The state of advertising had reached an award-winning low in the Dubai Lynx when award upon award was withdrawn for plagiarism and the ‘Agency of the Year’ title stripped off the offending agency.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…
Stop him working in advertising? Lol!
You have ‘creatives’ that steal from the art world and are named geniuses.
Also, let’s not forget two people can have the same idea independently of each other.
Fairly sure I’ve seen this idea before – and it’s a great idea, by the way.
Maybe I saw it in Ads of the World.
Maybe I saw it in some awards book from the 70s!
Whichever, I’ll try not to copy it for the National Day ad I’m about to write
Welcome Hayes,
Yes – the original TBWA\RAAD was posted at AdsofTheWorld – that’s where the plagiarists must have picked it up from. It’s only when the creators alerted me to the copycats that I posted this.
Oppsssss. Do not do to others what you do not like done to you.
NB. I was referring to TBWA\RAAD Dubai
http://bloganubis.com/2009/08/21/shi_t-the-way-you-move/
http://bloganubis.com/2009/06/03/can-you-bake-your-cake-and-eat-it/
http://bloganubis.com/2008/09/28/wings/
Done by some real good Copy Writer. The times they are a changin.!
Agree, Tanvir. Yes, all creatives take their inspiration from somewhere but someone who is just taking ready art work and pasting a logo on it needs a good spanking. And publicly
Am glad someone is speaking out. Good one! May be such efforts will make serious creative agencies from taking shortcuts.
We launched a creative (print) for Bentley Cigarettes in 2003. The creative had the smoke go up and depict a persons mood. The same creative route was adapted by Davidoff in print and TV (2006).
Unfortunately, the focus as well as the budgets didn’t permit Bentley to take an aggressive route. Now the only visibility its got is when we remember the rip-off!
I can understand that visual mnemonics are limited. But creatives need to stop seeking to be inspired from archives.
Yes, Satish – it really hurts when a big idea gets a small budget and its ripoff is splattered all over the place. As a creative myself, I’d rather do an average but original ad than a fantastic copy-paste. The learning that comes by making ads derived from soul of is more valuable than a one-night party with some undeserved metal in my hands.
gotta look at possibility of a lawsuit. or as suggested in the post – take it to the IAA and get the guy banned from plying his fake art in town.
Hello, my old friend!!
Sadly, plagiarism is a scourge that plagues not only the advertising industry but pretty much any where intellectual property is involved. It’s one of the things I miss least about Dubai.
It’s often hard to decide what’s worse – the copy & paste style of doing things, or the way in which one’s hard work is butchered by executives (clients) who add on their bits and pieces to make it sound “better”…
Hey MeeA, good to see you and read you here.
Yup – it’s a full time job nurturing, protecting ideas and then helping them see the light of day.
Don’t even talk about suits trying to make things better, because the client’s wife thinks so
farrukh