So I’m the bad guy.
My good friend Sonny Chan from Sokablog has just responded to my claims that he ripped off my design over at the Wordpress MU forums. What did he have to say? It’s a classic. Just try not to laugh too hard, OK.
Dear barrybell,Sokablog was not at fault in any way with the creation of our websites previous layout. The Sokablog team was experimenting with different interfaces, and it just so happens that one we had been working with was very similar in nature to yours. However, there are some glaring differences you may not have noticed.Experimenting with our layout for our own audience’s use is not a wrongdoing, and we do not appreciate the implications of your post.We are currently working on a new design, so you can be assured that the design you have will stay your own.
We hope to work with you in the future under less hostile circumstances. If you wish to speak with us, reach me by my email.
Sunny C.
Sunny22chan@gmail.com
Co-Owner of Sokablog
Now let me just confirm something…
When someone rips your code, without even bothering to change the 25 or so links that still lead back to your original site, and when they also reproduce some copy word-for-word (albeit swapping out your site’s name for theirs) it can actually be qualified by saying “it just so happens that one [design] we had been working with was very similar in nature to yours”.
Am I missing something here? Or am I just cranky after working for 24 hours straight last night?
Jeez.
Just goes to show that nothing you create is safe, eh?
Tagged with:
Hsien Lei said on April 26, 2006 @ 7:32 pm...
“we hope to work with you”
Run away! Run away!
TDH said on April 27, 2006 @ 8:24 am...
Hilarious.
raj said on April 27, 2006 @ 3:35 pm...
ha f**cking ha ha ha! Ho ho ho. Bust a gut. Barry, I’ve decided to publish a blog that reprints yours, but to read it, you have to look in the mirror. Everything will be in reverse, including the design and links. That’s not ripping off, is it? I’ll thank you in advance not to suggest that it is. Okay?
Barry Bell (Profile) said on April 27, 2006 @ 3:56 pm...
Hey, c’mon. Give the guy a break. I mean, it’s entirely plausible that at the exact same moment in time we’d both conceived an exceptionally similar design, and that most of the links on *BOTH* designs pointed right back to wurk.net - purely by coincidence.
Really. So where’s the problem? I can’t see one. No. All fine with me. And anyway, it was my fault for not noticing the “glaring differences”. I’ll just have to look a bit harder next time.
;o))
Liz Strauss said on May 1, 2006 @ 2:21 am...
Hey, aren’t those the same 25 links that come with every WordPress blog? Those hamsters that are blogging have been talking to each other–yeah that’s the ticket. It couldn’t possibly be that the guy is jerk. Now could it?
raj said on May 28, 2006 @ 9:03 pm...
Where the heck are you, Barry?
Easton Ellsworth said on June 23, 2006 @ 8:50 pm...
Echoing raj - where are ya, Barry? I miss your snark.