How low can advertising creative go in UAE? You have no idea! October 29, 2009
Posted by Farrukh Naeem at www.copywriterjournalist.com in : Advertising , 8commentsThe state of advertising had reached an award-winning low in the Dubai Lynx when award upon award was withdrawn for plagiarism and the ‘Agency of the Year’ title stripped off the offending agency.
But looks like no one’s learnt a lesson. Yet.
Blatant copy-paste advertising is still rampant. With no regrets. Sad!
Here’s an original big idea from my ex- creative partner Sherif Galal, senior art director at TBWA\RAAD Abu Dhabi, for a client we worked for together – ADAC (Abu Dhabi Airport Company) for UAE’s National Day last year:
The Original: ADAC's UAE National Day Ad 'Salute' by TBWARAAD
And here’s what was spotted by another friend from the agency – Joey Llovitt (yeah – you read that right) – on a DeviantArt portfolio:
Copycat Ad for Aerotech Aviation
Now, the original ad wasn’t one that you’d miss. It was on the front page of Adsoftheworld and still exists there – with more than 70 votes. It made it to the Dubai Lynx shortlist too, last year, but thanks to the F** agency’s creative director F***’s Fiasco many deserving ads lost to copycat ads as you read on this blog earlier.
News has it that some people very high up had a very good feeling when they saw Sherif’s ad on the UAE National Day. Perhaps, it’s the original ad’s goodness which makes it attractive to steal.
“I feel really bad… but at the same time, it’s an indication that the ad was so good,” says Sherif, with his trademark laugh. Imitation might be flattery, but ripping-off is the lowest form of life, noted one of the commentors in response to the copied ad on Deviant Art.
The copy-cat ad was posted on DeviantArt by the ID bluemp, traced back to one Mr. Md Naeem (LOL… he shares my surname) a 27 year old web designer from Pakistan.
I have been blogging about creative plagiarism and ethics in advertising for long now, as readers of my blog know. So, I decided to put these ads up but also give the offending party the benefit of doubt. I spoke to Naeem and asked him what the story is. And it only got worse.
He said: “What I upload on my website is not done by myself. This is one of my friend. He done that.”
So, we have a copied ad, that too posted in someone’s portfolio who says it’s not an ad done by him.
Well, someone’s done it.
Some poor client has paid for it.
And now that the word is out, some agency and creative better pay for this sheer laziness and insolence.
I asked Sherif what he thinks should be done now. And here’s what he said.
“Everyone should know. The company that this guy sold the ad to should know. I would stop him working in advertising. It would be like a lesson to other people not to steal work. “
Sherif Galal
Senior Art Director
TBWA\RAAD Abu Dhabi
Friends in the industry like Louai Alasfahani of the anubisblog fame (notoriety, rather) invest considerable time exposing creative stealing in the region.
Perhaps with these name and shame posts, we will be able to rid our agencies and industry of the kind of scum that copies other people’s ads, puts them in their portfolio and brings everyone a bad name.
Has your work ever been stolen?
What would YOU do if this happened to you as a creative?
Comments (and curses) are welcome…
