Republican candidate Otten is a bold-faced thief

This is the most stunning, blatant, and outright "amazing he's getting away with it" case of artistic theft I've ever witnessed.

Les Otten, Republican candidate for Governor of Main, has the nerve to claim that his Web site is completely original, and not a copy of President Obama's site, because "some local guys designed it."

A picture is worth a thousand words:

President Obama's Web Site:

Les Otten's Web Site:

Need more proof it's a blatant ripoff?

Looking at them side by side and you can clearly see that Otten copied Obama's design. But a simple trip to Photoshop (and probably the site code itself) reveals that Otten not only copied the design, but the site is virtually identical in every way.

The lighter areas of the image below are President Obama's site, the darker areas are Otten's site.

Notice that the sizes of bars, etc. are exactly the same. The color schemes are identical not only in tones, but placement.

What's even more incredible is that Otten has actually had the nerve to post this tidbit: "It is unfortunate that the Maine Democratic Party is focusing on the design of www.lesotten.com rather than its content."

Now let me say that I've never been one to jump on someone who copies an idea. I've used other people's designs as inspiration for my own work plenty of times. I don't find it unbelievable that two people can have the same idea at all, and there are certain techniques and layouts that are simply unavoidable as far as layout goes. But to completely rip-off a design in this manner and to this extent is just inexcusable.

Wow

Fri, 07/03/2009 - 09:38 — Adam (not verified)

This is crazy. For a Republican to blatantly rip off a Democrat is kind of funny. Horrible, yes, but also ironic and humorous.

I'm curious about the reaction of the team that designed Obama's website.

I love the blue rainbow shaped section in the main body of the site. Everything else looks like it fits together and works well together but this part they weren't able to rip off from the same site so it looks completely out of place. Almost like it was stolen directly from somewhere else and slapped on this design.

Wow

Fri, 07/03/2009 - 10:15 — g33kguy

In reply to Adam's comment about the blue rainbow shaped section on the homepage - If you look at Insyt's portfolio (http://www.insyt.biz/html/portfolio.php?gal=163) you will see the blue rainbow is the level of work they normally produce. The rest of the site has been set up as a virtual copy of President Obama's website and could have been produce by someone Insyt hired. I say this based on reviewing Insyt's website portfolio.

To deny Les Otten's site has copied the look/feel of Obama's is shameful. They should know better. At a minimum on CNN, they could have at least acknowledged they were inspired by Obama's website. Heh.

i notice they're not proud

Fri, 07/03/2009 - 15:42 — gwells

i notice they're not proud enough of the design to put it in their portfolio. or they're embarrassed enough not to take credit.

But what about the logo?

Fri, 07/03/2009 - 17:34 — rcarmstrong (not verified)

I notice that all the comments so far have been focusing on the site's design. But, even more egregious, IMO (and with the potential for legal ramifications, I might add), is the fact that they've also clearly "been inspired" (*cough*ripped off*cough*) Obama's campaign logo.

Regardless of your politics, as creatives, we should all be outraged at this sort of behavior, and I, for one, think the site's and logo's designers (which I would venture a guess are one and the same) should come clean about their source of "inspiration".

The Logo

Fri, 07/03/2009 - 17:45 — Derek (not verified)

No way, the logos are completely different; Les has red where the blue is, and blue where the red is....

Outrageous

Sat, 07/04/2009 - 10:57 — Dan

This kind of behavior is outrageous and shouldn't be tolerated. I'm surprised the Obama people haven't made a bigger deal about it.

Do you read copyright notices?

Sun, 07/05/2009 - 07:47 — KnowingVisitor (not verified)

goto change.gov/about/copyright_policy

Yes

Mon, 07/06/2009 - 05:25 — James

Yes. Do you understand copyright notices?

The one you refer to covers the CONTENT of the site, not the DESIGN of the site. Meaning, you are free to re-publish the words on the pages, not the pages themselves.

BOO HOO... In case you

Tue, 07/07/2009 - 04:06 — Mac (not verified)

BOO HOO...

In case you haven't noticed Obama is president. So get over it.

Can't we all just get along?

he is? wow, i hadn't

Wed, 07/08/2009 - 06:49 — gwells

he is? wow, i hadn't noticed!

i guess if he's president, then copyright laws don't apply to people who rip him off!

I would guess he has other

Wed, 07/08/2009 - 08:30 — Mac (not verified)

I would guess he has other concerns that are far more pressing than some low life politican mimicking his web site and logo.

if you want to nit-pic, the logo used during President Obama's election, is similar to others I have seen in the past.

Chill out. Lifes too short to be pissing about little things.

If I went to court every time someone borrowed from my designs,
I wouldn't have time to be creative and my lawyer would be even
richer.

LOL! Come on, it's too

Thu, 07/09/2009 - 23:06 — UPrinting (not verified)

LOL!
Come on, it's too obvious. Why deny it?
Actually, the design is also included on the content of the site. So, the DP is still focusing on the important aspect.
And yeah, that Republican dude copied the design from "someone else." That's the review of the content. :D