Regarding Erik Barzeski’s comment about Cyndicate app icon from this blog:
The icon was always our idea – we simply asked Adam to implement it. Then, when we hired another icon designer, we gave him the same description.
Adam did not come up with any part of the icon on his own – we told him what colors we wanted, where we wanted the “feediconâ€? located, and even what direction we wanted the hat to point.”
I’m not going to go into how incorrect that statement is here but if Erik actually believed that to be true, he failed to realize that ideas are worth very little, it’s the execution that’s worth its weight in gold.
Let’s have another look at Cyndicate’s original and released icons connected together side by side:
They fitted like any good puzzle set should. The chance of this being a coincidental by the same description is always possible but in this case it doesn’t hold water at all, it’s a blatant rip off pixel-by-pixel.
It’s sad when one refused to give credit where it’s due, claimed ownership over the idea, denying that he ever threatened a lawsuit against me and threatened MacUpdate that he will pull the app from their website if MacUpdate refused to remove the commentary thread about the icon.
Weak form of damage control?
Adam,
Don’t get upset over this. It isn’t worth it. We all know who the better designer is here. We also all know that the current icon was a rip off. There is no question about it.
You’re very talented, and no one, at least no one who has respect for design, is questioning that.
Keep up the great work!
- Mike
I SUPPORT YOU ADAM!
Yo Bro,
We’ve got your back. If we catch this Erik feller again, we’ll kick his butt!
-DJCarbon43
I know Fernando Lins, and I’m pretty sure that he wouldn’t rip an icon. I imagine the fault is more of the people who requested it, who didn’t want to use yours, but wanted it similar from someone else, I bet.
Either way, I like the icon, both of yours, and I admire both designers as well.
I am behind you fully. Even when the design has been declined and the case closed, ownership remains with the designer. This is a very childish stance from the application developers and I’d consider enough words to be said about it with this post.
Keep up the great work Adam, and don’t let the bad cases get you down.
Adam don’t let it get to ya bud. Yours was much better to begin with, but I can’t help ya for being a little pissed considering they stole your idea and likely didn’t pay ya a dime for it. I guess it just goes to show you need to watch who you work with, maybe you should take a break and work on a VisualHub icon replacement ;)
Take care bud.
Both icons are nice, but yours is definitely a little better.
Using it as a NewsFire replacement now.
Totally behind you!
Interesting to see how little people actually change. I had an initial argument with Erik a couple of years back when I got to know him through Freshly Squeezed Software. He really seems to be a quite opportunistic fella. This act seems to be no exception.
You’re extremely talented Adam and I think you know that. There are times to fight and there are times when not to. It’s not worth it, really.
OMG so much drama these days!
Adam, you are right that execution is what makes a great icon, rather than an idea alone.
That said, again, it’s just an icon, and everyone just needs to relax!
It’s not “just an icon” if your entire living is made off of designing icons. It’s intellectual property, and it was stolen.
That being said, I also would not sweat it. But just because it’s not that big a deal to random people like Josh (above poster), that doesn’t mean it is not a big deal to those that it involves.
This is serious stuff. It’s just such a shame.
Otherwise Adam, your work rocks. Keep it up, and don’t get discouraged.
Everybody likes a kidder, but nobody lends him money.
– Arthur Miller
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The just released Associated Press iPhone app has an uncannily similar icon: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects...