This is pretty lame, but somebody went so far as to steal one of the buttons on my site, slap on different text and another image, and then use it on their own site. The button doesn't even look all that great... but heck, couldn't they go to the trouble of making their own ones from scratch? *Removed the attachement. Seeing as it's not that big a deal and the person in question can gladly continue to use the button.*
He just stole the style of your button. He got inspired by your button. Only thing you can do is be flattered that you have a cool button style that someone liked and used as wlel.
Nope, he actually took my button. Pasted a white background over my pic, pasted a slightly different blue background over my text, and then added his text onto it. If you compare the images in Photoshop they are exactly the same (aside from the changes). Same dimensions etc. You can even see where he lost some of the shadow due to changing my white background color to his site color. Also I drew the black lines by hand and there is one pixel missing on both the buttons.
Unfortunately it happens all the time. This time it was only a button, I've seen whole designs get ripped off. In your case I'd just leave it be.
As I said, I'm not that bothered by it. It's just that if this person asked permission to copy the button, I'd have gladly said yes. Also it's pretty sad that some webmasters don't give a damn about copyright. I try my best to always get permission from anyone I use images/content from. It's really not that hard to go the legitimate and ethical route.
Even if thats the case and I have no dought it is. Just be flattered about it, you cant do much about it.
Crusader, IMHO it's ok that he stole only that. You might want to e-mail him and tell him to remove it, and do his own work.
Nah, I'm more than happy to allow him to use it. As long as he sticks to only that. I'm sure as hell gonna take things further if I spot stolen images or content on the site.
I actually found it by pure luck. I visited a link and there it was in all it's glory. I immediately recognized it, downloaded it and compared that to my original button file... clear as daylight that it was ripped from that.
Can you post it again Crusader? If the text copied was "new!" and the button was a 25 pointed star, I have copied your design a whole bunch of times
LOL. It was nothing that obvious. You can see the buttons in question on the front page of my digital photography site. The major tip off was that I did the borders by hand, and I missed a pixel or two. It was the same on the "ripped" button. In any case, as I said, it's no big deal really... except that it sure doesn't take all that much to create your own buttons from scratch.
If I had money for everytime I went to a website and saw something that was on one of my sites first.
I am going to have to corner one of my lawyer friends and work out a strategy whereby I can make more money in suing copyright infringers than selling stuff.
Mabye you should contact him telling that you know he's using your button (that way he wont steal the whole design)
That BUTTON??? such a huge post about that one thing. I am surprised why wud he even wanna steal it.. coz its easier to make a new one like that than steal and do photoshop. The whole thing sounds very silly. Plus I have see similar buttons... they were just horizontal where as ures is vertical... So heck.. let it be. If he dint take it from u.. he cud find it with the free ones on net object or dreamweaver.... and i just took a look and u find very similar one's. sooooooo MAIL HIM AND ASK HIM, Why yours? WHY WHY WHY! If you are flattered, then send him an appreciation mail. If you feel violated ask him to take it off.. The End
Okay, didn't read the whole thread.. But when looking for a quality banner with your own text visit the http://www.buttonator.com/, got this great tip from Rob
If that was your button you would've done the same. Stealing an apple is just as bad as stealing a kilo of apples. Trust me. Let it be because it's not your button. So next time when you post in a thread, try to think twice before you actually question someone's work and dedication to even a single button on his website.