Theif in the night!

Okay, It's Pugs again, So, I'm really pissed off at this crap, About two- three weeks ago, an old friend came up to me and asked if I could do this rad idea he thought up for a tattoo, I was all game, Untill, he shows me his idea! His idea wasn't his idea at all! I knew Iv'e seen the picture before. So, I look through all my old tattoo mags I had, and there it was, My old friend totally just traced over someone's custom sleeve and asked me to ink it for him! I told him that I was sorry, But I just couldn't do that piece for him , no matter what! It went against my ethics, Then I explained why, telling him It's like an unwritten law to never, nerver steal another artist's hard work and ideas! So, a few days ago I ran into him again and I see on his arm that the outline of the tattoo he asked me to do for him was freshly inked onto his arm! I was freakin' pissed off! We got into this huge argument about it, and he just doesn't get it! I don't know who I'm more pissed at the shop that did the copied work (which I choos to be the bigger man, and not spill their name ) Or, my friend ,Which even after my explanation and speech to him about how wrong it is to copy someone's talent and ideas, went right to someone else and did it anyways! I needed to tell someone that would understand where I'm coming from, So, Next time I see my "friend" I wanna know what you guys would say to him, cause right now, I feel like kickin' the shit out of him!! Thanks for your ears, Pugs

Well at least your name isn't attached to it and you won't have your reputation dragged through the mud. In regards to your friend, I don't think that non-artists really understand the big deal about that. In regards to the artist that did it, if he did know well then he's kind of a scumbag, however if he didn't know then that's going to suck for him. Imagine doing a great sleeve for your portfolio, submitting to magazines and such and then getting a barrage of emails about plagiarizm.

In more ways than one, tattoos are a reflection of the person who wears them.. In this case, your friend is an unoriginal copycat and advertises it with his ink.

Just another point of view...anytime you wear some decent ink or get published your work IS gonna be copied...sad fact but fact nevertheless..In my shop we copy NOTHING and in fact do VERY little flash and what little we do is improved by the artist...If someone brings us a tattoo mag and says" I want this tattoo" they are politely but firmly told that we just do not copy others work. But if your work or your tattoo is gonna be in a nationally sold magazine...it IS going to be plagiarized!!...T

Man, Ill tell ya.......Other peoples kids.....JEEZ!

I guess if they're gonna steal my design, I'd rather they did it to the letter than come up with a new and improved version. EEEEYIKES! How bad would that suck!?! Besides, it was mine first, so fuck em. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, LACK OF CREATIVITY, RESPECT, AND MOST ALL, BRAINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TCE

Personally, I think it's pretty low for any true professional to copy someone elses custom tattoo when you should know and respect what a custom tattoo means to that person. Yeah, I've heard the 'imatation is the most sincere form of flattery' story before and suppose it does make some sense, just don't think it applies to something as personal as a tattoo. Frankly, that's the reason I've never sent any photos into the tat rags and advise my clients not to either. It's a bitch when you really want to flaunt a tat you're really proud of (either the 'doer' or the 'wearer') but, the sad fact is that, if you do, you open up the probability not possibility that someone is going to take it someplace and someone is going to copy it(try? anyways) As someone else stated recently, I don't think most of the people wanting to steal it understand the 'wrong' but I would expect the 'artist' to. Unfortunately, as most of us know, all to often it's about the money, damn who you hurt, take advantage of or disrespect, just as long as you make that allfuckingmighty dollar. Personally, I never got into the Art of Tattooing for the money in the first place, I love what I do, the fact that I don't have to punch a time clock (or wear a fuckin suit), I meet a LOT of really cool people who pay me to inflict discomfort on their bodies, pay me decent money to wear my artwork for the rest of their lives (sometimes even tip me and/or bring/send gifts of appreciation) and, more often than not, come back to get another tattoo as well as refer their friends to me. Now,I ask you, what other profession can say that? So, come on, honor the profession, don't be a 'low-life', if you do you may reap some financial gain but you will never experience the really important and even more rewarding benefits.....Do

Doc I like yer style my friend...You aren't all that far from me and I think I am just gonna have to pop up and visit one of these days...just to sit and bullshit ,argue and drink coffee all day!...TAz

Taz,you'd be more than welcome, just let me know when you're gonna make it so I can make sure I won't have any appointments that day, hell, I might even close for the day (I can do dat, it's my joint)...Doc