Subject:Rip off

Posted by: Durzel

Date:7/5/2001 4:03:36 PM

Was it the web designers intention to completely rip off the Macromedia website (http://www.macromedia.com) or did you guys simply spend all of your marketing budget on the swish Flash animation on the title page?

Come on lads, a bit of originality wouldn't go a miss - you could've at least bothered to reword the menu headings just a tad.

If your products are anything like your website, I assume they contain other people's stolen code and ideas? Would this be a fair assessment?

Subject:RE: Rip off-NOT!

Reply by: gbat

Date:7/5/2001 6:06:19 PM

What's your problem, man? It's not that much like it!

Subject:RE: Rip off

Reply by: Durzel

Date:7/5/2001 7:55:59 PM

I'm afraid it is mate. Did you even look at the Macromedia site to compare the two? The menu at the top of the page has EXACTLY THE SAME HEADINGS.

It's so blatently a rip off that most of the icons "Buy Now", etc are very clearly derivatives of Macromedia's own. I don't work for Macromedia, but if I did I would be pretty annoyed that my hard work had basically just been completely stolen in such a blasé manner.

..which is a bit of a shame really as I had visited this site with the intention of buying some of their software - but was struck instantly by the "similarity" (which is about as loose a description as you can give it) between this site and Macromedia's.

Having been a developer for several years, one of my pet hates is plaguerism of my code and I for one wont be contributing to the money banks of those who further their own business through the theft of other's intellectual and artistic property.

Subject:RE: Rip off

Reply by: MyST

Date:7/5/2001 8:38:47 PM

Let's see, you were going to buy Sonic Foundry software, but because of the similarities in the design of their web site, you're not. Alright?!?
I visited Macromedia's site. I'll agree, the top of the page is quite similar.However, I can't see too many ways to have a listing on a website. Either it's at the top, the bottom, or the sides. Although, maybe someone could put it right down the middle...DUH!
If you put your cursor on the labels at the Macro site, they highlight, you click, and you get your next page.
SF labels highlight (shaded no less) and a sub-menu appears for your next selection.
Don't you think that IF Sonic was going to rip-off a design, they would have used a more unknown site?
So, you're not bying SF software because of their website design... gees, what would happen if Linux used a flying door as a logo?

Later...

Subject:RE: Rip off

Reply by: Iacobus

Date:7/5/2001 9:34:48 PM

Can I say that, in comparison, Sonic Foundry's Web site is nicely designed, whilst Macromedia's blows chunks?

Well, I just did.

At least there's no banner ads here. Sheesh.

And while we're on the subject of "stolen ideas," would you care in telling Macromedia to lower the damned price for Flash for a limited time, much like Sonic Foundry did for ACID Pro recently? Maybe then they wouldn't have to have ad revenue.

Quite frankly, I think ACID Pro is very much worth its $400. Can't say the same for Flash.

Iacobus

Subject:RE: Rip off

Reply by: Rockitglider

Date:7/6/2001 1:16:28 PM

Alot of sites use the same look

http://www.midiland.com

I don't think it's such a big deal, I can surely think of other more important things to bitch about

Get a Life

Subject:RE: Rip off

Reply by: MyST

Date:7/6/2001 1:31:32 PM

I think "plaguerism" is definitely a serious issue. But, judging from the response here, I don't think that your example qualifies.
As far as not buying SF products because of the website design...well, let me be the first to agree with you.
I know I wouldn't sleep with Jennifer Lopez, because I saw here wearing the same dress as Britney Spears!!!
Talk about biting your nose off to spite your face!!

Subject:RE: Rip off

Reply by: Durzel

Date:7/6/2001 4:32:23 PM

Probably just easier to pirate it instead, eye for an eye an' all that. :)

Laters!

Subject:RE: Rip off

Reply by: MyST

Date:7/6/2001 5:12:18 PM

Oh please, if you needed a reason to pirate the software, you could've at least come up with an intelligent one.
Although, it was good for a laugh!