859 Print will steal your work! I created an original business card design and had it printed at 859 Print. I later discovered they had stolen the design and were using it on their own cards at a networking event. This is not a typical design at all and their cards were nearly identical to mine- it is very obviously copied. When I brought this to the owner's attention, my concern was brushed off in a patronizing manner. Instead of an apology, I received the following justifications for them stealing my work:
(1) "We allow our employees when they start to design or print any business card they would like" (A product created, produced, and distributed by and for a company is still the company's responsibility, even if a specific employee "did it".)
(2) " we don't require them to only use our main business card artwork which this is not" (It's irrelevant that they have more than one design in use)
(3) Its meant to "display our stocks not necessarily the design itself" (That is not the reality of how it was being used, and even if it was, its still using the design for gain without permission)
As a print and design company, they know better. There is no excuse for using a customer's work as their own without permission or even crediting the owner. It's unethical at best, and in many cases, illegal. So, designers, businesses, and marketing professionals- please know that if you send your work to them, it may be stolen! read more