Preserved Topic: Ooo, Catch that ripper!! Oh, wait, it's me....

Here's an interesting philosophical question:

Am I allowed to rip from myself?

ok, this is how the story goes:
I am creating a website for a non-paying client (I know it doesn't matter, but I'm trying to give you proper background). I drew the layout and a 'screenshot' in Photoshop and I fell in love with it. Trouble is- I'd like to use the layout and images for my website, but it's perfect for the client. What should I do, Ann Landers?

--Sincerly, Perplexed in Puerto Rico


Harmonizing new illusions...
ICQ: 67751342

In my opinion its wrong because even though your not getting paid you've still decided to create this website for another person and when you do the site changes hands and becomes theres. In my opinion either create a new website for ACS or find a new one for yourself. It's the better thing to do IMO.

I've been meaning to get in touch with you Petskull. The other night we had a storm and my power went out so I couldn't send you those pictures.



-Jestah
Cell 277

"I fell in love with it"

You fell in love with a website layout? You don't get out much do you...

Give the layout to the client and make a better one for yourself. Unless you doubt your abilties so much you don't ever think you'll be able to better. If so then you need to find a new hobby.

You always get better. If you don't then what's the point of working in a 'creative' field....

[This message has been edited by Dracusis (edited 06-02-2002).]

Dear Preplexed :
Walk it off, whiner. You started this for ACS, finish it and get on down the road.
If you really like this layout, start there and build one you really like.

Or, you can fuck ACS off altogether, keep it for yourself, and live with the crushing guilt driving you into the ground for the rest of your life..Always there, in the back of your mind nudging, poking , stabing you conciousness, until your brain explodes. Either way you won`t enjoy it if you don`t send it here it belongs.

signed, docile * your conscience* bob


Cell245

Or you can 'rip' it, and live in fear the rest of your life that I will catch and scalp you...

Just kiddin'!

alright, alright.... I'll keep it for ACS...

I think the crushing guilt got to me...

I dunno... it probably says a lot about me as a designer, but I think that's the best layout I've ever made..

I guess I'll start me a new one from scratch, live and learn.... or something....

Jestah- don't worry... the logo I wanted to make with those pictures was probably a lot better, like, in my head...

btw, what do you think of the site (as it's coming)?


Harmonizing new illusions...
ICQ: 67751342

This has something to do with the idea of "integrity". You have just voted for it and that should provide you with some satisfaction. Doing the right thing usually does ~sniff~ we're all so proud of you ~sniffle sniffle~

. . : slicePuzzle

In general though, I think we should discuss this further, just where do our ideas come from? Personally, I steal from myself like *all the time*, this is why it's so important to keep my older works accessable to me somehow. Frequently the fruits of my labor may not resemble that older work very much at all, but I'll still know where the idea came from. So, IMHO, ripping from yourself is a good and accepted practice.

The issue raised here seems to be a bit different, you designed something for a client and now you want it for yourself, right? That would be not so good, ethically speaking. Still, if on your next site you decided to continue working off of some of the ideas you developed in the first one, that would be expected - our newest works usually resemble the last things we did, this is how a design style evolves. Christ, if I had to come up with something *entirely* new, each and every design, I'd have had to quit this biz years ago. ;-)

So! You go off now, eliver to this client the best work that's possible for you to do. Experience tells me that the very next thing you do will be slightly better. And again, repeat endlessly, eventually you'll be Kai Krause.

Your pal, -doc-