Tag: spec

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Fiverr – you might want to rethink that $5 logo purchase

That $5 logo from Fiverr might just be a stolen design … or at least not as unique as you thought.

https://medium.com/@sachagreif/in-the-past-couple-years-startups-have-started-realizing-that-good-design-can-make-the-difference-2fdeb90d390a

Need a reason your logo should be professionally designed? Or at least a reason you should be cautious when using a cheap / crowdsource site? There are people calling themselves designers who are simply stealing designs from other places, throwing in some text and selling them.

This was one of the designers they advertised in Fiverr’s e-newsletter:

fiverr copyright violations

The silhouette in the logo was familiar enough to me that I instantly recognized it as the Yoga Australia logo and that it was stolen because of the unique design that included the outline of Australia in the yoga pose.

yoga australia logo

When I submitted a comment to Fiverr about the copyright violation I got not response.  And two months later this design is still up and this profile hasn’t been removed. Clearly they don’t take copyright violations seriously.

Copyright violations in designs you paid for:

Ignorance is not bliss:
the buyer of the design will be liable for violation of copyrights.

Just because you paid someone to design your logo, if you use a stolen design you are the one the copyright holder will be able to come after. Not knowing your design was stolen does not change the ownership of the design.

Even if you are only hit with a cease and desist letter it will probably cost you more than your original $5. Think about the number of things that would have to be redone. Store signage? Business cards? Website? Menus? Promotional materials?

Think of all the things you would have to change the logo on. How much could that cost you?

You get what you pay for… Is it really worth the risk?

PS – I searched for the person who bought the design of Fiverr and luckily she’s not actually using the design.

PPS – since I suspect that Fiverr will let this “designer” continue to rip people off until they get so much flack they can’t ignore it, I’m posting the link to the designer’s listing:  http://www.fiverr.com/design_angelica/design-a-beautiful-logo-only?funnel=201408301836282506837040
Granted getting her removed might not keep her from coming back as a new profile AND it doesn’t stop others who are also violating copyrights by using other people’s works in or as their own designs.

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Can you give us a sample design so we can decide if we want to hire you?

Requesting creative services in advance of hiring is known as Speculative or “Spec Work.” Spec Work compromises the quality of work you are entitled to and also violates a long-standing ethical standard in the communication design profession worldwide.

The “American Institute of Graphic Arts”, as well as the “Graphic Artists Guild” and the “Graphic & Web Design Trade Customs” are in agreement and most graphic designers will not provide speculative designs as it places zero value on ones services.

Creating custom designs are not part of Fascination Design’s presale process. Design is a collaborative process with the client that is affected by a variety of factors and is not simply a flash of creative inspiration.

Speculative work takes time which creates lower profit margins. A business with less cash to invest back into the business means a worse product, worse service, and customers that don’t receive as many benefits as they could.

Here are some other ways to ease into the transition of working with us:

  • Ask for an estimate and try us out with a smaller project.
  • Or ask for us to break out the first step of a bigger project in an estimate.
  • Ask for references. We’ll check with some clients to make sure they aren’t too busy to talk and get you their contact info.
  • Review portfolio pieces of similar projects.
  • If we haven’t met with you already, we do offer an initial “getting to know you” meeting on the house. This can be a phone meeting if you don’t live nearby.

The AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) on Spec work:
http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/position-spec-work

“AIGA, the professional association for design, believes that professional designers should be compensated fairly for the value of their work and should negotiate the ownership or use rights of their intellectual and creative property through an engagement with clients.”

“Clients and designers knowingly engaged in spec work share an equal responsibility to understand the potential risks and rewards:

Clients risk compromised quality as little time, energy and thought can go into speculative work, which precludes the most important element of most design projects—the research, thoughtful consideration of alternatives, and development and testing of prototype designs. Designers risk being taken advantage of as some clients may see this as a way to get free work; it also diminishes the true economic value of the contribution designers make toward client’s objectives.

There are legal risks for both parties should aspects of intellectual property, trademark and trade-dress infringements become a factor.”

More info for businesses on spec work: