Wednesday, March 04, 2015

Imitation isn't flattery. It's Stealing




Wait? That’s not LookUp advertising?
Yes. It’s not LookUp the elegant dictionary advertising. It’s another supposedly “visionary” startup which has just begun its campaign called LOOK UP. 

As the co-creator of LookUp ( A dictionary app for the iPhone ), I have a message for housing.com:
In the ad, promoting your “LOOK UP” campaign, you call yourself visionary, hardworking and game changing. Visionary. Hardworking. Game Changing. That’s What you aren’t! (Or at least that’s what you show us, when you so shamefully copy our branding and spin out an advertising campaign on it!)

This is what our brand looks like: 

Just as much of a growing brand housing.com is in it’s space, we too although small are in a similar position in the app business.

Blatantly copying our brand and logo isn’t right. I’m not sure how your conscience allows you to do this. Some may say, Imitation is the best form of flattery. But Personally, I’m not flattered. We spent a lot of time in making our logo, deciding the name. I’m not flattered by you blatantly stealing our identity. To quote Sir Jonathan Ive, “Imitation isn’t flattery. It’s stealing.”

Sincerely,
Vidit Bhargava
Creator, LookUp: An Elegant Dictionary
Cofounder, The Tangible Apps

If you haven't tried LookUp yet, here's a link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lookup-an-elegant-dictionary/id872564448?mt=8