I stumbled across Lee-Soft’s ViGlance application today. It’s a Windows 7 style taskbar for Windows Vista/XP, and it looks like it’s going to be a great utility when it’s a bit more mature.
However, I was struck by how familiar the website looked. A little digging into the page source confirmed my suspicions: the developer, Lee Chantrey, has copied our old website design wholesale, right done to the CSS files and HTML layout (although to give him credit he’s managed to cram numerous Google Ads in there too).
While I’m flattered that someone thought enough of the design to steal it, that still doesn’t make it right.
Lee seems like a good guy, and he’s doing a great service bringing Windows 7 features to Vista/XP for free. Copying another website seems out of character for someone so generous. So Lee, how about doing the right thing and letting people know where you took the design from?
Update 1: Lee has contacted me and communicated his apologies. His site template was designed by someone else and he was unaware it was lifted from our site. He’s added a “Design by Otaku Software” message to the footer of each page on his site.
Update 2: Sigh. After being accused of making “vague accusations” I’ve uploaded pictures of our old web site to make it completely clear: Lee-Soft is using our design. The colors are different, but the HTML and CSS are the same. What I’d also like to make clear is that this situation has been amicably resolved, and we’ve given Lee-Soft permission to continue using our design.
I don’t find Lee’s site any close looking to Otaku Software’s, and I think your accusation is vague. As you noticed yourself, Lee is a good guy: with his level of programming skill, he’s been doing great jobs on developing his applications and offered them all for free.
Now, in contrast, let’s take a look at Otaku Software: for Topdesk and Deskspace, you guys have plagiarized the ideas of Microsoft Vista, Mac OS, and Linux. This does indeed seem out of legal nature and simply out of dignity for someone who uses others’ ideas to make money.
Warmest regards, Walter.
Walter: You must have misunderstood my post, so I’ll repeat the major points -
* The Lee-Soft website used the design of our OLD WEBSITE, not our current design.
* If you compare the source code of the Lee-Soft and this blog (which uses our old design), they both Otaku Software design files (i.e. HTML and CSS).
* Lee has confirmed the use of our design himself (including the use of HTML and CSS files downloaded directly from our website) and apologized for the mistake (the designer he hired to do his site stole our design, not Lee himself).
* I’ve spoken to Lee and we’ve resolved the issue amicably.
* We’re happy for him to continue using our design, as we think he’s doing a great job.
All this was very clearly stated in the post.
I know you would expect me to say this as i m his uncle i can only say that he is a thoroughly honourable chap and very hardworking and is of the the most unselfish and helpful person you could meet,luke chantrey
Luke: Lee is a very talented fellow and was very apologetic about the whole situation. I have the utmost respect for him and his work.