I applaud your courage
And stupidity. I tweeted1, but never blogged about it because I didn’t see the need to make a big ass deal about it. But the girl who pretty much just copied my design had to nerve to tweet me today and accuse ME of “making a big deal” out of the situation and “destroying her site“. Never have I mentioned her name or her Twitter account, I simply stated that she copied my design and that I was angry. But since you’re accusing me of something I didn’t do, I may as well do it now so at least you can be right about something.
I did want to contact her privately, but she had no email, no contact form, and her comment form would not approve my comments. So I went to her host, freehostia, and they obviously suspended her account. Yet she had the nerves to move her copied designs to a private host, so again, I had to contact Surpass Hosting, since I still didn’t have the girl or her hosts’ contact information. Now at least her host was smart and knew that copying was wrong, and I thought this girl knew too in the sincere email she sent me, so I let it go.
Now out of nowhere this morning, the girl tweets me this morning and says:
Oh, come on. You didn’t have to make a big deal about that site2. I really don’t understand why you couldn’t have discussed it calmly with me before getting my whole site destroyed. And it’s not like I blatantly went out and claimed that layout as my own. Also, I didn’t mean coded it completely myself by making my own theme. I meant I didn’t use YOUR coding.
Yeah, she just used the coding from the Plainscape WP theme without credit before. So I replied back, and here’s her reply:
Of course it does, I listed it in my credits section :9 And you know that I didn’t know it was wrong to do that3. Now I do, so it won’t be happening anymore. I just didn’t see why you had to tell EVERYONE4 about such a little thing5, I don’t even have a lot of visitors and it would have been simple to wait. But no, my host took down my site because you contacted HER host and got her in trouble for what I did6, and I just thought that was very rude. Yes, what I did was rude too, but I didn’t know that it was such a wrong thing to do7.
And to my current Twitter status, she writes:
And stop being so rude about it8, I was just calmly asking you not to tell the whole world about a mistake I made one time9, geez.
Since I feel bad for spamming my followers with arguments with a squat like her, I didn’t reply. No use arguing with an idiot anyways10. They just drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience. I’ll let you all be the judges of her action.
- Because I was pissed off to say the least, but I didn’t know tweeting about this would be considered “rude” ↩
- For real? Like, are you fucking serious? This is so damn obscene that it’s actually hilarious someone would even have the shame (or lack of) to say this ↩
- How is stealing not wrong? Where the fuck did your common sense go? Just because you stole and told everyone where you stole it from does NOT make it ok ↩
- Why do you care who I tell? I could’ve told all my friends on Facebook, much like YOU did, if I wanted to and what are you gonna do about that??? ↩
- You fucking ripped off a design I spent HOURS coming up with and you tell me it’s little?! ↩
- And that’s my problem because? Oh wait, it’s not my problem, it’s yours! ↩
- So hence it’s not rude? What’s your point? ↩
- Then stop being an idiot. You’re ASKING for this. ↩
- Keep the mistakes coming honey, when will you learn that yapping about it isn’t gonna get you anything but a post in my stupid people category? ↩
- But I couldn’t help but notice the stupidity in her arguments and write notes for each ↩
Evelyn says:
That sucks! Now that it happened I think you should take it as a compliment cause your design is one of the best around anyway hehehe!
Jenny says:
Aww, thanks
I mean, I guess I’m flattered, but what I’m really irked and in shock about is how that girl is reacting to her act of plagiarism. Like, are you serious??
Jenny says:
The nerve of some people really astounds me. Really, how hard is it to either a) make your own design, b) not steal someone else’s ideas, or c) own up when you do something wrong.
Plagiarism makes me so angry. I’m sorry this happened to you, and hopefully this idiot learned her lesson.
Jenny says:
Apparently not. She emailed me again after seeing my blog post, saying how she felt “violated” because I posted her site on my Twitter. And that when I and some people called her out for stealing, it made her angry and hurt her feelings, and that I’m not handling the situation well. Does it look like she learned anything to you? *shakes head*
Manda says:
I love how whenever someone is accused of copying the individual always manages to turn it around on the accuser. *rolls eyes*
Jenny says:
Tell me about it. I can’t even begin to understand where her logic is coming from. I already dropped the whole issue, but she suddenly starts bitching at me, and expects me to handle things better? What a JOKE.
Risa says:
I remember going to her site the first time you posted it and i was shocked she had said she was “inspired” by your design and I remember seeing you in her tag board or somewhere saying I don’t remember giving you permission to use my design at all.
I think she knew what she was doing..also because she claimed to be a web designer and she was of decent age to know stealing is stealing.
You handled it in a good manner.It’s not your fault she didn’t have her info up somewhere obvious and I would have went above the main host’s head too.
She got what she deserved in the end.I don’t get how she justifies it as the first time it’s almost like she expected to get away with it because it was her ‘first time’
Jenny says:
Yeah, when I read that, it boggled my mind. How can you claim to be a web designer yet not know that stealing is bad?? Like, you shouldn’t even have to be a web designer to know that! I dropped this after the design was removed, but all of a sudden she just brings it up and bitches at me over Twitter. Like shit, I’m just supposed to sit back and take all this from some twat who stole my designs?
Patji says:
I applaud your handle on the situation. I’m not sure if I would have been so calm. I most possibly could be the type to rant it to the world, but eh… I’ a hot a head xP
Jenny says:
I wanted to bitch about this much earlier, trust me, but I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. Ironically, she was the one that ended up starting this obscene drama, and one thing I can’t stand more than a copycat is a copycat who is rude and makes excuses for her wrongdoings.
Anonymous says:
I do not applaud your handle on the situation. You certainly flew off the handle at every turn, and you did not give this girl any chance at redemption. I’m sure you in your start had made some mistakes and I am also sure that you have not always used things that were for free use only or made by you.
I also enjoy how the blog below this says that life is too short to pay attention to the people who make you angry. >___>;;
I’m sorry to say this in such a manner, but it does not seem like you really tried to contact HER at all. Why does it matter if she asked YOU as long as she realizes it was you who made it and it was YOU who designed it, not her? She’s the one who has to deal with the fact that it was not her own creativity that her site was born. i also dont see why it matters to you why she uses Plainscape as a base for her layouts. She’s probably just learning; it’s a good base, a good starting point, and a good way to learn. What’s the big deal? So what if she doesnt do things the same way that you do.
I really think that if you had just left her a comment and waited until she got back to you (she obviously would have; you designed this site and she clearly admired it) then none of this wouldnt have happened.
You overreacted by getting her site deleted multiple times and I honestly think that she is no longer the one who should be apologizing since she probably has frequently; you just want to give her a bad name and you dont want to tell us about that. it really should be you apologizing now.
Thanks for your time.
Jenny says:
Ah yes, I was expecting backlash of some sort, but it’s a shame you don’t have the balls to put your real name up. Alright, let’s talk.
If I haven’t made myself clear, I dropped this subject days ago, and didn’t plan to bring it up again, until she decided to start bitching at me. She could’ve moved on and done her own thing, and I wouldn’t be arsed to bother her or her site ever again. That was her chance to start fresh and “redeem” herself, but instead, she chose to bring up this whole shit again.
Yes, I’ve made stupid mistakes in the past like she did, but what I didn’t do was bitch at the person I wronged and start accusing them of random shit. Her attitude about this is what really got me pissed off. None of this would’ve started if she would be smart and fucking drop the shit too. Blasting your own stupidity over Twitter = asking for trouble.
As for using the Plainscape theme’s code, there’s nothing wrong with that except for the fact that she NEVER credited them in her previous layout (the one she stole from me). I’m pretty sure if she read the damn usage policy she’d find that they require a credit back if she’s going to alter it. As for my designs, I specifically stated that NOTHING on this site created by me would be taken without my permission. What sort of fucking twat are you to tell me that’s ok? Obviously the same sort as that girl, since stealing is ok as long as you tell people where you stole it from.
I’m not giving her a bad name, ALL this she brought upon herself when she chose to be stupid not once, but repeatedly. Hell, I didn’t even mention her name OR her site here, and the only time I did was on Twitter, but that link no longer works because the site has been removed. So people have no idea who the fuck this squat is, except for those that got a chance to see the site before it was removed, so what more do you fucking want?
Do you mind telling me what I should be apologizing for? For calling her out? For saying she’s a squat, which considering her actions, she deserves fair and square? For expressing my amusement/anger on my blog? And don’t even mention her apologies. Apologies followed by paragraphs of accusations and lame justifications don’t show you’re sorry at all. If she’s truly sorry, she would’ve let it go when I let it go.
Lastly, yes, I know the irony of having that other post before this, which is why I was reluctant to talk about this issue on my blog in the first place. But her stupidity has truly astounded me and left me in an emotional state of amusement mixed with anger, so much that not blogging about this would do it injustice. If shit like this doesn’t deserve to go in my “stupid people” category, I don’t know what does.
Feel free to comment back. I look forward to hearing from you
Mary says:
*rolls eyes so hard* I hate how she’s trying to make out that stealing isn’t such a big deal :/
Jenny says:
Apparently it’s not if:
1) she links you back
2) her site is very small
3) she’s not making money out of it
4) she didn’t know
I never knew that stealing was ever ok, period. I guess you learn something new everyday, lol
Rilla says:
Oh gosh. The WWW would be a much better place if these people just didn’t exist. Back when I had a free designs resources site these arguments were a lot more frequent, and it’d always begin with denial. How dare she try and accuse you for making a big deal out of it when she was in the wrong first.
Jenny says:
Aww, it must have been a pain for you to deal with multiple squats like her -_-
That’s the part that astounds me, that she would suddenly bring this issue back up and bitch at me for it. Well apparently we’re all just supposed to keep our mouths shut now the next time crap like this happens. WTF?
Anna says:
Uhhhh, gosh. I hate it when people steals something from you and turn around and blame YOU for stealing it from them. Grow up man.. she’s probably like a 11-year old kid that’s trying to get some attention.
Jenny says:
Her logic fails me, period. I’ve tried talking to her, but she keeps saying the same crap over and over again “you’ve destroyed my site!”, “you’re rude!”, “you’ve ruined my life!” I feel like I’m talking to a brick -_-
See, if she was 11, I could at least be like “hey, she’s 11, wtf does she know”, but she’s not. She’s in high school, getting ready to apply for college. She should know better.
Courtney says:
that is crazy!! stealing is bad. end of story. even if she was starting out and not knowing much about designing, hey, that’s what premades and wordpress themes are for! I learned by LOOKING at a bunch of different people’s coding, but not copying/pasting their coding and using it. I guess all I can say is hopefully she never does it again!
Jenny says:
Oh she also used a premade theme alright, but then she claimed that as her own essentially, since she didn’t credit it at all. On the bright side, I do think she’s learned her lesson. Hopefully -_-
My name is Mary, but I don't see how that helps you. says:
Umm, wow. I really didn’t expect name calling when I was trying to state my opinion as neutrally as I could, and I’m sorry that you didn’t like it.
I am not going to say anything further on this subject besides the fact that you really could have just talked to her about it calmly when she contacted you rather than getting angry. I know you might get the impression she believes stealing is okay, but this is the Internet and it’s very hard to truly express ourselves across it. I’m sorry that you thought I was bashing you. I guess I would like to see this peacefully resolved between both of you and I get the feeling that neither of you is really bothering to understand the other. >____>
Jenny says:
Yeah, I figured. So you’re here to back up your sister? I get you were trying to state your opinion, but my opinions are that anyone who thinks stealing, under any circumstances, is ok is a twat. I was calm at first when she contacted me, but God knows why, your sister decides to get all bitchy and dramatic and give me crap over Twitter. Maybe before you tell me to calm down you should tell your sister to think twice before doing anything so obscenely stupid. I never felt you were bashing me, and trust me, I would’ve liked to settle this in a different manner, but your sisters actions leave me little choice. I’ve given up trying to understand the logic behind your sister’s arguments and actions, because it fails me.
Bonnie says:
hey jenny!
i dont think she understands the consequences of copying or ‘imitating’ someone else’s creative designs! at least you got her account suspended… hope she’ll learn SOON!
omg, thats so horrible that she copied your designs and continue to try to back herself up
Jenny says:
Tell me about it -_- I’ve never met anyone with the kind of nerves she has, but I guess you do meet all sorts of whack and crazy people on the WWW. She obviously doesn’t know the consequences, or else she wouldn’t be pointing fingers at me for “destroying” her site.
Malin says:
That really sucks!
You did the right thing when you contacted her hosts!
Emily says:
I like the part where she accuses you for destroying her site. I never understood why people don’t credit premades. It’s one little link in your footer or your credits page, and then you’re off the hook.
But then stealing a layout and saying where you stole it from… that doesn’t make any sense at all. Maybe one day the Internet will be a happy place where there aren’t dumb people like her.
Chrizta says:
Ahh geez! It’s always tough handling copycats. I hate to generalize, but it’s common for them to deny it so easily and tell you that they really didn’t know they were doing it! Such a pain :<
Cat says:
Not knowing that it wasn’t wrong, doesn’t make it less wrong. I think contacting her host was the right thing to do. If it was a public host, then she was violating their terms anyway, and a private host deserves to know if they’re giving space to a thief.
As you mentioned, you haven’t mentioned her name or twitter or whatever site she might have now, so I don’t see how this affects her anymore. If she doesn’t want it to be a big deal, she should drop it, not bug you about it.
Krystal says:
Go go jenny for doing something about that copier. Your designs are so unique and pretty. How dare she copy it!
I’m glad you manage to get something out of it and managed to close her site down. It’s not always easy to deal with things like that. It’s really annoying when people copy.
Sometimes people even copy about me sections!! don’t they have anything interesting to write about themselves that they need to go copy someone else.
RHEA says:
OMG.. really?? that girl has some issues indeed.. she was the one who copied your design and she’s the one who’s mad crazy about you accusing her(which turns out to be true and she’s just guilty about it).. O.o PLAGIARISM is a BIG DEAL so yeah… she’s sooo stupid.. O.o
Tina says:
She’s trying to slip away by making it a less important issue than it is, but it’s a good thing you won’t bulge.
You worked hard on that theme, so keep standing up for yourself and your case.
Kim says:
Wow that really sucks. I mean stealing sucks in general, but we all make mistakes and honestly if people would just be more humble about it these arguments wouldn’t be such a big idea. I’m sure if she would just accept her mistake and apologize you guys wouldn’t still be arguing right now.
I also don’t have much tolerance for people who have really BAD excuses. They try to dodge around the issue, put in a bunch of excuses, and have really bad logic that ends up sounding dumb.
Jenny says:
that sucks. i’m sorry she copied you. did you get her site deleted cause her link is broken?
Bonnie says:
reply to your comment:
haha yeah, its better than nothing (: closest to prom we’ll ever get to.
Jen says:
I’ve had people rip my layouts so many times I’ve lost count. Each time though it’s so wtf~ They think that the internet is this huge place and no one will ever find out but these people typically make the same fail mistakes of hanging around where you are (internet-wise) and suffer from delusions that they’ll some day be your best friend because you’re “such an inspiration” to them. It’s annoying and extremely pathetic on their part.
Katy says:
I’m soo curious.. who is it?! Lol. She doesn’t even sound apologetic and just trying to cover her own ass.
Dayna says:
Honestly, people should check the dictionary on the definition of copying and inspiring.
I totally understand your frustration since I’ve experience the similar issues in the past. You did the right thing by contacting her host. Someone should direct her to a decent “online etiquettes” page.
Chill!