Zadi said:

I just sent in this inquiry to the YouTube Project Direct people:

Guys, can you explain why the intro looks so familiar to the Pixelodeonfest intro from this year? There were a lot of YouTubers at the event, and in fact we had a screening dedicated just to YouTube... so it has us a bit concerned as to why the Project Direct intro has such similar branding: http://pixelodeonfest.com/category/keynotes/

Sincerely curious.

Chuck Olsen said:

Huh.

Tim Street said:

I agree they look very similar but do you want to waist you precious waking hours dealing with this? Pick your battles. It’s not like they have a new show called “The Jet Setters with Dotty Zias” I don’t think they are going to throw a video festival called “PixelTube.” Other than what you’ve already done I would just move on. You are only going to occupy your brain with bad thoughts that will keep you from being creative and keep you from moving in the direction that you want to move in.

If you sued them the best-case scenario would be that you got some money and an apology. Do you really want to be known as “the people who sued Youtube and won?”

Or would you rather be known as the people who create really cool programming for kids? Just kidding, ;) (Sorry I couldn’t resist) Or would you rather be known as the people who create the best really cool programming for “Young Adults?”

My point is: You two work too hard already. You don’t need this. You need to get out to parties more often and who’s throwing the Halloween Party this year?

ILLUS said:

Yeah they do look a bit alike but I maye have to agree with the above. In today's lackluster creative market where people "ape" each other so frequently it is really no surprise. Hackin the "in style" is encouraged at almost every agency. No one wants originality they want what is cool at the moment.

It is really sad that someone probably got paid a lot more than you guys to create this hack crap for YouTube.

But seriously...99.9% of everything on YouTube is an unimaginative hack ripoff so it shouldn't shock that their festival is as well. Even the premise for the film entries is encouraging countless boring cliches and redundant subject matter.

You two do indeed work too hard to worry but I would be upset too. If you think you can get a big chunk of change sue the lame fuckers and expose the designer for the hack that he/she is. But if all it is going to do is give you a headache fuck it. Just find out who the designer is and call them out and be done with it.

Love ya!

Vu Bui said:

While I do agree with Tim and Adam I also think that the same attitude towards these things goes a long way towards allowing it to happen... so any action you can and do take is at least something... as long as it doesn't get too much in the way of what you are doing.

You can't work so hard at something and then just throw your hands up and shake your heads when you get ripped off. Their lack of creativity is not an excuse for this kind of infringement, and I agree entirely that with the amount of YouTube activities and attendance there was at Pixelodeon they are sure to have seen the site and videos.

You guys have always been so good at setting an example of responsibility and ethical practices in the "new media community", I'm sure that your decisions here will be looked at as an example as well. No pressure, though.

Lan Bui said:

I hope it was just a mistake and accidental, but that would be amazing if it was.

I would put time and energy into protecting the Pixelodeon brand. Next years Pixelodeon should not be mistaken for a YouTube event just because the branding looked similar.

jay dedman said:

The point is not to sue Youtube...but to call them out on their laziness. As one of the Pixelodeon organizers, I can attest to all the work our community out into the festival. Sucks that the Youtube creatives couldn't find their own style.

Since Youtube is such a huge beast, I worry that people will eventually think that Pixelodeon is biting THEIR style. So if anything, I'm glad Steve's post can serve as simply counter evidence.

missb said:

BITERS!

ryanne said:

yes, the reason for bringing this up is not to eventually sue anyone, it's just to point out that the style of a huge community effort is being copied by a huge company backed by google.

to me it feels like creatives at youtube felt either pixelodeon wasn't significant enough for anyone to notice these style "similarities" or that we did such a good job at creating an awesome event that they would obviously want to be associated with it. not sure if either feels flattering.

Jackson West said:

But do they have a promo featuring a hairy, naked man in a bathtub? No they do not. Point: Pixelodeon.

MarkDayComedy said:

The second thing I noticed was that the actual competition seems to be "based on" (ahem) ideas familiar to anyone who's ever entered the 48 Hour film contest. i.e. make a film using certain pre-defined objects and an obligatory line of dialog.
Having worked around graphic designers, I'm not surprised to see someone "draw inspiration" from, say, a nice Hatch Show Print Shop poster.

But usually, if you're going to "draw inspiration" from, say, a wine label, maybe you should be using it to find a new look for, say, a soup label.

Simply lazy or very opportunistic? I really couldn't say.

Josh Leo said:

ok here are my thoughts:

I had seen this starburst background MANY times since I use istockphoto.com I was surprised you used it when i saw the teaser site. here it is: http://tinyurl.com/2f8jh4

But they didn't use the blue color that also defined the pixelodeon look, they didn't use the font... by using this logic, we could say that the pixelodeon style was "borrowed" from this guy's poster: http://tinyurl.com/yv8r5p
that was posted to that website much before pixelodeon font, pixelodeon even used the same font...

I think that the starburst image is a great one, I also think it inspires people to go all the way with that aged old feel look as is clear in the film-flicker/aged poster feel of the media that uses this image.

Maybe the graphic designer that they hired didn't know about pixelodeon... the only reason I heard of it was because I know the people who organized it...

So what I am saying is that this is probably just an accident and that designers need to keep their finger on the pulse of what is going on out there...

Clintus McGintus said:

down with the TUBE!!!

josh leo said:

and you know I love you guys... no harsh criticism.. just devil's advocate...

VIVA Pixelodeon Festival!
VIVA Zadi and Steve!

ds said:

This may explain what might have happened.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKpS1KBTzUA

I don't think many people will confuse the two. Besides, not only is your name better, this is not as bad as you might think. My guess is you'll end up with more viewers. Hope so at least.

Steve Woolf said:

Like Jay and Ryanne said, nobody's suing YouTube. We just want to try and understand how this happened, and make sure there are not any points of confusion around Pixelodeon and Project:Direct.

Thanks everyone for your comments.

Aaron Flores said:

It's good you guys are covering the basis. Looks fishy to me. And I think we're all just naturally suspicious of corporate institutions.

Brandon said:

WOW! Thats not good.... Obviously YouTube did know about Pixelodeon, so do you think that maybe they did that on purpose?

ryan junell said:

Well to keep the dialogue interesting...

As the motion graphics designer of the pixelodeon piece... I ask, Can we really have it both ways? Demanding our own fair use of copyrighted material, yet crying "foul" when cool stuff that we make influences others?

I make stuff so that it WILL propogate through culture... and I find it completely flattering and mostly surreal when bits and bobs of ideas that I've tuned into and worked with show up somewhere else.

Its not so much that our original design was unique, I mean... we were biting 1900s carnival aesthetic. I can see the scenario where the youtube designer also followed the 1900s carnival aesthetic and the decision makers who approved the design (who may or may not have been influenced by pixelodeon) permitted the design to go out.

I just love making stuff, I guess... and when stuff shows up elsewhere I feel like its a quiet joy and privilege to know that we blazed the trail first-ish...

my .02,
ryan j.

ILLUS said:

Have to agree with Josh Leo about the originnality of the starburst, but I do agree with protecting your brand and identity.
In order to be fair we would have to trace the actual use of that style to its beginnings. While I think you guys used it nicely and that YouTube using it for a film festival too is weird...it's just the nature of our hacking society to use what is already established. Youtube could have gone in a million other directions, why choose that of all styles? Luckily the fonts are different but the vibe is there. I don't know...I would be pissed but I would just stay ahead of the game so the rest have to keep playing catch up.

Jay Dedman said:

If it was a toothpaste company that copied the look of the site then I could deal with the coincidence.

But Youtube is another video community.
They either heavily copied Pixelodeon on purpose...or are extremely out of touch with other online video events that Youtubers are a part of.

As has been said before, Steve post is not to get them to change their site. We simply wanted to bring awareness to Youtube's lack of originality. Awareness has now been brought.

rubber_wonder_boy said:

Imitation is flattering. That is a challenge - staying a head of "the game" by having to reinvent yourselves.

When I first heard of "Pixelodeon", one of the 1st things to cross my mind : is this an off-shoot of "Nickelodeon"? Gosh, I can remember Turkey TV, You Can't Do That on TV, etc. I was looking forward to remakes and reruns, etc. Well yeah, I now know there's a distinction amongst the "-odeon" offerings ("Pixel-" vs. "Nickel-") _ just as I'm sure that my 8yo nephew can tell the diff between YT and Pixelodeon.

As for the "D vs. G" bit - even YT was once D. Some day y'all be G's.

Hang in there and meet the challenge!
R_W_B

Sugar Puddin said:

Having hard-earned ideas stolen is painful and unjustified. The little guy is under represented in this country, (corporations are allowed to break civil & criminal laws with little consequence – and seldom pay tax). Why not get the money and the credit you deserve?

I don’t need to tell you how difficult it is to hold personal problems objectively & at arms-length. So it’s best to have a third party handle those matters

A concise letter outlining their error and the resulting damage; together with a reminder of the bad PR a lawsuit generates, would get their attention – And I submit their attention is all you really need – Allow me to explain:

Good litigation strategies & first strike, (formerly known as Shock and Awe until Rummy and the White House stole my idea), will maximize your strength to negotiate

My suggestion is to inspire their full attention and then to negotiate: Give them the right to use this material if they are willing to plug your good company. This would be beneficial and synergistic to both firms; and would likely develop good future relations

Besides, success comes easiest when people (and companies) are working together to help one another. I think if we give enough to the right people, we get everything we need in return. But sometimes the other guys simply have to be reminded. Standing up to the bully gets respect, and even cooperation! Great things can come out of this situation: dialog, cooperation, sharing resources, ideas & concepts

Epic-fu has given me innumerable resources; and, will continue to be one of my greatest learning assets.

I don’t mind giving an analysis of your options for free; nor charge for submitting good correspondence to the other party.

Just drop me a line and if I reach it in time
Then you can forget it
Go back to your job and slave away for your pay
Don’t let it get you annoyed
Let me keep you employed
Sugar Puddin will keep you free from worry all day