Comments on: Avast! http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/ Things that Eric A. Meyer, CSS expert, writes about on his personal Web site; it's largely Web standards and Web technology, but also various bits of culture, politics, personal observations, and other miscellaneous stuff Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:27:46 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Tim Murtaugh http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-173314 Tim Murtaugh Wed, 13 Jun 2007 21:58:08 +0000 http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-173314 OK, so I just added the "piratedsites" tag to all the screenshots we have in Flickr. Happy? :) BTW, I'm looking to re-start a proper Pirated Sites, and I'm looking for bloggers if anyone is interested. OK, so I just added the “piratedsites” tag to all the screenshots we have in Flickr. Happy?

:)

BTW, I’m looking to re-start a proper Pirated Sites, and I’m looking for bloggers if anyone is interested.

]]> By: CodeHooligans http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-166154 CodeHooligans Mon, 04 Jun 2007 01:00:13 +0000 http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-166154 [...] to catch-up on my RSS feeds. One item that caught my eye was posted by Eric Meyer on his blog http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/. His post was on the topic of Piracy of web site designs. One site specifically that is a blatant [...] [...] to catch-up on my RSS feeds. One item that caught my eye was posted by Eric Meyer on his blog http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/. His post was on the topic of Piracy of web site designs. One site specifically that is a blatant [...]

]]> By: Underground Collective Wisdom » Blog Archive http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-165049 Underground Collective Wisdom » Blog Archive Sat, 02 Jun 2007 09:45:33 +0000 http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-165049 [...] or whatever social photo sharing web site you use, or post it to your blog, or whever you like, but tag it with "piratedsites" .this way it’s decentralized and can be picked up by Technorati and more. Tag design ripoffs [...] [...] or whatever social photo sharing web site you use, or post it to your blog, or whever you like, but tag it with "piratedsites" .this way it’s decentralized and can be picked up by Technorati and more. Tag design ripoffs [...]

]]> By: Bradyn http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-163209 Bradyn Wed, 30 May 2007 17:27:53 +0000 http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-163209 Hah. While I'm being a smart ass, your RSS 2.0 link (under Feeds, right sidebar) leads to a 404. *hides Hah. While I’m being a smart ass, your RSS 2.0 link (under Feeds, right sidebar) leads to a 404. *hides

]]> By: Bradyn http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-162594 Bradyn Tue, 29 May 2007 20:14:54 +0000 http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-162594 Hah, when you linked to Zeldman, you actually linked back to yourself. Sneaky. <small>[ Actually, just a typo. Fixed now; thanks! --E. ]</small> Hah, when you linked to Zeldman, you actually linked back to yourself. Sneaky.

[ Actually, just a typo. Fixed now; thanks! --E. ]

]]> By: Pirate Puckles http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-162406 Pirate Puckles Tue, 29 May 2007 12:16:04 +0000 http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-162406 Don"t think of it as plagiarism. Think of it as homage. Don”t think of it as plagiarism. Think of it as homage.

]]> By: thacker http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-161975 thacker Mon, 28 May 2007 19:51:20 +0000 http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-161975 Meyer-- There are some issues that I believe designers/developers need to be aware prior to making to claims of "pirated" designs. First, I am not an intellectual property attorney .. just thirty plus years of experience in a wide variety of intellectual property issues. So take what I say in that vein. I emphasize the need for anyone who is making a claim of a "pirated" design to consult with an intellectual property law firm before making those claims and to gather a firm understanding of what constitutes copyright and possible violations of copyright. I am afraid that well intentioned designers/developers, in the emotional heat, may be leaving themselves vulnerable to liability. Again, seek counsel from competant intellectual property counsel [not general counsel] before making any such claims or postings to Flickr or any other published source. The Web site of the US Patent and Trademark Office publishes a list of those attorneys and law firms who are registered to practice before the Patent and Trademark Office. <a href="http://des.uspto.gov/OEDCI/" rel="nofollow">Searchable Database of Attornerys and Agents Registered to Practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office</a>. Thank you very much. Meyer–

There are some issues that I believe designers/developers need to be aware prior to making to claims of “pirated” designs.

First, I am not an intellectual property attorney .. just thirty plus years of experience in a wide variety of intellectual property issues. So take what I say in that vein.

I emphasize the need for anyone who is making a claim of a “pirated” design to consult with an intellectual property law firm before making those claims and to gather a firm understanding of what constitutes copyright and possible violations of copyright.

I am afraid that well intentioned designers/developers, in the emotional heat, may be leaving themselves vulnerable to liability.

Again, seek counsel from competant intellectual property counsel [not general counsel] before making any such claims or postings to Flickr or any other published source.

The Web site of the US Patent and Trademark Office publishes a list of those attorneys and law firms who are registered to practice before the Patent and Trademark Office. Searchable Database of Attornerys and Agents Registered to Practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Thank you very much.

]]> By: Elliot Jay Stocks http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-161778 Elliot Jay Stocks Mon, 28 May 2007 12:23:42 +0000 http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-161778 I just got pirated myself (details <a href="http://elliotjaystocks.com/blog/archive/2007/pirated/" rel="nofollow">here</a>) and have duly tagged <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/elliotjaystocks/516412232/" rel="nofollow">this image</a> with 'piratedsites'. Nice one, Eric! I just got pirated myself (details here) and have duly tagged this image with ‘piratedsites’. Nice one, Eric!

]]> By: Elliot Jay Stocks » Pirated http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-161744 Elliot Jay Stocks » Pirated Mon, 28 May 2007 11:12:30 +0000 http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-161744 [...] Meyer has publicly urged Flickr users to tag such images as ‘piratedsites’, and says that although “the [...] [...] Meyer has publicly urged Flickr users to tag such images as ‘piratedsites’, and says that although “the [...]

]]> By: thacker http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-161365 thacker Sun, 27 May 2007 18:53:45 +0000 http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-161365 john-- You bring up an interesting point in regards to design. The design of the first solar cell, for example, was patented around 1785. The concept of "piratedsites.com" does smack somewhat of kids fighting over who thought of something first. I guess the key in a few serious situations is whether a dupe is engaging in unfair business practices as defined by statute. john–

You bring up an interesting point in regards to design. The design of the first solar cell, for example, was patented around 1785.

The concept of “piratedsites.com” does smack somewhat of kids fighting over who thought of something first.

I guess the key in a few serious situations is whether a dupe is engaging in unfair business practices as defined by statute.

]]> By: john http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-159623 john Thu, 24 May 2007 18:43:19 +0000 http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-159623 Hey, Eric, every single site on the web is pirated. If I dig hard enough I'm sure I can find the site you stole your layout from... Come on now, kid... Hey, Eric, every single site on the web is pirated. If I dig hard enough I’m sure I can find the site you stole your layout from…

Come on now, kid…

]]> By: wraptinweb http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-158586 wraptinweb Tue, 22 May 2007 21:21:15 +0000 http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-158586 The design outcome would have been better if they had pirated the design more accurately. The page header bar design has the contrast line broken and the SEO icon cluster is appalling. The RHS elements with their balancing colours have been dropped, and most intriguing, the header font hue is quite different. The top and LHS elements are an exact match down to the hue - so where is the line (piracy vs inspired by) drawn? Is it too heretical to wish they had done a better pirating job? I'm only half kidding, because if they don't even understand the design concepts they are copying, or respect the design process that went into the original, how can they come up with good design themselves. The design outcome would have been better if they had pirated the design more accurately. The page header bar design has the contrast line broken and the SEO icon cluster is appalling. The RHS elements with their balancing colours have been dropped, and most intriguing, the header font hue is quite different.

The top and LHS elements are an exact match down to the hue – so where is the line (piracy vs inspired by) drawn? Is it too heretical to wish they had done a better pirating job? I’m only half kidding, because if they don’t even understand the design concepts they are copying, or respect the design process that went into the original, how can they come up with good design themselves.

]]> By: Angelo http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-157857 Angelo Mon, 21 May 2007 16:00:12 +0000 http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-157857 argh, matey. thar be a fine idea. i smell a fancy applet in nearby waters. argh, matey. thar be a fine idea. i smell a fancy applet in nearby waters.

]]> By: Matt Robin http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-156595 Matt Robin Sat, 19 May 2007 23:52:42 +0000 http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-156595 Eric, I've now added this to my flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattrobin/505065177/ ;) Does that help? Eric, I’ve now added this to my flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattrobin/505065177/

;)

Does that help?

]]> By: Matt Robin http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-156512 Matt Robin Sat, 19 May 2007 19:38:30 +0000 http://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2007/05/17/avast/#comment-156512 Great idea Eric...simple yet effective - we'll have them on the ropes yet!!! :o (Yeah, pity the original pirated-sites.com doesn't exist the way it used to.) Great idea Eric…simple yet effective – we’ll have them on the ropes yet!!! :o

(Yeah, pity the original pirated-sites.com doesn’t exist the way it used to.)

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Avast!

Nick Finck just pointed me at his latest Flickr contribution—a screenshot of a site that ripped off the design of Digital Web. I immediately tagged it “piratedsites” in honor of the late, great pirated-sites.com, figuring that doing so had to be a widespread practice. In fact, no: only one other Flickr image had that tag, and it was a Zeldman original, and it was not a screenshot.

So I hereby propose that anyone who posts a site design ripoff shot on Flickr or a blog tag it “piratedsites”. The original site may be gone, but the idea can absolutely be reborn using the social tools we already have. Technorati, for example, would start pulling together screenshots and blog posts using that tag—and there you go. Or someone could use the Flickr and Technorati APIs to create their own site dedicated to just this sort of thing. Heck, it might even be a way to get the actual pirated-sites.com back on the air in its original form!

Out the scurvy dogs! Arrrr!

(If you care, there's even an archive of previous thoughts...)

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