S14 Kouki Design Theft

[OBEEWON]

This is a heads up to designers, engineers etc on here. I know Bigs, AKSamurai, and a few others do design work. This is something you should read, hopefully you know already.:

I now kind of understand what companies feel like when someone comes out with a rep./knockoff.

A company in the UK called AeroKit held a design contest on FB. Against my better judgement I entered. As soon as I submitted the design I was told that regardless of who won they wanted to produce my design. The rules were the first design to 1k likes won and would get a bunch of useless crud, but most of all credit for the design. Long story short, AeroKit found an "out" not to give credit for the design claiming that it never reached 1K likes and that the design was different from what I submitted. Basically kick rocks. For a while they didn't produce it until I saw my bumper on a car in a RANDOM video in the UK.

*My name has been changed so that I do not contract EBola

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7463/15647709891_5917bc48ac_b.jpg
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5605/15464250728_e9b6222d15_o.jpg
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5613/15463758459_bcaf402074_n.jpg
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3934/15647710131_b63a9acded_n.jpg
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3949/15464826200_4186940014_o.jpg

I have a lawyer on stand by, but really all I want is a bumper and credit for the design.

The moral of the story is: Do not flippin' do design contests. They are a way to get cheap/free labor. Your work is only as valuable as you make it. If you work for free then you not only cheapen your work but every other designer out there too. I knew this but chose to do it anyway.

Also Beyonce is a man.
The evidence is clear.
But mostly STOP DOING FREE DESIGN WORK. Not only are S-Chassis owners cheap, the companies that cater to them are too.

[LEG1T]

I think this company is shit for doing this. I also think that if they do intended to move forward make and sell these it could be to your ultimate benefit once the legal book is thrown at them, but the bottom line is, yes they are wrong for this.

oh and I think you design work is dope, i see a few stuffs on the gram keep it up!

[HORShi]

What the fuck?

Talk about shrewd, If it was me, I would go on a head hunt for them hoes. That is crazy as hell. I understand that you truly just want your credit and a bumper, but, I truly feel bad for the possible other people who HAS experience what you just encountered but have no resources or financial backing to action. ESPECIALLY if it's by the same company

Your designs is banging homie, and I wish you luck man.

[nathanong87]

wow this sucks. i remember this contest. aerokits need to be boo-ed pronto.

aerokits, u need to man up on your part of the contest.

http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/boo_this_man_half_baked.gif

[Mr.Doback]

Beavo Laude....got more head than he got body.

[rbs14kouki]

I just posted this on my facebook ! Trying to help abit with those thef in our car community

[OBEEWON]

I appreciate the support guys. I'm not the type of person who is vindictive but out of principle if they don't make good I will have to.

wow this sucks. i remember this contest. aerokits need to be boo-ed pronto.

aerokits, u need to man up on your part of the contest.

http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/boo_this_man_half_baked.gif


LOL +2 for the gif. I miss Chapelle Show.

Beavo Laude....got more head than he got body.

+2 for catching that reference!

[EJ8 944]

Wow, what a low move on their part.

[OBEEWON]

Wow. I just realized that I did get the number of likes they wanted and then some.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7523/15465547138_4576d57d3e_b.jpg

[imotion s14]

the irony would be if some copied it and put them out of business.

[ezza]

il share this too

i just about had some respect for them for actually appealing for original designs rather than ripping off well known brands

thats gone now lol

obee pm me your fb dude

[onehundredoctane]

Rendering/concept looks 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 times better than their finished product.

[coty_garcia]

This front bumper with 326 fenders :wackit:

[ixfxi]

You got jacked like one of those Nigerian scams...

and thats dwight....

dwhight around yo lips

[bigs]

that's messed up man. on the plus side, the render looks much better

[Bokeh]

I hope karma bites them in the ass. Great job rendering OP.

[gearhead55]

That's fucked up man. that render does look awesome. good luck getting this sorted out

[silviasandbeer]

What can you do?
The Company is in the uk and your... Not.
Your design is very nice and i like it a lot
I just wanna know what you can actually do ..legally

I hope you get what you deserve man. This is nice !

[Malik]

I know this story All Too Well!

[AKsamuraiS14]

Damn dude. That sucks bro, I remember I spoke to you about this and I was going to send them some of my renderings too. Hope you get this situated and get what you deserve. Keep me posted. I'm still sitting on all my renderings

[Tempo]

Just lurked through their photos and found the design pic, gave them a peace of my mind :rl:

[OBEEWON]

Thanks for the support dudes. I'm still waiting from a response from them. If not I will speak to my lawyer and see what my options are.

[stevenrapids]

Sucks that companies are like this. Hope it all works out, that is a badass rendering though man, bravo.

[rawgarage]

damn they trippin, shits super dope btw

[Chl_drifter]

Lmao

Girl scout cookies 😌

[Chl_drifter]

Beavo Laude....got more head than he got body.

Lmao at this comment. Great bumper design BTW

[tricky_ab]

Damn that sucks my man... Your art looks a million times better then the crap that they produced.

[jdm-specs]

BOO AeroKit.... BOO AeroKit to hell.... I'm boycotting their products from now on...just for you lol

[jr_ss]

Obee- What ever came of this?

[OBEEWON]

Nothing. I kind of forgot about it, I should do something but to sue is going to cost a decent bit of $$. Anyone here a lawyer with space for probono work?

[GabeS14]

START A "GO FUND ME" or whatever it's called to cover lawyer costs!!!
Ill support you!
forward the link to all that initially voted and plaster it all over facebook and forums!!!!
strength in numbers!!

[OBEEWON]

I appreciate that homey. I will definitely take that into consideration.

[acslater9]

Damn dude that sucks...I have your back and will support you as well. #zilviabrothers

[Martino]

As a designer, I know what it's like having my work stolen.

I completely sympathize with this and support the direction you take with them.

[pancakes562]

Any update on whats going on? Hope everything is working out in your favor man

[zeitgeist]

If you were suing for a substantial amount of money you may have had a chance. But for a bumper its best to cut your losses. You would end up spending far more than its worth.Not to mention extreme dimensions and other companies are going to copy it as well. Take it as a lesson learned and move on

Btw hope you posted all this on sxoc, at least to try and hurt their business

[Nvkreationz]

Wow. I just realized that I did get the number of likes they wanted and then some.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7523/15465547138_4576d57d3e_b.jpg

Off topic but I spy my buddy and brothers comments. Design looks sick! I wouldn't wastetoo much time or money on this. They should own up or boycott them!