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mathowie (2)

First there was the 'Splosion Man ripoff MaXplosion (and Capcom's non-response). Then there was a The Blocks Cometh clone (eventually taken down after the uproar). Now comes Lugaru, a wholesale copy of code, data, and name. (Android developers, you're not safe either.)
posted by kmz on Feb 3, 2011 - 23 comments

"(Sigur Ros) have never allowed their music to be used to sell anything. And they get asked a lot. Sometimes they get asked, say 'no' and then a few months later an ad will suddenly appear that sounds strangely familiar."
posted by infinitefloatingbrains on Oct 1, 2010 - 134 comments

Whether we first saw their works as parents, as children, as animation buffs, or just soft-hearted grownup viewers, Mefites have been quick to view, love, praise, analyze, criticize and follow the output of our favorite animation studio, a little company that started in the early '90s and came from behind to revitalize American animation. I am of course referring to the company behind Tiny Robots, What's Up: Balloon to the Rescue, The Frog Prince, Little Princess School, and The Little Panda Fighter -- Video Brinquendo. (Via. Previously.) [more inside]
posted by Countess Elena on Jun 27, 2010 - 16 comments

It's a charter school. It's a nightclub. Charter school? Nightclub!
posted by fixedgear on Mar 30, 2010 - 38 comments

Did you know that the distributor of Bill Plympton classics such as The Tune, Guard Dog and Guide Dog, and Plymptoons also do full-length CGI animations? Presenting Branscome International, LLC, your source for unique animations [more inside]
posted by c0nsumer on Dec 31, 2007 - 17 comments

Devolution: Nature's U-Turn is a new music video concept by rock band KoRn for their single Evolution. The premise? Mankind isn't evolving, it's devolving... getting dumber by the day. Wait. Haven't we seen this before? We have, and Devo's Gerald V. Casale isn't happy. "We denounce this as impostors playing with fire." he says of Korn on the Club Devo website. He elaborates in a new interview with Rolling Stone, including a possibility of their first new record in 20 years. Devo's also put out a new song, "Watch Us Work It", which appears in a commercial for Dell laptops [youtube link], with a official music video and single release to come.
posted by SansPoint on Jul 26, 2007 - 59 comments

Panic -- makers of "Shockingly Good Mac Software" and visually appealing marketing collateral (including their website) -- have documented the various places their branding has been honored flatteringly borrowed ripped-off on the internets. My favorite is the site selling one of their original icons for $199, promising "exclusive ownership." Is imitation really the sincerest form of flattery?
posted by pmbuko on May 5, 2006 - 27 comments

Complaints, but to what end? Aren't they just shouting into the ether (I couldn't find any complaints with business replies)? There are some gems though. Owned and run by Sagacity who have several other .coms lined up. On the Rip-off report they do get replies.
posted by tellurian on Sep 25, 2005 - 6 comments

Sometimes You Can't Fix You On Your Own. (Quicktime and Windows Media.) If there has ever been doubt about Coldplay's burning ambition to be U2, let it be put to rest.
posted by Saellys on Aug 5, 2005 - 85 comments

Tricksy those hobbitses What happens when two girls bilk LotR fans, trick the celebrities, and leave a volunteer holding the bag? Continued fan outrage and careful tracking.
posted by FunkyHelix on Jun 9, 2004 - 19 comments

MetaFilter is a hosting company now?
posted by mathowie on Mar 29, 2001 - 265 comments

I like this site, but it looks an awful lot like this other site. Have you no respect for the property of others, Stewart? Must you steal to make yourself feel good?
posted by ericost on Sep 20, 2000 - 29 comments

US Energy Department page a ripoff from Intel.com? I was just reading about the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve and while I was reading the page I had the strange feeling that the template was copied from another site. So is this some kind of generic template or was it an original Intel production?
posted by tomalak on Sep 9, 2000 - 9 comments

I found this site linked from a mom-n-pop design shop's awards page. Not only has this company stolen the Point Survey's 5% graphic, they're also using the old C|net background. Very original.
posted by mathowie on Jul 19, 1999 - 2 comments