Rashy.org

So as you may have noticed (well I suppose blind people use the internet as well) I finally got a new theme for this place that I like. I didn’t design it myself (I tried, but I just don’t have the time right now), but while I was looking around at different designs I came across a web design company that claims its had its design “pirated” multiple times by different people. So I wondered, do web designers have a sense of humor? So here is the plan: Step 1: Use photoshop to make a duplicate of their site. Not an exact duplicate, but one close enough that it will be painfully obvious. Also I should make it a little ugly. Something like this:

Step 2: Ask them for a quote. Specify that the design is for Rashy.org. Send them a link to the previous created image, hosted on Rashy.org. Offer them the .psd file (of their own site!) if they feel it would help them with the design. Here I am going to overplay my Photoshop skills, and stoke my own ego with a lot of self praise. Maybe I should be a little demanding too, like this:

Hello, OnWired team,

My name is Rashy, and I am the owner of the website http://rashy.org. I have had my current web design for a number of years (all one year to be specific) and am interested in a re-design. Fortunately for me I am absolutely excellent with Photoshop, so the design part was ridiculously easy. Unfortunately I am not so good at the coding part, which was where I was hoping you cold step in.

I have looked through your portfolio of other projects and am quite impressed with your previous coding work, and am interested in contracting a quick coding job to you guys.

I have already made a website template that I was hoping you could code for me. A preview of the template I would like to have coded is at http://rashy.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/templateforcoding.jpg . If you would please briefly preview the template and also take a brief glance at my web site’s home page to “get a feel” for the type of site mine is before sending me a price quote, I would be most happy.

Thank you for your valuable time,

Rashy
http://rashy.org

Step 3: Wait. Step 4: Laugh? With any luck they will see this post and laugh with me. Worst case scenario says they send their lawyers after me and laugh at me. But would that be the worst case though? Worst case scenario would be like walking through my door and falling right into a pit of hungry crocodiles (don’t worry, I’ve seen plenty of The Crocodile Hunter). It would be rather funny for me to get a (another) copyright infringement letter (maybe someday I’ll talk about that first one). This begs the question, do web design companies have lawyers?

UPDATE!

They responded! They responded rather quickly which means they must be low on work. Go hire them, and here is why

Rashy, Amazing work! You, good sir, are truly gifted when it comes to your Photoshop skills. That is quite possibly one of the greatest home page designs I’ve ever seen. You’ve got wonderful textures and lighting effects going on, and the flaming logo is a nice touch. We would be honored to code this specimen of design perfection for you, and we can probably get it done for you in no time flat because I think we’ve got some old code laying around somewhere that we might be able to reuse. To top it all off, if you’re available, I would love to offer you a position on our team. I could always use somebody with skills like yours.

Seriously dude, this was pretty funny and you got a good laugh out of everybody here, although you made it way too easy for us by putting that blog post on your home page. Anyway, if you’ve taken a few minutes to look through our site (which I’m guessing you have), you can probably tell that we don’t take ourselves too seriously. We get just as tired as anybody else of all the lame, uptight businesses out there, and our goal is to not be like that.

About the whole piracy thing, we really have been ripped off repeatedly, and I’m not really sure why because if I was going to steal a design, there are plenty of better ones to pick from. We actually just had another rip last week. It’s a little ridiculous because most of these guys don’t even try to hide the fact that they are stealing stuff but then get all self-righteous and defensive when you call them out on it.

Anyway, we won’t be sending our lawyer after you (yes, we actually have one), but if we did, he would be the first to suggest the pit of hungry crocodiles, most likely with frickin’ laser beams strapped to their heads, because he likes to fight dirty.

Regards, Jon Norris Creative Director

OnWired // Design. Develop. Promote. Web Solutions. P // ###.###.9403 M // ###@onwired.com W // www.OnWired.com

I love you guys. Now for a paragraph by paragraph analysis, because I don’t have anything to do and am too lazy to do a line by line. Paragraph 1: Thank you guys so much for your praise. Would you be able to tell that this was the only time I have ever used Photoshop, and that I had to borrow a friend’s computer? You should see my Gimp skills though, since I have much more practice at that:

Anyways, my services are for hire! I better warn you, I am in high demand and as such charge a rather healthy fee for my time. Paragraph 2: Right, for part two of the “Do ____ Have a Sense of Humor?” I won’t make it obvious. When I find out if the RIAA jokes around, I won’t make it obvious that it is my french toast toaster stealing French music. Oh, and I am glad that you shared this (gasp! Is this really a blog!?!) post. You created quite a spike in my traffic.

Paragraph 3: You’re right, but there are certainly worst designs out there to steal. (Someone remind me to add border and padding around these images, it looks like crap!). <<Oh crap! Back in character!>> YOUR DESIGN? I MADE IT AND COMMISSIONED YOU TO MAKE IT! YOU STOLE MY IDEA! Paragraph 4: Frickin’ laser beams? At least they aren’t sting rays.  With frickin’ laser beams. (Editor: That was too cruel, Rashy. Yes, I am Rashy’s editor, your lawyer doesn’t stand a chance.) Closing: “Regards”? What kind of closing is that? Are you trying to show off your thesaurus? How about a “Sincerely” or a “Love”? And you are just one first name shy of being Chuck Norris! Ok, ok, ok. That is enough. Happy Design Directing, Mr. Design Director. For all one of my regular readers, tune in sometime for: “Do crocodiles have a sense of humor?” as I tease their appetite with my limbs.