AI did a cake that was a close copy of one that a big bakery was selling a tutorial on, I didn't really post the photos much because I didn't actually buy the tutorial, I just used their photos as inspiration and made a few changes. I felt bad about not buying the tutorial but still using the idea! Seems silly, I'm sure they don't care.

I am a hobby baker so let me start off with that.  I know some people have made cakes based on some photos I've posted. Some are very similar and some are not, Cool.  I taught myself (with the help of all of you and other video sources) so it's flattering.  I've also copied a cake or idea and credited the source when I posted it or sent a PM.  

Wouldn't it be great if we all got credit for what we do!  Some days I'd just like to get credit for finally picking up the dry cleaning from the store next to me!  

Please don't take it personally OP, look forward to your next idea!

Theresa

AI would try to be flattered- it would have been nice if a notation was made "inspired by- copied/recreated etc". I have on many occasions made those notations-- I always try to contact the original designer and ask permission- or send my cake photo-- Im only a hobby baker so I don't sell my work-

I have read many posts by cake designers on this forum and facebook who get VERY upset when their original work is not referenced- and sometimes even when it is referenced!!

Im always so thankful for cake artists who share their creations and techniques/tutorials!!

The copy is VERY close to your original design- yes, it would have been appropriate to be referenced-- Im sure your feelings would be completely different if they had-- you would be flattered and smiling-

It's an adorable cake!!!

Mo

AThe only thing that bothers me is people who steal photos and pass them off as theirs, but making a similar design? Eh, what can you really do.

AAnd you can pretty much forget about referencing the original designer of a LOT of cakes nowadays. Pinterest and all the unlinked pins, it's impossible to track down the original creator sometimes.

AZCouture, I am still trying to figure out Pinterest myself !  But I know some of my cakes have been repinned and when I try to follow where they have been pinned I can see that it no longer looks like it came from me.  So I don't know how people figure it out unless you watermark your photos.

I started off in advertising years ago and when someone "stole" one of my headlines in their own ad, my boss told me "A good idea is always worth stealing".     Still true, apparently, even though what he said to me then did not make me feel better - and that was close to 30 years ago!!

AThat's it, if you don't have a watermark, or it's been removed or cropped, and it gets pinned and repinned over and over...it can be impossible to track a persondown.

I would definitely use caution about giving credit. I ran across a copy of one of my cakes and they had given credit to a bakery where I also found another copy of my design.

Very few of us creates anything original or special enough to be considered art and I don't understand getting all up in arms if someone copies one's work. The vast majority of us are artisans, not artists. Sure we're artistic, but that's not the same as being an artist.

I keep a file of copies of my cakes for fun, I am complimented when someone copies them.  And when I see that someone's liked my work enough to copy it, I feel a little more like an artist and less like a artistic person crafting pretty cakes. It's a good feeling, but I'm not going to fool myself about what I do.

Do you know what I think is super duper hilarious? Is the people who get all upset about people 'copying' their designs and when you look at their pics they have a few cakes that have been designed with copies of licensed images. But they see nothing wrong with that? Hmmm, maybe they can now see why Disney and Co get upset! Lol!

AI rarely use another cake for inspiration, but I did awhile back, and it was a photo from my client who got it from Pinterest of course, no watermark, etc. etc. I scanned the web for where it came from, realized after the 9th pin, I was getting nowhere, and gave up. It's just not our jobs or responsibility to go to the ends of the earth to figure out who made something first. I'm all for crediting when humanly possible, but that's the key; when it's humanly possible.

A

It was just added to kind of make the OP cheer up a little and look at it differently. Copying is copying no matter what. Just trying to point out some positives that's all.