this crafty person and her web designer the benefit of the doubt. But if I don’t receive a response to my email (an official request to cease using copyrighted materials) than I suppose I’ll have to take action.
Have you ever been the victim of copyright infringement? How did you handle it?
9 Responses to “Someone totally ripped off my website!”
Comment from Emily
Time August 28, 2009 at 2:07 pm
oh man, that is not cool. glad you are going after them — as you should!
Comment from Becka Knight (Studio222 Photography)
Time August 28, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Screenshots and contact an attorney asap.
They can send them an official cease and desist letter which will usually scare them into taking it down. If not, your lawyer can take legal action.
Comment from Vana
Time August 28, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Try to resolve this without involving attorneys. All I know is that it can be very costly for you to go after them!! I would try to handle it patiently even though you might feel like screaming right now:)
Comment from Whitney @ Whisker Graphics
Time August 28, 2009 at 8:02 pm
This just happened to me last week! I went to a website that my daughter wanted me to check out and on their site was a graphic I drew and currently sell being used as their Twitter icon. I emailed them saying to remove it from their site. It’s still there and I’ve heard nothing from them. I’m not sure what to do. I hope you get your theft resolved quickly and easily.
Comment from Cicada Studio
Time August 29, 2009 at 8:10 am
What the heck? I don’t understand how people can think this is OK. Hope it is righted soon!
Comment from Lori
Time August 29, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Wow, I’m sitting here with mouth wide open and cannot believe this happened to you.
The same sort of thing happened to my hubby this week with a guy he knows trying to represent himself as an agent of hubby’s company & he’s not.
I cannot believe the nerve of people. Anyway, hope your stuff gets resolved swiftly quickly.
PS…Loved the news special you posted. Too bad they didn’t put it TV, but still cool & exciting. Congrats!
Comment from Sarah Vazquez
Time August 31, 2009 at 12:54 pm
They say that someone copying you is the biggest form of flattery, but regardless, it is wrong and I do hope that this person will immediately realized that what they did was a violation and take everything they copied from you out…oh boy- the price of fame! 
Best of luck and keep us posted.
Comment from karin sampogna
Time August 28, 2009 at 1:57 pm
WTF!!!!! I’LL BET THEY’RE “SKEER”T”"