Oh my god!!!! 
I can't believe she would say that. Maybe she didn't answer the person whose picture was posted on her website because she cannot justify using that picture in the first place. If that's true, then I'm looking forward to what she says when she gets the phone call on Tuesday. Please keep us updated.
Oh my god!!!! I can't believe she would say that. Maybe she didn't answer the person whose picture was posted on her website because she cannot justify using that picture in the first place. If that's true, then I'm looking forward to what she says when she gets the phone call on Tuesday. Please keep us updated.
Ouch! Rug burn on my chin from my mouth dropping open at that response!
I'll definitely be watching this drama to see how it gets resolved.
Agreed... arosstx, you have held your head up high so far, I sure hope this does not make you loose it. We are all with you in this, this person is wrong and needs to contact you soon.
I sure hope she is watching and does the right thing soon.
It's been civilized so far, but she sure made another poor choice replying this way to CakeRN.
Good Luck... Arosstx I'm with you all the way
Some people are really bold with their theft these days, huh? It would have been too easy to just give credit where credit was due for the beautiful cake in the photo. I just looked and the cake is still there. It is quite a looker so I might have stolen it too. 
Just kidding about the stealing portion! But it is a lovely cake!
I am surprised, to say the least. wow.
I don't get the response - no one is 'criticizing' her, just making her aware of the fact that she has taken pictures of cakes that are not hers and put them on her website.
As a side note, - if she is reading this thread, I hope she knows that my lawyer has already let me know that this is indeed copyright infringement and he is more than happy to help me out should this not be quickly resolved. Don't you LOVE fine print, ha ha. 
And this is why I have not posted any new pix of my cakes. I won't say that pictures of my skills are worthy of being stolen, but why take the risk? It is unfortunate that so many of you have experienced this. It seems to be happening more and more in the past year.
If people cannot rely on the merit of their own work to bring them business, then they need to take Wilton 1-3 and Fondant/Gumpaste all over again.
Theresa
Not too long ago there was a post about how to find the webhost for websites that are stealing images.
Can anyone help with that again????
I would really love to give this person the benefit of the doubt, but it seems like just good old common sense to give credit where credit is due.
If I were you . . . I would give up on dealing with this person since they don't seem to be concerned. Look it up and contact their web host . . . let them know that there are numerous images on this site, including yours. Most web hosts will shut down the site or something similar . . . just look at what happened to PerezHilton.com recently!
Just a suggestion . . . but given the growing trend of using other members cakes on personal or business websites . . . I think CC should make a few changes.
1) It should be a term of our membership that if you are caught using other members images on your own website without getting permission and giving credit to the artist . . . then your CC priveledges are revoked! Its so small, yet so many of us would go insane without our CC fix!
2) I would prefer to have it set so that you have to become a member and agree to the privacy rules in order to see any member cake pictures. I know thats a huge draw to the site and results in sales through the store . . . but it would probably end a lot of heartache for members.
Good work on your cake and don't let one poopy person get you down!
I have gone in and started the slow process of watermarking my pictures that I post. Which I hate because I think it detracts from the picture. I guess I should've done it from the start but I never for a second thought I would have to on CC...so sad.
arosstx, lmoa at your fine print... I hope that you get this resolved soon... especially since you know for sure that she is aware of the problem...
Just a funny side note . . .
A friend noticed that someone else had copied his MySpace background and used it on their own page.
The background was a picture taken by my friend at an event he worked . . . considering that the whole layout was copied by this other person it was really insulting. Plus that, the other person was trying to pass it off as if his "company" had put on that event . . . which was COMPLETELY not true--my boyfriend's company did it!
To get him back they deleted the original picture and replaced it with a pink background that had black letters reading "I am gay. I steal pictures of other peoples work. I am a liar and a thief."
The best revenge for sure . . . that background was up for over 2 weeks before someone told the theif! I love how things like that work!
Just a funny side note . . .
A friend noticed that someone else had copied his MySpace background and used it on their own page.
The background was a picture taken by my friend at an event he worked . . . considering that the whole layout was copied by this other person it was really insulting. Plus that, the other person was trying to pass it off as if his "company" had put on that event . . . which was COMPLETELY not true--my boyfriend's company did it!
To get him back they deleted the original picture and replaced it with a pink background that had black letters reading "I am gay. I steal pictures of other peoples work. I am a liar and a thief."
The best revenge for sure . . . that background was up for over 2 weeks before someone told the theif! I love how things like that work!
Oh my gosh--that is so funny!!
[quote="CakeRN"]Ok...so I may have overstepped my bounds but I emailed her on Sunday and got a response back.....Here is what the email said ( copied and pasted).
Her response:
Thank you for your information... so glad you have the time to worry about what I'm doing, Perhaps you should dedicate your time to a hobby or a charitable cause they are much more productive and fulfilling than criticizing others. Have a wonderful day.
So, in essence--there it is...She's ADMITTING to the fact that she did it
So glad ou have the time to worry about what I'm doing...)
or it could be she was put off by the fact someone not directly involved bothered to ask her about it, so she got snippy. Maybe, just maybe, she is looking into it before responding to the original poster. I mean no offense at all by saying this, CakeRN.
At least, this is what I would like to believe, but all in all, maybe she really just isn't a very nice person after all, but has a wonderful gift.
I hope this issue is resolved soon Arosstx. You've been so great through all of this, and I really hope it turns out for the best, in the end.
Holly
arosstx I loved your fine print and ya know what if that person doesn't take your picture off it is your right to contact your lawyer....I don't care what anybody says ANY kind of stealing is wrong...doesn't matter what it is...pictures, cars...what have you...good luck hun!!!
arosstx I loved your fine print and ya know what if that person doesn't take your picture off it is your right to contact your lawyer....I don't care what anybody says ANY kind of stealing is wrong...doesn't matter what it is...pictures, cars...what have you...good luck hun!!!
Her response:
Perhaps you should dedicate your time to a hobby or a charitable cause they are much more productive and fulfilling than criticizing others. Have a wonderful day.
Perhaps she should dedicate her time to making her own cakes! It's more more productive and fulfilling than stealing pictures of others. YOU have a wonderful day 
Oh yeah, I'm going to hell for my sarcasm and snobbery! 
but I can't help it!
Can I just say, I am pretty stunned (like the rest of you). Why reply with a snide comment and insult the person who contacted her? I'm guessing that she was probably set off by this part of your email CakeRN "With your credentials I would think that you would have enough cakes to put on your website without taking someone else's work." Although you may not have meant it in a mean way, it probably put her on the defensive.
Still, a more professional and civil response would have been to stop at "Thank you for your information," or perhaps add "I will look into it." I mean, seriously, if someone else's work is on your site and being represented as your own, how can you get indignant about being contacted about it - regardless of who contacts you??
Frankly I think it is quite productive and fulfilling to look out for members of your own community and try to help out. Ironically she snipes at you CakeRN saying you should dedicate your time to a hobby...umm...isn't CC a hobby? LOL.
*shaking my head in disbelief*
OK, what I've learned so far from this post:
--Watermark all my photos
--Put "studied under Duff" in my credentials
Got it!!! 
LMAO
OK, seriously, if I steal someone's photo to get business, and someone asks me to make that cake, how on earth am I going to recreate it????? Wouldn't that be a little embarrassing to explain to someone why "your" photo looks absolutely gorgeous and what you sold them looks like crap? Or at least, is less than what they expect? Now, borrowing someone's idea and recreating the cake yourself, that's something I have no problem with. I've done that, and other people have copied my ideas. That's very flattering. Stealing the photo is just stealing and it's wrong. 
I'm so sorry that this happened to you. Of course it is a compliment because she only has the most awesome cakes on her site, but it's still illegal.
I'll pm you the name of her website host. They will definately take care of it because no host wants their servers used to break the law but a huge name like this especially won't tolerate it. They will try to contact her and if she doesn't reply and if you have enough proof of copyright infringement then they will disable her site. It's a last resort, but we're forced to that sometimes.
Good luck. Please do keep us informed.
or it could be she was put off by the fact someone not directly involved bothered to ask her about it, so she got snippy. Maybe, just maybe, she is looking into it before responding to the original poster. I mean no offense at all by saying this, CakeRN.
At least, this is what I would like to believe, but all in all, maybe she really just isn't a very nice person after all, but has a wonderful gift.
I hope this issue is resolved soon Arosstx. You've been so great through all of this, and I really hope it turns out for the best, in the end.
Holly
I also wish to think that she was well intentioned but it´s very suspicious that the pictures that you can see on her website seem to belonge to decorators whose decorating skills vary greatly. Some of them seem to have been done by people overseas, just by looking at the elements used and the materials used on them. Also, some pictures are smaller, some of them are bigger, the quality of the pictures is not consistent.... I also noticed that she says something to the effect of: These are some of the cakes designs we offer.. She doesn´t state that she has made the cakes but by including them in her portfolio she is implying that they are made by her or at least that´s what anybody would think. Also, if she has the time to respond to CakeRN, how come she doesn´t have the time to at least write a few lines to Arosstx saying: I´m sorry, I´m aware of the problem and I´m trying to fix it? The nerve of some people
I'm so sorry that this happened to you. Of course it is a compliment because she only has the most awesome cakes on her site, but it's still illegal.
I'll pm you the name of her website host. They will definately take care of it because no host wants their servers used to break the law but a huge name like this especially won't tolerate it. They will try to contact her and if she doesn't reply and if you have enough proof of copyright infringement then they will disable her site. It's a last resort, but we're forced to that sometimes.
Good luck. Please do keep us informed.
We (CakeCentral) have banned the user from CC as this is a repeat offense. Additionally we have already sent a DMCA complaint (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) to the ISP, webhost and website owners. Because the image is found at CC, it is easier for us to file these complaints than for an individual user.
We (CakeCentral) have banned the user from CC as this is a repeat offense. Additionally we have already sent a DMCA complaint (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) to the ISP, webhost and website owners. Because the image is found at CC, it is easier for us to file these complaints than for an individual user.
Wow!
Heath,
Thank you to both you and Jackie for all you do here for us. I appereciate it from the bottom most place in my heart.
Wow thanks Heath it is good to know you have our backs! Jackie--you gotta good one there! Seems like Heath is pulling double duty to protect this community.
Ok... I loved the fine print too... Also... I applaud CC for their diligence with this web site. This is such a great community let's not let a few bad apples spoil the whole bunch! I also watermark my pics here... but, I didn't think about my web site... geeezzz... I now picture days of watermarking in my future!!! I hope this all turns out alright!!! Best of luck... and I am sooo sorry someone would do this!!!!
I'm so sorry that this happened to you. Of course it is a compliment because she only has the most awesome cakes on her site, but it's still illegal.
I'll pm you the name of her website host. They will definately take care of it because no host wants their servers used to break the law but a huge name like this especially won't tolerate it. They will try to contact her and if she doesn't reply and if you have enough proof of copyright infringement then they will disable her site. It's a last resort, but we're forced to that sometimes.
Good luck. Please do keep us informed.
We (CakeCentral) have banned the user from CC as this is a repeat offense. Additionally we have already sent a DMCA complaint (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) to the ISP, webhost and website owners. Because the image is found at CC, it is easier for us to file these complaints than for an individual user.
She should know we all have the "LAW TOTIN LAMA" on our side or should I say on the side of the law.
I know in light of this awful situation I would like to thank Heath and Jackie for being so awesome and protecting us when we really all need to get computer savvy enough to protect ourselves. Me being the 1st in line for computer illiteracy classes!
I REALLY, REALLY hope this is resolved peacefully and to everyone's satisfaction.
My prayers are with all of you and in my heart I know my cakes arent worth copying so I am safe!!!!! 
Sorry a little humor just escaped me!
WOW, WOW, WOW, This whole thing is amazing!! I read this thread on friday and boy did I miss alot til today!
CC's response is AWESOME!
I was thinking about doing the same thing as CakeRN but chickened out.
Or all of us bombarding her email with the question of "why".
Hope it gets resolved! And I was thinking I didn't want to miss General Hospital....this is better!
or it could be she was put off by the fact someone not directly involved bothered to ask her about it, so she got snippy. Maybe, just maybe, she is looking into it before responding to the original poster. I mean no offense at all by saying this, CakeRN.
At least, this is what I would like to believe, but all in all, maybe she really just isn't a very nice person after all, but has a wonderful gift.
I hope this issue is resolved soon Arosstx. You've been so great through all of this, and I really hope it turns out for the best, in the end.
Holly
I also wish to think that she was well intentioned but it´s very suspicious that the pictures that you can see on her website seem to belonge to decorators whose decorating skills vary greatly. Some of them seem to have been done by people overseas, just by looking at the elements used and the materials used on them. Also, some pictures are smaller, some of them are bigger, the quality of the pictures is not consistent.... I also noticed that she says something to the effect of: These are some of the cakes designs we offer.. She doesn´t state that she has made the cakes but by including them in her portfolio she is implying that they are made by her or at least that´s what anybody would think. Also, if she has the time to respond to CakeRN, how come she doesn´t have the time to at least write a few lines to Arosstx saying: I´m sorry, I´m aware of the problem and I´m trying to fix it? The nerve of some people
I wasn't saying she was completely innocent. I do believe it was intentional, but I always try to give people the benefit of the doubt. I guess I don't explain things, or convey my thoughts, very well. I'm sorry if I was misunderstood or offended anyone.
I'm just really impressed with the way arosstx is handling the whole thing, and I am sorry for saying this, and I know I will be flamed for it, but I don't think anyone else has the right to email this woman, since it wasn't their cake that was stolen. I do believe arosstx has every right to do so, and has every right to contact a lawyer. I also believe Heath and Jackie were completely right in what they did, and I'm so very glad they are so wonderful, and are always looking out for the best interest of their members.
I hate the thought of anyone stealing your hard work and passing it off as their own, or not giving the credit each of you so richly deserve. Please don't think I side with her, or what she has done.. I don't. I find it despicable. I was just really hoping there is some good left in this world, and she truly did make a honest mistake this time, but I can see now that just isn't so. I knew this matter could be handled tastefully, and it has been. Instead of everyone getting mad, and emailing and calling, and making this woman's life miserable (which she probably deserves), but in my opinion that just makes all of us look bad for doing something like that. (Please don't hate me for having this opinion)
I'm very grateful to have found this site, and all of you. I think you are all very sweet, and caring people, and you are looking out for your own. I haven't been here long, but I would hope after a while I will know I have this many people that would want to jump in and defend me, as much as they do others on here. I just also hope they give it time to be resolved without having to stoop to such a level.
Again, I am very sorry if I have offended anyone, and I'm very proud to be here, and so happy to see Heath and Jackie are so wonderful, and really make it worth coming back, as much as all of you do.
Sincerely,
Holly
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