Website plagiarism – webdesign and code rip off
Hi,
We're Merix Studio - webdesign & web development agency from Poland.
We've launched a microste called World of Merix not a long time ago. Site itself got pretty popular (featured in quite many CSS Galleries and Web Design blogs). Soon after launch we tracked couple companies who used our concept as well as source code (html/css/javascript). Fortunatetly we managed to have plagiaries removed from the internet but we thought it would be good to keep (and show) samples 
Here we go:
Original
"made in China" (previously available on tun2.com - removed by now)
"made in Italy" (previously available on sicilianweb.it - removed by now)
Good luck with dealing with thieves.
My website code ripped off numerous times…
So here's something a little different... I've found about a dozen different websites (mostly from India and China) that ripped off my site - actually lifted the code straight from mine!
Many of them have changed the graphics to varying degrees, but most a did really sloppy job with the code, leaving references to my name, my Google Analytics code, my copyright info, etc...
What's even more deplorable is that several of them are so-called web designers! Or even worse, DreamTeam (a tech company based in Jodhpur, India.) have claimed that they designed the site themselves, and SOLD IT TO A CLIENT! Cheeky!
Original
Here you can check out my old site online, but I made some changed after discovering the rips - notably, I've added a "Please don't steal this site" disclaimer to my CSS and replaced the Google Analytics code.
Rip#1
Sanjeevkahali.com
This is the one ripped by DreamTeam. I've already had words with the site owner and with DreamTeam's CEO. They took the site down at first and looks like they were trying to re-build it themselves, but they couldn't figure out the code or something, cause they just put mine back up and asked me to provide Copyright info.
I directed them to info on the Berne Convention and India's own Copyright Office... at which point they RENAMED the css and js files... without actually changing the code! Worst part is the CEO is being super-rude and claims to have done nothing wrong. I wonder if their partners at Intel and HP would feel the same?
Here's snapshots of their code BEFORE they had a chance to change it. I've highlighted some points of interest.
Rip#2
volly.cn
Haven't heard back from these clowns at all. Here's the code (note that they copied my old Google Analytics code, which I am still tracking)
Rips #3&4
blacksunny.cn and imstar2.com
Note - Nov. 30th: blacksunny has taken his site offline and apologized...
Note - Dec. 8th: imstar2.com is finally gone too
This guy rips off my code to build his own site, and then mods it slightly for a buddy (see thumbnails). Even better? He's using my name in his folder structure, and even has notes in his code referencing that he's ripped the code from my site. I guess he needs to keep track of where he's stealing all this code from:
There were about ten others, but since I've contacted them, most have taken their sites down.
Since this debacle, I've redesigned my site and am now offering that design as an open-sourced template; I figure that it's the easiest way to safeguard my Google Analytics code from future tampering... though nothing's foolproof.
The art of stealing
»Good customers pay, bad customers steal.« — Michael Koren, Graphic and Web Designer (* 1969)
The Factory-Berlin is an art association with headquarters in Berlin-Oberschöneweide. In 2007, I developed a new design for its web site with XHTML and CSS. The result was a clear, unobtrusive design based on a typographic grid.
I decided to make as few effects as possible. The artists should be use the site as a platform for the presentation of their works. In April last year, the new web site was launched. All were enthusiastic. This state of euphoria lasted about a year. Then suddenly changed the good working relationship, as I wanted for my creative work to be paid.
My business relationship with the Factory-Berlin has now an end. The reason was the lack of payment willingness of the customer. Since June 2008 there is a 1:1 copy of my original design on the Internet. Copyright? They don’t care!
