I guess that could happen after any consultation with a client, but it would stink. It's probably not ethical, but it's not illegal. Even after you actually produce a cake you're likely to have people copy it.
It's always hard when you spend time working out a cake design with a client only to never hear from them again. It would be especially hard if they used your design, but not you. Maybe they went with someone cheaper or with a friend of a friend... one never knows. 
I'm sorry! That's such a shame. But, look on the bright side - at least you know your ideas are wonderful!
that happend to my cousin.
let me tell you the story: my cousin got a cliant that went to a birthday party that she did the cake for and the client wanted to do an order with her so they set up an appt. the cliant went and they talk and all and my cousin showed her all of the cakes she has done from her profolio book you know and so the client ask my cousin if she can take the photo home to show her husband the cake to make sure thats what they wanted to pick. so my cousin said sure and she took it. a week past and no word from her my cousin would call and leave her messages and finally she called back and said the her party was cancelled and she's not going to do the cake anymore but she'll bring the photo back to her. this was all in Puerto Rico i was down their for my wedding that my cousin was doing my cake. and on my wedding party all my family invitied everyone they wanted and so one of my cousin husband co-worker wife went and she told my cousin that the lady did have the party but she had someone else do it for less then what my cousin ask for and copyed the cake in the photo. but what happend to the lady was that when they went to cut in to the cake the middel of the cake was not done and everyone did not eat none of it and it was left at the table. and that they had told the lady see what happends when you go with someone that don't know what they doing for less. cause what we found out was that the lady doesn't do cake she does catering (food, no cake).
well now my cousin know not to give her photo out no more....sorry so long.
shaddi
It used to frustrate me when the area grocery store would scout out what we were doing new in the bakery and copy us. But bow I consider it a compliment. Plus I know mine is always better so if someone cheaps out they just appreciate me more after having a inadequate subsititute. I always tell them you get ehat you pay for and for those who take your idea knowing you designed it and use it for there own will have worse done back to them. WHAT goes around comes around usually worse.
All I can say is "what goes around, comes around".
I don't mind if someone uses my idea or my cake sparks their imaginitve juices in cerating their own cake because they will never be 'the same'. on the other hand, if a client takes my oringinal ides to someone else to 'copy it forr them, that stinks!!
I know EXACTLY how you feel, I just had this happen to me recently. I met with a bride twice, discussed her options, spent lots of time doing a design for her, and then she blew me off.
THEN I found her blog (she had linked to my website, and I periodically check the IPs that link to me to see what people are saying). I read it shamelessly (wouldn't you?). Turns out she had never planned on buying from me, she just liked my designs so she used me for that, then went to one of my competitors who is notoriously 'cheap'.
I hope her cake sucks. 
I know EXACTLY how you feel, I just had this happen to me recently. I met with a bride twice, discussed her options, spent lots of time doing a design for her, and then she blew me off.
THEN I found her blog (she had linked to my website, and I periodically check the IPs that link to me to see what people are saying). I read it shamelessly (wouldn't you?). Turns out she had never planned on buying from me, she just liked my designs so she used me for that, then went to one of my competitors who is notoriously 'cheap'.
I hope her cake sucks.
Yea, that's when I'd have an issue with it- if the client KNEW that they wern't going to use my services, just my creative genius 
Well talking about stealing ideas. I had a customer who told me that she approached a cake decorator from my area who started showing her cakes on my website. When the customer asked whether she has her own website, she told her that she does not need one because she works in conjunction with me and can use my website for her portfolio. I did see red especially when I knew what sort of decorating she is capable of.
Luckily the customer saw sense and made a note of my website and approached me for her wedding cake.
Thank you Schmoop for the nice compliments.
Well I think that you can put copyright on your pictures but all you have to do is to change the cake slightly or change the colour and you can make it your own.
Let's face it, even top designers go the various styles and designs that have been around for centuries sometimes, to develop there "new" sytles.
We have seen fashion styles repeating itself over and over again and the same thing applies to cake designs. Someone develops a new theme or idea and so many cake designers tweak the design and put their signature on the cake.
I think if anyone posts anything on the internet it becomes fair game; whether they protect it from being copied or not. Unfortunately it can't be helped. I think it's wrong, however, when someone else claims the design as their own. I would take it as a compliment if anyone were to copy work of mine...but just so you know, most of my cakes are tweaked bits and pieces of other cakes I've seen on the internet and books too. 
Wilton prints a book every year just begging us to buy and copy their ideas 
I, on the other hand, feel differently. Yes, if I design a cake for someone and she/he takes this design to another cake decorator. I would feel betrayed but that doesn't mean that the other cake will not be better than mine. Let's face it if someone takes my design to one of you don't you think you can do as good as a job or better? and would you decline to do a cake just because it is someone else's design? Don't we all buy the Wilton Yearbook and make cakes from their design and would love to try to design a cake by Martha Stewart or any other famous cake decorator??
Yes, it hurts our feelings but it is the client who decides who will make the cake and what design even if they crush our feelings in the process.
We need to learn how to deal with our feelings.
Awww face it some people just SUCK! Don't let that destroy what a great and creative person you are. As you can read in the stories most people get what they have coming.
I don't see a problem with copying stuff on the internet or in books I think that copyright is mainly for the prevention of other people taking that picture and putting it on their website and claiming that work as their own.
I personally would try to modify any idea or picture that i saw as much as possible to that I can make it more to the recipients needs and see how much more creative i could get with it...
How many of you shop at Mervyns or Wal Mart or Target for your clothes. Are the brands sold there not just knock offs of more expensive fashion designers works? I feel the same about cakes. As a matter of fact so many times have I seen an item or craft and felt that I could make it myself and not pay the hefty price tag. Did anyone consider that maybe these people are on a budget? Being on a very strict budget myself, I can see how someone might go to a consultation, love your design, but not be able to afford it. Then innocently ask a cheaper decorater or a friend if they could do something simular. Yes, it sucks to lose the buisness after putting your work into it, but I don't feel that the customer has done anything unethical.
BTW- going to a cheaper decorator will usually result in an inferior cake in some way, but not always. If it is a friend or a new cake decorator starting out they may do just as good a job.
I have no problem with someone copying a design, I do it all the time! (come on, there's hardly ANYTHING original these days).
I was only upset because she KNEW before she even met with me that she wouldn't be using me. She even had me meet with her a second time, to get the 'perfect' design. You don't think that's even a little unethical? I wasted a lot of time meeting with her.
It's also not like she had taken a picture of a design I had already created, and took it to another decorator, she took a NEW design, one that I haven't even had a chance to make yet, and took it to someone else to be theirs. Those designer clothes were made first, then copied. If the knock-offs had stolen their SKETCHES and made the clothes, I guarantee there would be charges pressed.
I'm not saying my design is worth that much, I just don't like to be USED - by anyone.
If someone has to use your ideas and design to do a cake for someone else, you have to feel pity for them. After all, they couldn't come up with it. And we all know that nothing is as good as the original. Be thankful that you didn't do her cake. I bet she would have made your life a living hell. She will always know that she didn't get the original, just a cheap knock off. Kinda like wanting Prada and buying at Big Lots. I never let my pictures leave my sight. If hubbie needs to see, he can come on over.
LIke i said some people just suck. Eden you are a great designer. SO she basically said, your amazing i want it to look really good but i don't care about quality or anything.... It is way unethical. For some reason a lot of people aren't raised with ethics, or morals. That is our job to teach our children and friends children so they don't do this to some one else.
Sorry that happened to you. Just a question for any seasoned decoratotrs out there...can you charge a "designing" fee? Like tell a bride who wants an original cake that there is a charge of X amount per hour for designing and if she has you make the cake, that amount will come out of the deposit/cake price. That way if they don't intend to have you bake the cake, they won't waste your time designing one. I wouldn't consider this for going through your portfolio ect, just for doing an original cake design. Just a thought/idea.
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