Do you ever look at a cover and think....

caleb72 · 06-18-2013, 08:59 AM

...I've seen this some place before?

So how often have you come across this? It's pretty common in the indie world, but I don't think I've seen it too often with bigger publishers.

theducks · 06-18-2013, 09:13 AM

The same photo with almost the same cropping. withe almost the same title placement.

BeccaPrice · 06-18-2013, 09:21 AM

Smart Bitches Trashy Books periodically does a post on look-alike covers, mostly from the trads rather than the indys.

HomeInMyShoes · 06-18-2013, 09:37 AM

Haha. Busted. Although I'm pretty sure when it's stock photography almost anyone can use the image in any way (depending on rights usage.) Almost every ERP-type software company has the same images everywhere. It's quite difficult to know which company you are looking at some times.

So which one do people prefer? I'm leaning left based on font, title placement, and frankly, I prefer green over orange. Although the eye is too close to left and top for me and throws the composition off quite a bit.

fjtorres · 06-18-2013, 09:43 AM

Try these:
http://www.loveandpublishing.com/blog/?p=231

Not identical but close enough to give somebody heartburn.

HarryT · 06-18-2013, 12:02 PM

I never look at book covers. My Kindle doesn't show them (or rather, I have it set not to show them) and they don't interest me.

Ravensknight · 06-18-2013, 12:24 PM

the only book covers I think about are the garish ones with a female in a steel bikini sporting a pair of double-Z's. And all I can think about is: HOW does she stay in her clothing?
Then I laugh and go read something else...

BWinmill · 06-18-2013, 03:42 PM

caleb72's example: they are probably using stock photographs. If that is the case, there's a small chance of ending up with virtually identical covers.

fjtorres' example: the blogger is full of themselves. Neckties are a common symbol of the business world and hanging one like a noose is not exactly an innovative idea. And the audacity of accusing them of ripping off her cover when her title is a rip-off of another author's title.

JSWolf · 06-18-2013, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWinmill

fjtorres' example: the blogger is full of themselves. Neckties are a common symbol of the business world and hanging one like a noose is not exactly an innovative idea. And the audacity of accusing them of ripping off her cover when her title is a rip-off of another author's title.

It's almost an identical layout. So yes, I do think that Crown Business did rip-off the cover design. Even if it's just a coincidence, now that the matter has been brought to Crown Business' attention, they should be changing the cover and if it's a pBook, pulling them from the shelves and replacing them with new covers.

BWinmill · 06-18-2013, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It's almost an identical layout. So yes, I do think that Crown Business did rip-off the cover design. Even if it's just a coincidence, now that the matter has been brought to Crown Business' attention, they should be changing the cover and if it's a pBook, pulling them from the shelves and replacing them with new covers.

I'm sorry, but it's doubtful that Crown Business' cover ripped off anything. The necktie as a noose is a common cultural reference. Do an images search and you will find it represented in multiple forms. One of those forms is virtually identical to the books' covers.

http://comps.fotosearch.com/comp/FCY...2-21636817.jpg
http://jimyaghi.com/wp-content/uploa...1/03/noose.jpg

Fluribus · 06-18-2013, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It's almost an identical layout. So yes, I do think that Crown Business did rip-off the cover design. Even if it's just a coincidence, now that the matter has been brought to Crown Business' attention, they should be changing the cover and if it's a pBook, pulling them from the shelves and replacing them with new covers.

Can a layout be protected by copyright?

Pulpmeister · 06-18-2013, 11:14 PM

For many months now Private Eye has been running a "Book-alike" column on the same theme. When you use stock photography for covers, instead of commissioning artwork as was done in the past (way back in the past), it's bound to happen. Specially given the number of new titles coming from all directions.

Xanthe · 06-18-2013, 11:33 PM

There's this image of a man and a woman in silhouette running in the mid-distance that's been used numerous times on the covers of a number of different paperbacks that I own.

AlexBell · 06-19-2013, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I never look at book covers. My Kindle doesn't show them (or rather, I have it set not to show them) and they don't interest me.

Could you tell us please how to set a Kindle to show book covers?

You've set your Kindle to not show covers, but I'm old enough and obsessional enough to prefer to see the book cover when the ebook opens for the first time.

caleb72 · 06-19-2013, 03:10 AM

The only reason I noticed for my example is that I happen to own the paperback for The Moth Diaries and I particularly liked the cover. It's a great book by the way.

I had looked up S E Hinton recently because some of her ebooks were released recently at reasonable prices. When I saw the cover of Hawkes Harbor I did a double-take.

As mentioned in the thread, if this is based on a stock photo, it's quite possible the second publisher just didn't know. I doubt there's any maliciousness going on - and this certainly happens quite a bit in the indie world.

06-18-2013, 08:59 AM	#1
caleb72 Indie Advocate Posts: 2,863 Karma: 18794463 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Kindle	Do you ever look at a cover and think.... ...I've seen this some place before? So how often have you come across this? It's pretty common in the indie world, but I don't think I've seen it too often with bigger publishers. Attached Thumbnails

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06-18-2013, 09:13 AM	#2
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,782 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	The same photo with almost the same cropping. withe almost the same title placement.

06-18-2013, 09:21 AM	#3
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,145 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	Smart Bitches Trashy Books periodically does a post on look-alike covers, mostly from the trads rather than the indys.

06-18-2013, 09:37 AM	#4
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	Haha. Busted. Although I'm pretty sure when it's stock photography almost anyone can use the image in any way (depending on rights usage.) Almost every ERP-type software company has the same images everywhere. It's quite difficult to know which company you are looking at some times. So which one do people prefer? I'm leaning left based on font, title placement, and frankly, I prefer green over orange. Although the eye is too close to left and top for me and throws the composition off quite a bit.

06-18-2013, 09:43 AM	#5
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	Try these: http://www.loveandpublishing.com/blog/?p=231 Not identical but close enough to give somebody heartburn.

06-18-2013, 12:02 PM	#6
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I never look at book covers. My Kindle doesn't show them (or rather, I have it set not to show them) and they don't interest me.

06-18-2013, 12:24 PM	#7
Ravensknight Serpent Rider Posts: 1,123 Karma: 10219804 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Sony 350; Nook STR; Oasis	the only book covers I think about are the garish ones with a female in a steel bikini sporting a pair of double-Z's. And all I can think about is: HOW does she stay in her clothing? Then I laugh and go read something else...

06-18-2013, 03:42 PM	#8
BWinmill Nameless Being	caleb72's example: they are probably using stock photographs. If that is the case, there's a small chance of ending up with virtually identical covers. fjtorres' example: the blogger is full of themselves. Neckties are a common symbol of the business world and hanging one like a noose is not exactly an innovative idea. And the audacity of accusing them of ripping off her cover when her title is a rip-off of another author's title.

06-18-2013, 11:14 PM	#12
Pulpmeister Wizard Posts: 2,502 Karma: 28893796 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Perth Western Australia Device: kindle	For many months now Private Eye has been running a "Book-alike" column on the same theme. When you use stock photography for covers, instead of commissioning artwork as was done in the past (way back in the past), it's bound to happen. Specially given the number of new titles coming from all directions.

06-18-2013, 11:33 PM	#13
Xanthe Plan B Is Now In Force Posts: 1,894 Karma: 8086979 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Surebleak Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2	There's this image of a man and a woman in silhouette running in the mid-distance that's been used numerous times on the covers of a number of different paperbacks that I own.

06-19-2013, 03:10 AM	#15
caleb72 Indie Advocate Posts: 2,863 Karma: 18794463 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Kindle	The only reason I noticed for my example is that I happen to own the paperback for The Moth Diaries and I particularly liked the cover. It's a great book by the way. I had looked up S E Hinton recently because some of her ebooks were released recently at reasonable prices. When I saw the cover of Hawkes Harbor I did a double-take. As mentioned in the thread, if this is based on a stock photo, it's quite possible the second publisher just didn't know. I doubt there's any maliciousness going on - and this certainly happens quite a bit in the indie world.

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