How did you feel the first time you saw someone copying one of your cake designs?
I was looking through some of the latest uploads, and saw a cake so strikingly similar to one of mine, that (to me) it was plainly obvious the decorator used my cake for inspiration.
At first I was disappointed, I worked very hard on that original design, and there wasn't even a mention of my name in her description (such as, "thanks to so and so for the great idea" as I have seen on here so many times).
I want to be flattered, because if someone likes your design enough to try and make it their own, it's a good thing, right? I mean, I look to people like Sharon's Sugar Shack and Sugar Creations, boween and Antonia74...countless others really, for inspiration.
I hope this doesn't come across as a rude post, I think I am just a little confused.

hmmm...I don't know how I would feel because my cakes are not good enough for anyone to copy so I don't know what to tell you. Maybe the person copied it kind of subconsciously, maybe saw your cake and put it in the back of their mind and somehow recreated it without knowing they were "copying" it?? I know I've collected ideas that I should credit to others, but I search around CC so much I don't remember where I've seen the picture half the time!

I suppose that is possible....but some of the details of the cake are so similar, and several of the details....I don't know how to explain it better, and I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings by pointing the cake out.

I would try to be flattered. i think people sometimes automatically tend to assume the worst motives in others. the person may have seen your design, but couldn't maybe remember where she saw it, etc. i know i scroll through the galleries a lot and sometimes i'll take 2-3 ideas and lump them into one cake. How's that saying go, something like " imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"

I just looked at your cakes and they are all such a work of art.
All your cakes are lovely...
You should definately be flattered by someone's attempt to copy your work.

I agree with Kate. I not only search this site, but also Wilton's site and several others looking for inspiration and ideas. People post their photos on sites like this one for the purpose of sharing and learning. I do give credit when I remember where the idea comes from, but like Kate said, when you search and look around so much, it's hard to always give proper credit. I saved a photo on my computer and couldn't remember where it came from. I was going to do my own rendition of it for a Dec. wedding and give the credit to someone on CC because I was sure it came from here. Today, I was searching through Wilton's site and the cake came from an amazing designer on there. We do keep designs in our subconcious and come back to them. We can't always recall exactly where they came from, but anyone who has cakes good enough to inspire someone should really be flattered. I know I would be!

Quite a while back we had a purple contest. I made a cake for the contest, a purple people eater, three days after I posted my ebtry, another person posted one very, very similar, to this day this person has never acknowledge that the cakes were so similar, and to this day I still get pretty riled up over it. IMHO it is one thing to take ideas from somebody else's cake, but to me to enter that so similar cake into a contest is pretty low. It was a long time before I posted any cake photos at all. Janice

2 thoughts: 1. your cakes are really nice. 2. When you post on an open forum you have to expect someone will copy if they like it. The options are not to post and people will never see your work or post and accept some people will compliment your abilities and others will be a little more dishonest and not give credi where credit is due. Be proud of your work and accept that your design was good enogh that others just had to copy it.

First, let me apologize because I have certainly been guilty of copying cakes from folks here at cc. My "thanks" and "credits" usually go to the general cc population, because I can't remember whose cake I'm taking ideas from.

I know that when I need to do a cake, I always look here first for ideas. When I'm researching for ideas, I'll print out quite a few pictures of cakes, mostly because they have an element or 2 that I would like to use. But in some cases, I have used the exact idea.

Please forgive me if I've offended anyone.

I have copied designs from here and don't always remember who made the original cake. I don't do it to be hurtful. I just really like the cake and want to try it. I would try to think of it as a complement if I were you because it really is.

I looked at your cakes and they are great (and WHEW...I don't think it was me!) and I think first you should be flattered because you do great work and someone wants to emmulate your work. On the other hand, I can also sympathize with you. The very first cake I ever posted to CC looked to be copied as well. I did this one for my little girl and poured my heart and soul into it (let alone it was when I was first getting serious about decorating). I commented on their picture how amazing I found it that the cake looked to be the same as mine right down to the little flags on top of the turretts. Then, I checked out their website only to find the cake again with a notation on how they do "original" custom design work- Yeah...my original idea thank you very much!

I have also given lots of people complete copies of directionsf or cakes and have not been given a plug either- this burns me up, but I take it in stride because there are plenty of other really good people around here who are willing to lend a hand to a fellow baker. That's why I keep coming back.

However, I have been a newbie too and didn't always know the ettiquette about giving credit to others until I really started to look at a lot of pictures and read the descriptions. So, maybe they just don't know.

I don't think I helped any, did I?

-Michelle

Thanks for your opinions everyone. I really appreciate the insight.
I will be flattered that someone thought I was good enough to copy, and now I am back to working on another cake that hopefully will also be good enough to spurn little reproductions as well.

I don't mind. I think sometimes people are just worried that the other person's looks better; but that is only their own critical perception. But it is just human nature to be offended and angry; just try to look at the good side; it's just like those that you mentioned; you look up to them and they are looking at your cake as inspirational. I know sometimes I will send a client that emailed me to this site to give me an idea of what they are looking for b/c maybe I don't have a cake similar to what they are trying to describe or b/c they have no idea what they want. If they just email me the pic; then I don't know who created it first. And I always tell them that I don't want to copy exactly though; that I want my own take on it and artistic impression involved; but sometimes they want it identical. Also look at the famous decorators; they don't ask you to mention them everytime you use it; only if you were to advertise it or something in a magazine would they mind.

Don't take it personal unless you want to be thankful that your cakes are admired so.

You know I just looked through your photos and was very surprised to see a lady bug cake so similar to mine. The grass around it; the leaves on the sides. And I have never seen one like this when I made mine. I completely went off of my own design. I didn't look on CC or have never seen one like it. I thought mine was completely original; and it goes to show you that when you make up a design or border or something; someone else has probably already done it too. It is just too similar; that is what is so strange; not just the ladybug; but everything else on it too. The person just asked me to make a ladybug cake and that is what I came up with; no idea how they are so similar. But yours is much better with the fondant and all. Very cute!

I dont' think it is rude. I used the design of someones cake recently to make cupcakes and I felt it was very important to give her credit for the cool idea. It is rude not to if you did copy it I think and not give credit. I have mentioned it on one other that I got my inspiration off the site from two others I saw. Can't remember if I mentioned their names exactly but I think it is important to give them credit one way or another. I have seen direct copies from a Deb Brown cake for instance and not seen it noted, I think that is decieving. I dont' mean to sound rude either but I think it is only polite to give credit where credit is due!
One last note. I think there are times we all think we are being original and find out later that it has been done before. It's a bummer but cool too to think we are inovative like others. I guess I am babbling but there are so many cakes and designs out there, you have to wonder if someone has done it before. Just mention that it has if you are using others ideas. Does that make sense?!

Well as for copying intentionally to deceive; then yes that's rude. But I think that most people here are not doing that. They made a cake and posted the pic. If they did a good job they deserve credit for that; regardless if they copied; you have to be good to make it look good anyways no matter what. So what some have such a big deal with is just the sinful nature of jealousy; we all have it and are capable of it; but should not get angry and confrontational about it; b/c it also means they love your work.

[quote="emnjakesmom"]

It is always nice to have your design acknowledged but you should expect it to be copied if you post it on a public forum. I spent ages trying to find the person who made some flower cupcakes recently. In the end I just gave a general thanks to whoever it was, even though I couldn't find their name. It is a courtesy to acknowledge someone's idea, plus it is very flattering when your design inspires someone.
Diane

LOL - I saw a cake of mine that had been copied and attributed to someone else who had copied it rather than me. LOL - it had 2 specific elements that I had done on this cake that were completely different than anyone else had done on it.

I was flattered and I had to admit, that no matter what, when we post pictures of our work we have to allow room for others to copy it.

It works on the same principal that my stepmom always said to me - don't write something down unless you want everyone to read it.

Rachel

This is soooo weird that you posted this today..I haven't been on often but I happen to be browsing through the forum tonight and saw a cake almost identical to one of my first posts, as someones avatar. Sooo of course I had to look at her photos and no mention of thanking anyone. I realize posting on here is a free-for-all but a quick mention of a thanks would be greatly appreciated.. I spent hours on that cake!!!! And there were hardly any posts of the idea before mine. I know take it as a compliment.....human nature. I do really appreciate the compliments after a long few days of work by you guys who know what it takes to make it!!!!!

Be flattered for sure!

As a beginner, I have saved several photos of cakes that I want to try to do, mostly as a challenge to myself, and as a quick way to "just get decorating" to work on the skill part of it without sitting down and planning it out.

It could be a coincidence, from just flipping through the galleries, or an attempt of someone to make a cake that they liked the looks of very much!

I for one am not that creative when it comes to thinking up an idea for a cake! I look to CC for ideas and inspiration. I did a cake recently that was inspired by someone else's here and stated it, but if I didn't remember who it was I think I would still mention that I found it here.

I think if you post on CC your cake is fair game to be copied, after all that's why we're all here - to help, support, and inspire one another. I'd just be really flattered that someone copied my cake.

I guess if you wanted the 'offender' to know that you knew, you could post a comment on their picture mentioning what a great job they did on a cake that is so similar to yours, but then I think it just gets petty!

I know that if I didn't want something copied no way; then I would never post it. Also just like my cake; which may be the one you are talking about. You may be mad at someone when they didn't copy at all. I know I didn't copy; if I had; I would have told you when I saw your cake and apologized for not giving credit and thanked you for the inspiration. But I just can't do that; b/c I never have ever seen it before or anything similar. As you see I have Jojo cakes made the exact same way; that is where I came up with the idea; not yours; and when I was talking to the client on the cell phone; I told her I thought it would be cute to do it green for grass and either grass on the sides or leaves to look like grass and maybe some yellow and white daisies to give the cake a little more character. I tried the grass on the sides and it wouldn't stick; so I went with my leaf tip; and I didn't have time or enough icing to make yellow for some yellow flowers. But it was planned in my car; as she was explaining what she liked; she wanted a ladybug shape on top of a cake. And after explaining that would be carved and expensive; I remembered my batter bowl and told her I could use it and charger her $80. So I in no way copied; even though it looks like it. But that is how someone could assume it and be wrongly accusing and angry at someone; or offended.

Okay...I'm the severely nosy one who found the "culprit". I will not name them so there is no bashing. The cake does look quite similar and has a lot of the same elements, but it's not identical. She also added other elements and her own style. I would assume that no bad intent was there. From the way she posted the picture, she did say that she got the ideas from cakes that she saw here.

So....I say....take it as a grand compliment that she liked so many elements of your cake to borrow the ideas!!! Your cake sure ROCKS!!

I prefer to ask permission of the poster whose idea I would like to borrower before I do it. If I didn't ask permission (or even if I have) then I make sure that I post their name in the photo description. I'm a pretty good cake imitator, but I have a hard time thinking up my own designs, so I browse CC a LOT for ideas.

I am not sure that is the point. I think no matter who you are copying you should acknowledge you were inspired elsewhere. If you wrote a book it would not be accepted. I dont think anyone was trying to be mean, just wondering how they should feel. I think overall everyone is very nice, helpful and willing to share on this site which is great, I think it all needs to be kept in perspective and everyone should be considerate of others. Not to be all mushy and that

Well I just disagree; but just went through the recent downloads and saw one that is just like yours; just a different shape and that's about it; just like my ladybug cake. Although she said her's was inspired from some others. but mine is the same way; almost identical with all the same details just a few different ways of it done. But her's obviously was copied since she said so. But what more can you ask? She said it was inspired by 4 or 5 cakes; so she can't aknowledge you and no one else and she would have to go back and find all of them. Even though it looks to me like it was only copied by yours Just be thankful

Some of your cakes are not original. I've seen the hat cake before, the golf theme looks like a wilton design, I think most of your cakes are a variation from wilton's. I think it is extremely hard in this day and age to be original. almost all ideas have been tried by someone. many of my cakes are not posted, but i've done the golf cake before and the lady bug cake. but they are nice and neat nonethe less.