Site with probable ripped collection of skins and walls

from WinCustomize Forums
This site has very recognizable skins and walls. It's in Russian so I have no idea what it says.

The main site is here: http://www.soladesign.net

but has two subpages (that seem to share the same data but with different page layouts) that have well known skins and suites mostly by Treetog/Pixtudio, as well Dangeruss, Mercury, Mormegil and so on. I recognize the walls as well.

You can find them on this page: http://www.soladesign.net/light/light_index.htm
and on this page: http://www.soladesign.net/br/main.html
10,564 views 24 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Doesn't really look like a rip to me. The authors were given credit and their names were all over the screen shots.

Of course I don't speak Russian either, I'm sure that would clarify a few things

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Compare your second link to DavidK's site   http://www.lightstreamdesign.com/

grrrrrrrrr

ObjectDock - Access shortcuts and frequently used applications from an animated dock.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
oh well, she (Olya is a girls name) did not seem to be so bad as she gives credits and also reviews the skinnable apps ...
but now it looks like she took David´s webdesign and built a site around it ...
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
No credits on any of the WindowBlinds, HoverDesk, BeatNik, a few of the ICQ Plus skins, and probably more (haven't looked at everything)..........................  and moshi, you know very well , that giving credit isn't the same thing as having permission.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Not being able to read Russian, I know I'm risking looking foolish, but, it appeared to me that a lot of the links linked back to th original sites (Stardock, PixStudio, etc.). It looks like a resource site to me, just a portal.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I take it back. The skins are not linked back, just the apps.
[Message Edited]
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I am not sure, but one of the designs look very familair... MORE THEN VERY.
I will check it up later, but I think the design is a rip....
not certain about this in anyway...
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
and about that credit is given to the authors ( post #1)
that dasn't matter, if they dont have written permissions for it, its still stealing.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
and about that credit is given to the authors ( post #1)
that dasn't matter, if they dont have written permissions for it, its still stealing.


I'm a skinner I understand that. That is why I said perhaps if I understood Russian it my clarify.

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Koasati: yes, correct, i only saw the ICQ+ skins first. looks like some community effort gone wrong.
the worst thing is stealing David´s site design ...
anybody mailed her yet?
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I was right about that? sjeez, seriouse spend too much time on the internet...
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
There's some of my stuff on there too.....>
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
suw them boxxi! bring them to court!

no, for seriouse, you guys think you would win if you made this a legal case?
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top

jeesh... I just saw this.

I emailed her and left a note on her guestbook (probably deleted by now). I'm amazed at the lack of integrity I see so often. She stole the graphics and coding for my site and then puts a copyright notice that it all belongs to her. She even stole my logo.

Nothing on her site is her own work, she's a total fraud as so many in Russia today are. It's really sad how much theft I see on .ru addresses. 

Styl - I dislike litigation for any reason. Why is it so common to say 'sue them' when anything happens? There are plenty of ways to resolve issues without making some lawyers richer. And to answer your question, no I don't think suing a fraud in Russia would get any results other than a huge bill from your lawyer and probably a counter-lawsuite from a Russian lawyer who will also get paid by you.

 

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Created by Sola Design
Studio
 
She says in several places that she created the artwork. She sells these designs (if you want to buy) and offers others for free so anyone can use them (!).  Her wallpaper and skins libraries are all familiar work from our community (even some of my skins) and she takes credit for all of it (she says "these are my wallpapers"). Makes it easy to get a design company going if you can just take other people's work and sell it as your own.
 
I think this has been there for a long time. I didn't ever finish my site, I haven't updated anything for a couple years. Maybe I should hire her to finish my site...
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well all I can say is you have a refreshing attitude, DavidK.... kudos to you for staying so calm about this...
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
My email got bounced back (in Russian) and now my client machine, the one I've been working on, won't stay connected to my network. I'm in the middle of 3 projects that all have a deadline of Monday so I can't deal with any of this right now. I'm gonna shut off my modem and get back to work. I'll check in later after I figure out if my firewall got hacked and after I get some work done...
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Oh, sod it....I bet she's related to Vladimir Tereschenko...the lovely Ruskie who successfully stole everything Pixtudio ever did [almost].

I doubt I could convey exactly how utterly tired of all this I am at the moment.

We get indignation over comparative trivialities, even oversights here at Wincusto, yet blatant, utter disregard for others' property occurs almost universally.

It takes a lot of time, effort and thought to mount a successful campaign to right these wrongs, and more and more I'm feeling I can't spread myself round thinly enough to deal with every one of them.  Others need to show equivalent conviction to help thwart our society's rippers.

I've done so much of this bull-shit that I now have a separate email folder titled 'rip crap' so my general mail is more manageable.

At this moment I am over my 3gig limit for the month, so at 15 cents a meg I'll be waiting till June before chasing this next 'Commie bastard without a clue'

Fear not, though, Dave.....I'll have her gonads on toast soon enough...

Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I am in contact with Olga now and we are working towards resolving the issue of her stealing my site design. She seems to be a very nice person and is being reasonable and honest (and extremely appologetic). 

I will try to get her to contact all of the skin authors for permission to post their work and let her know the error of her ways regarding redistributing skins and not giving credit to the artists. Will keep you posted...

Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top

just an update...

Olga has taken down the site and is making some changes. I gave her permission to use the site design if she meets some conditions: give me credit for the graphics, remove my logo, and contact all the skin and wallpaper authors to get permission to post their work (and give them credit).

She wants to do the right thing and is going to try to contact everyone. English is very difficult for her but she does prety well with her dictionary and some time (she said her letter to me took 3 hours). She does not sell anything on her site, I was wrong about that. She just wants to provide a place for her friends to get skins and spread the word about skinning in Russia.

Maybe she can be an ally in spreading the word about copyright and redistribution rights in Russia too.

 edited a typo


[Message Edited]
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Hmmm...the ether ate my post....>>>>

The 'short' version...."Good news, Dave..."

Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
AND even mangled my icon....what next?... > > >