Let me first of all apologize if this makes anyone mad or hurts anyones feelings....now that I've said that, I have a complaint.
This issue has come up before (I think speficially by someone else during the one of the monthly contests)--I know that we are all here to share ideas and help each other out. The photo galleries are there for us to all share our cakes and perhaps give others ideas for cakes. But it gets a little frustrating when you post a picture and someone copies it EXACTLY without giving a slight mention of it being someone elses idea. I understand if there is something general about a cake or common, but I'm talking coping the exact cake.
This has slowly started to bother me over time and I hate to say I just won't post any pictures b/c of this. B/c I love this site and I like posting pics, getting the comments and feedback and viewing other peoples beautiful work. But I know if I see a neat idea, it gets saved or I look at enough to copy the darn thing, so I know who made it! I just think it's common courtesy to at least mention if not ask the person that you are getting your idea from.
Maybe it's all the holiday baking, but sorry for the grumpy post! 
Ok, I don't know exactly what to say. Except that I completely see what you mean and credit should be given!!!
Just didn't want you think everyone was ignoring you!!!
Awesome cakes mamafrogcakes!!
I think this should have been brought up in a private message. You could have told the person in private, "I'm glad you liked my cake design." Cake designs will be copied. Once you sell a cake, anyone who sees the cake can copy the design if she has the skill. Your customer service, decorating ability, and quality of your cake are what set you apart from other bakers.
I agree people should acknowledge their inspiration - but don't let a few bad experiences keep you from posting your gorgeous cakes! Your talent has inspired me, as have so many others on this site.
Please take it as a compliment, and know that your talent is appreciated by so many of us...
Newbie -
Okay, I agree with what was stated to some extent but I have to say this. It may not be a persons intent not to give credit. On my computer I often save pictures of cakes I admire a lot. It only saves the picture though, not any other info. So unless the owners name is printed across I really wouldn't necessarily remember who I originally got the idea from. So, I'm not trying to start any trouble just maybe we can give the benefit of the doubt. Also, we are here sharing our talent to help and inspire others, right?
I guess IMO if I ever get good enough that someone made a replica of a cake I made and I recognize it I would be flattered but I wouldn't necessarily feel they should credit me. We get inspiration from all around us everyday. I would love to see a spin of one of my cakes, interpreted from a different artist's view, but I know that's probably just me. Try to take it as a compliment to your work and give others the benefit of the doubt. Let's please not start arguing again and enjoy each others work! PLEASE! 
Reread my post and am starting to realize why you were so miffed. I remember thinking how adorable your cake was and I have a terrible memory. 
Even if we forget who made the cake, we can still say "inspired from a gallery photo."
But think about this - have you never copied a Disney character or some other popular figure now - at that's copyrighted and trademarked??? There's nothing different. Pictures are posted here to inspire and people look at these pictures for inspiration. Take it as a compliment.
I'm not talking about any one person in particular it's just something in general. And Lenette I didn't say any of this to argue at all, it's my opinion and it was bothering me.
I'm also not planning on not posting any cakes, I just thought it should be said that if you copy someones idea exactly it would be nice to give that person credit. Like bubblezmom said, you can say inspired from the photo gallery or something like that. There are some common cakes out there that geez, I don't even know who started it!
And it is flattering but it's also frustrating when you spend HOURS coming up with an idea. I literally can spend weeks coming up with ideas and planning out a cake. And to log on and see a cake copied completely, it's a little frustrating.
I figured we were all big enough girls to vent our frustrations and all understand where the others are coming from.
And I don't think it's the same as a Disney character or anything like that. Just like the Wilton pans, everyone covers them in stars and they all look the same, but that's different IMO.
I do understand where you are coming from, I do. I, too, have gotten an order or had an occasion come up and spent weeks pouring over magazines, pictures, and web sites to come up with a cake design. So I feel ya'! The statement about arguing wasn't directed at you. I've just seen where a these things have gotten out of control and taken in a different direction and tone than the author intended. I usually stay out of these things and should probably maintain that position. Giving credit where due is the courteous thing to do. I, for one, will try to make a note on where I get pics for my "files of inspiration" so that courtesy can be extended! I will also go back to my neutral silence. 
Ah, the neutral silence! Usually where I stand in cat fight posts---now I'm the initiator 
Like I said, maybe it's all the holiday baking, it's sending me to the crazy house early!
I have had a few people that have done cakes very similar to mine...but did send me a PM to ask if I cared. I don't have a problem with someone copying my cakes...I am glad to think they would like it that much! I think I have only copied one cake on here...but did get advice from the maker and listed her name when I posted it. So...I can see where it is a nice gesture to mention the name of the original designer.
Mamafrog....I LOVE your cakes! You are so talented! 
Thanks Traci! I have actually had people email me and ask me if they could copy the idea and then I've had others ask for advice too. NO PROBLEM! Geez, if I can save someone the aggravation I've gone through doing the darn thing, that's great!
And Lenette we better take the bus or a cab, when I start drinking in a couple of weeks that won't be good! J/K! I've began to "rethink" some of the holiday baking I have coming up next week!!
as an Idea person (and by the way a guy, if no one knew) I hold my ideas close to me, until it's time to execute them. If I feel I want to post I will post a pic of the done product, and if someone copies it fine. But as stated, I'd prefer to get credit, as I don't do copyrighted nor copy other peoples ideas for my cakes.
I have a cake I'll be making in a few weeks that I refuse to even tell my family about, because I thought the idea up. I want to be the first person (as far as I know) to make a cake like that. After that, it's anyone's game. My time and effort are worth something to me, Self Worth, more than money. Your time and effort are at least worth the same.
Credit anyone, even as was pointed out, a photo in the Gallery. At least you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you are showing respect for where the idea(s) came from.
Just my 4 cents worth. 2 Cents Candian.
I know sometimes I will be thinking about doing a certain kind of cake, and what do you know! Someone else pops up and gets it first! There really are no original ideas, I think. I really wanted to do a Russian stacking doll since my mom is of russian descent, and I thought, "this is the most incredible, original idea for a cake ever and how clever am I to think of it!" Well, my ego got a blow on that one; wouldn't you just know, but someone did it, posted it to the site, and did a fabulous job of it!!
So do I still get to do my Russian doll cake and claim it as my idea? Or do I have to give credit to someone else? I'm still planning on it!
Even for my Santa Chair
Cake....Tuggy posted hers, which was very similar, literally 3 days before ours was completed. Hers was so incredibly beautiful. I just sent her an email telling her I was doing a similar scene and asking for any advice. I think that is the considerate thing to do.
I do hear your point, mamafrog, but I don't think it will keep anyone from doing it. It's just human nature to mimick and copy.
I just hope you keep posting and creating...your cakes are terrific!
I copied a couple of cakes from this site but couldn't remember who's they were so I just wrote that I got the idea from someone else who posted it. I hope I didn't offend anyone by doing that. I just really liked the cakes and wanted to try them too.
MamaFrogCakes, I completely understand why you would be annoyed. It's not that you don't expect others to not copy you, but at least some acknowledgement of some sort would be nice. A generic "inspired by the creativity of others on this site" would suffice!
Dale, as for that elbow, have you tried windex yet?
Oh mamafrogcakes! I think your work is just beautiful!!!! I think it's much easier to get frustrated this time of year and I understand where you are coming from. I think honestly some people just don't even really think about where the idea comes from and I don't think they do it maliciously they just don't think. Like someone else said, maybe try put a positive spin on it and feel complimented that your work was so inspiring and well done that others would want to recreate it.......Or just tell 'em to shove it-just kidding! 
Alright-what movie?
Oh I know it's not malicious---but hateful and inconsiderate are two different things 
I know that first hand!
And it's from My Big Fat Greek Wedding....I'm more of a quoter of things like Christmas Story this time of the year 
I dunno, brides are all the time searching the internet for the cake they want, and then they take it to their baker and ask for it. If every cake design was copyrighted, there wouldn't be anything left!
I for one don't mind if people try to copy my designs. If they do it better than me, maybe I can learn something. If theirs looks worse, then I feel happy that I have succeeded in doing a difficult cake. Its really no big deal, IMO...its not like I have someone in the next neighborhood trying to compete for my customers. If someone in San Diego wants to make a cake like mine, so be it. All the time I have people write me from my website asking for a tutorial on how to make a certain cake. I freely tell them. Its no big secret. We are all in this together, its our craft, and we all like to learn.
I love learning from the pros, and I don't mind sharing the lesser knowledge and talent I have with others trying to learn as well.
I remember the windex thing now!! Love Ralphie!! I have to buy that for dh again-we had it on video and Katrina washed it down the tubes so now he'll get it on DVD! I love the part where Randy hides in the cupboard because "daddy's gonna kill Ralpie"
Well, I don't think of it as competition at all and I think it's a little different than a pic from a magazine. Surely you wouldn't write to Martha and ask her if it was ok if you copied a cake from her magazine 
I feel that it's different b/c we are all in this together and it's common courtesy, not a copyright issue, courtesy. Courtesy to know that if someone comes up with an original idea, you see it, copy it, give them credit for that! Plus it makes that person feel good! I remember the first time someone PM'ed me and asked me if they could copy my cake, then i saw their finished cake with "thanks" to me on there, I thought, HOW NEAT! It was great and I don't mind. I don't have any secret formulas, techniques or anything and I won't be running out to get patents on my cake ideas but hey, we've all been ticked off by less than this I'm sure! 
Oh dodibug I love it too!!! I was wondering today if my 5 year old DD would be old enough for it! I know she won't appreciate it like I do now but there are some funny parts she'll love! They don't actually say the bad words in there, do they?
I just remember that coming on TV for 24 hrs around Christmas (eve I think) and watching it with my parents! Strange what we grew up on and want to pass to our kids huh??
I hope I'm not getting too far off here but there is somehing I have been wondering about. You know how on Polly's cakes that it's trademarked, what exactly is trademarked? I was so confused when I saw this. To me, some of her cakes remind me of Colette Peters's work. So is she like "the orignal" in terms of these "wacky, whimsy, madhatter, colorful, unique" whatev er you call'em cakes? How does this work exactly? There are thousands of cake designers the world over that do this type of cake. So are we copying her, not giving credit, and potentially violating her trademark? Okay, I am getting far off. Here I go taking the subject off the road of the author's intent. Sorry mamafrogcakes. I've been mulling this over and I don't get it.
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