As a writer, there are very few things that bother me than when people take my content, my words, my thoughts, and pass them off as their own. I’m all for re-purposing content and sharing ideas, but blatantly ripping off someone for your own profit riles me to no end. So I’m taking this opportunity to tell you all about the recent atrocity that has happened to one of my favorite designers, Dan Cederholm.

Dan, web designer and icon creator extraordinaire and blogger over at SimpleBits, recently posted a screenshot on his Flickr photostream about a company called LogoMaid that has stolen the design of his SimpleBits logo and is selling it on their site for profit.

Now, I’m not here to take sides - okay, so maybe I am, I’m completely sure Dan was blatantly ripped off in this case - but what disturbs me most is that LogoMaid (as you can see in the comments to the screenshot) is actually threatening legal action against Dan. Instead of resolving this matter in a civil way - and really, instead of admitting their mistake - they have decided to become aggressive and reactionary, which isn’t helping their cause in any way.

If you have a Flickr account and have something to say about this, please do go to the thread and voice your concern. And Dan, if you ever do decide to take any legal action against LogoMaid, I might have a few dollars to send your way for the legal fund.

UPDATE: Daring Fireball says it quite nicely: “Intellectual property thieves have much in common with other vermin, such as cockroaches and rodents: they don’t like the light. Expose them and they hide.” I’m glad I’ve done my own tiny little bit to expose them, even though my readership is quite low.