subject: Plagiarism: Concept vs. Execution [print this page] Plagiarism: Concept vsPlagiarism: Concept vs. Execution
The explosion of contest sites and crowdsourcing in the graphic design industry, concern over plagiarism has grown significantly, as a result of the speed at which ideas circulate.
Before we go casting stones, let use explain what constitutes plagiarism and what doesn't. Within the community at Brandstack, we've addressed this issue before and we've found the best way to explain what plagiarism is to make the distinction between concept and execution.
There is nothing wrong with creating a logo which has a dog in it when someone else has done it before. You are simply reusing a concept, which at this point, you are not going to invent a concept which hasn't been used before in design. However, if you take a dog which is the same exact shape and color, then we have a problem. You copying someone else's execution of a concept and that is plagiarism.
In a situation where you have a suspicion someone has lifted their work from someone else, then you should approach the topic with caution. Never dismiss the possibility that it was done unintentionally. Sometimes a designer may have seen a design long ago and stored it away in memory, only to have it resurface late, forgetting from where the idea came. It happens and it's an honest mistake.
When designing, you can never be too careful or take too much time in doing your research. Take a look at some other designers' work before starting on your own. There are several sites you can explore including: Brandstack, LogoPond, LogoLounge, and Creattica.
Bear in mind that it's OK sometimes for logos to appear similar, as well.
In all, a lot has been said on the topic of plagiarism, but enough can't be said to keep the whole industry and designer community conscious of the potential pitfalls in such a subjective profession. It's all our responsibility to keep this in check, but it's really simple to do so. Just be well-meaning and do your homework.
