OK so I know that copying someone is the highest form of flattery but it is really annoying to come to the home page and see a design you came up with staring you in the face with no recognition that it came from you. I know that I shouldn't be so annoyed and should just let it slide but I am and i just need to get this off my chest. I never copy someone elses design outright. I always try to come up with my own twist or artist view point. OK Im done now I feel better.

Perhaps they saw it on the net/blog/FB and didn't register that it was atually yours from here on CC ............. perhaps

Whilst on this subject, i must say that i was honestly chuffed today when i recieved a pm thanking me for explaining how i did a certain patten on a cake....and where to get the impression mat from etc etc etc.
Then not ten minutes later saw a following *thankyou* under the members actuall cake photo.


The differeance being that it wasn't my *design* as i did use an impression Mat... however it did give the member inspiration to try something different, which i think is a good thing.


I do get your point that a *thankyou* is gratifying and makes one appreciate that the pm's frowing back and forth are worth it and at the end of the day - it doesn't take long to say thanks/thankyou.



Standing back from the *big picture* you could think "gee, they loved my cake so much, they did one the same", which in itself is a compliment to you....and what you created.




Bluehue.

Imitation is the best form of flattery. I kinda look at posting pics like this, if I didn't want someone using my cakes, I would not post a picture of it. There are only so many ways to decorate a cake, and it is really difficult to trace one particular "design" back to the "original" creator, IMO. I just did a quick check on the home page, and didn't see one cake that I have not seen some version of before, and some of them there have been MANY versions of!

Don't take it personally, but again, if you really don't want anyone to copy your work, don't post it. That way you're covered.

To be fair a few people come to me with ideas for a cake design which they may or may not have seen elsewhere so I have no way of knowing if I am using someone else's imagination as a basis for the cake. If I see something that I loke I would always give the originator credit! x

I'm guilty of copying a cake, but not guilty of recognizing where I got the idea. I just thought it was so cute and for the life of me I couldn't figure out how I could put my own twist on it to make it "my own". I sent a PM asking if I could copy the cake. She was very gracious and gave the the ok to copy, and I did give her credit when I posted the pic.

Honestly though, I look at hundreds of cakes on here all the time for inspiration and I get so many ideas. I usually take bits and pieces from several different cakes and try to make it mine in some way. I've admitted before that one of the things I need to get better at is creativitiy.

I wouldn't have a problem with someone copying a cake of mine...if I ever even had anything worthy of copying. Recognition would be nice, but I think I'd just be flattered anyway.

I was looking at beach cakes for inspiration on a cake I'm doing this weekend and you wouldn't believe how many cakes I saw that were an exact replica of one done by sugarshack! I won't copy, but I think there may be a couple details I'll use.

DebbieF

Thing is great ideas I think are the birth place of more great ideas. Hear's to sharing! x

I think there are two seperate issues at play. I don't know the cake you are talking about, and I won't ask because that opens a whole new can of worms.

If it is a direct copy then I would say it would be polite to give credit, even if it is to say that "I saw this cake and thought it was cute to do." But I also don't think it is the end of the world if they don't. The only time I would have issue with it, is if it is obviously a direct copy down to the colors and every detail and they state they came up with it.

We all pick up ideas from various different places, and we may not realise that when we look at a cake and then a few months later create a cake that we are 'copying an idea.'

I have also seen cases were someone really thought they came up with a new idea only to find out later that it had really already been done.

As has been stated, when you post pictures on the internet you are opening yourself up to having your ideas copied. Isn't that where alot of us turn to for inspiration?

I know that i shouldnt be annoyed and yes I post my pics so everyone can view and even give tips when people PM me. I just cant help but admit that I am annoyed by it. I know that no idea is actually an original but still just bothers me a bit. Maybe I am flawed in that way.

Thank you i dont want to seem like a bi*** but it would be nice to be recognized thats all I'm saying

I think this goes both ways. I took a look in your gallery, and I've seen a couple of cakes that you have that were done by someone else prior to you - and you didn't acknowledge the original (the grinch cake for instance). Everyone gets inspiration from somewhere - take it as a compliment that your cake inspired someone else.

I think the only time I would be offended was if someone did one of my original designs BETTER than I did! But then, I would just be being petty, and I'd get over it pretty quick.

Yes but the grinch cake has been done by millions of people this cake is not like that it was my design and then copied color and all. I think that is different. Everyone has done a game of life cake so who do you give credit to. I know this cake was not just something you look up in the galleries. They saw my design and copied it.