Fab Food 1Malaysia (Ipoh Hawkers’ Fest 2009) – Blatant Plagiarism?!
December 24, 2009 | 1,607 viewsUPDATED : I have received two e-mails of apology, one from the designer of the flyer, and another from a representative of MCA Ipoh Timur. Apologies have been accepted and this issue has been laid to rest.
‘Tis the season to be jolly, and I don’t really wanna project a grumpy image ala The Grinch. But when your pictures are blatantly ripped off from your blog, without prior notifications nor credits given when they’re supposed to, I could not help but feeling somewhat cheated. Plagiarism at this time and age may seems rampant (given the era of social networking and seamless-connectivity), but this incident had me furious initially, confused the very next, and in the end I was somewhat amused.
Why? Because my photos were stolen and used for a campaign jointly organized by Tourism Malaysia and MCA of Ipoh Timur (both governmental bodies in Malaysia), to promote the recently initiated food portal named Fabulous Food 1Malaysia – With a month long campaign this December, highlighted with food fests all over Malaysia.
This promotional flyer was distributed and reached my hands yesterday night. I was well aware of this event from The Star (read article HERE, dated 22nd December 2009). But never would have imagined the publicity campaign took a most wicked turn on its own, by indulging in shortcuts and plagiarism.
Out of the 15 foods shots above, at least 12 were mine. I was astounded and speechless at the moment I was browsing the A4-sized flyer, for I instantly recognized some of the food pics from my previous posts. Not to say they’re professionally-shot pictures or anything; in fact some of the pictures were taken with my cheapo 3.2megapixel camera phone back then, when I have yet to purchase my Lumix LX3.
No contact numbers, e-mail addresses nor identity of the PR company which printed these was available.
So what would YOU do if you’re in my shoes? On one hand, I’m feeling mighty pissed-off for they took the easy way out and acted like thieves. But on the other hand, this event will no doubt increase awareness and general interest on Ipoh’s most famous Hawker Food, a notion I fully support for this is one of the MAIN reason I’m blogging about Ipoh food anyway.
Details for the Event :
IPOH HAWKERS’ FEST 2009
25-27 DECEMBER 2009
LOCATION : PUSAT MAKANAN RAINBOW CITY
(This is the famous stretch of hawker stalls at Tong Sui Kai aka Dessert Street)
You think J2Kfm’s motormouthing without substantial evidences? Hop over to the following posts, and do simple comparisons …
Mee Kari Ipoh Garden @ Jalan Pasir Puteh
Teluk Intan Famous Glutinous Rice @ New Weng Fatt, Ipoh Garden South
Canning Garden Famous Chee Cheong Fun
Kam Hor Tauge Ayam/Bean Sprouts Chicken @ Ipoh Garden
Ah Leng Char Koay Teow @ Jalan Dato Keramat, PENANG
## And with that, J2Kfm would like to wish all the readers … a MOST Merry X’mas, and a splendid Happy New Year! ##
I have a feeling it’s the designer who took all the pictures through Google.
[Reply]
As a consolation, J, u should be honored that your pics are in the flyer instead of mine….hahahhaha… sorry… no offense…
yes, they should ask your permission ..at least show some integrity and respect…
anyway, thanks for the information.. i think these few days, that place will be heavily jammed.. maybe i will drop by tomorrow night!!
[Reply]
Oh dear… what an embarrassment and disgrace to the first ever government food portal! Can’t trust them to come out with something original, can we?
.-= iamthewitch´s last blog ..Macau Day 7: Fisherman’s Wharf, The Venetian & Hawaiian Host =-.
[Reply]
Well….you should give them a call…..We definately want to know what’s their brilliant response.
Ho Ho Ho…Merry Xmas
http://www.matcha.com
[Reply]
Man, that sucks doubly cos you’re in an awkward position seeing that you support Ipoh food… 🙁
[Reply]
Well my cikgu camera says once it is on the net, copy right can’t even do anything. But i agree with mr Z call them and see what they say!
Anyway, take it easy, have a good christmas 🙂
[Reply]
they are really really really bad for taking ur photos without ur permission. Ewww!
[Reply]
Have a Merry Christmas! And you should be honoured that your photos were deemed so great enough to be on the leaflet of a government campaign…although they should have been courteous enough to inform you and seek your consent given that it was as much as 12 photos of yours…and not just 1,2 or more (even that requires consent!)
[Reply]
merry xmas!
[Reply]
I think you should do something about it. Credit must be given where it is deserved. But since you have complained about it on ur blog, hopefully the person who did this will ask u next time :p haha, merry xmas~!
[Reply]
Hmm…if my photos were plagiarized, I would be honoured at first, because people don’t plagiarized unsubstantial work, then, as it sinks in, I’ll feel annoyed, because no credits were given back to me.
Sue, I say, the tourism ministry, for a few million bucks, then laugh all the way to the bank, and become a full time food blogger. Hey, kidding only la…
Time 12.12 on 25th Dec, 2009, soo…….Merry Christmas everybody!
[Reply]
honestly, just make it known to whoever is in charge that the photos were ripped off. at least the superiors know whats going on. like ching sed, it cud prolly be some fucked up lazy designer who just took frm google
[Reply]
MCA Ipoh Timur.
Nuff said!
[Reply]
great blog..can we having a link exchange with my club sit http://www.myalza.com? if can contact me myalza@live.com
Jenny
[Reply]
i can’t believe these type of so-called stealing of intellectual property coming from goverment agency. you should call them to voice your concern and unhappiness on the whole episode. like what rubinho mentioned credits must be mentioned on the poster (these i’m not sure whether they did mentioned in any fine prints form)… anyway you should felt honoured as all your hardworks come to light and being notice… merry christmas.
[Reply]
i think u should sue them….
[Reply]
Merry Xmas!! ^_^
Sorry to hear that your pictures were taken without permission, usually what other bloggers or photographers do would be editiing the pictures they are about to post by having their website inprinted with the picture itself to avoid plagarism. I’m not saying you can’t reverse it, but it’s a better idea than having ntg and letting people taking it without proper acknowledgement of your efforts.
Damn it’s in front of my alma mater! I wish I can fly back now, instead of sitting here missing all the food from Down Under. T.T
[Reply]
well i am thoroughly disgusted that a government sponsored campaign would resort to something like this. you’d think the PR companies they hired would show a lil more professionalism by either buying stock photos or at the very least getting your permission to use the photos! i’m sure any of us, if approached for permission to use our photos would gladly oblige!!
i do hope this episode won’t ruin your christmas and holidays though!
merry christmas to ya! 🙂
[Reply]
Sorry to hear about this unfortunate incident 🙁
Merry Xmas and Happy New Year!!
[Reply]
I think you need to print your blog name on the photo instead of the food name or restaurant’s name .
You should find out who is the culprit behind this !
[Reply]
I think its not hard to find out the company that printed/designed the flyers. I’ would do somethin abt it.. I nvr liked being ‘cheated’ upon. However, it is entirely your decision.
On a jollier note…Merry Xmas!
[Reply]
The least they should have done would be to give credit to your website for the pics … a trick would be imbed your pics with a watermark of your website address
[Reply]
Thanks everyone, for the encouraging, and equally flaming responses. 🙂
As of now, I decide to let the issue slip, and probably thinking of popping over to the Food Fest to have a look at the event instead.
Merry X’mas to everyone !!!
[Reply]
Fab Food 1Malaysia’s Ipoh Hawkers Fest 2009 – How MY Food Photos Were Plagiarized | Motormouth From Ipoh – A Malaysian Food Blog…
Read about how my food pictures on my blog were stolen by Tourism Malaysia on behalf of their Ipoh Hawkers’ Fest 2009 campaign….
You are great! 🙂
[Reply]
SInce it is Xmas – forgive them . . . . . . . . .
[Reply]
What a strange situation – for it to be both a compliment and an insult at the same time…. 🙁
Oh well, good of you to not let it stress you out.
Hope you’re having a great Christmas and that your New Year will be even more wonderful. 🙂
[Reply]
what do expect when we have a Money Collecting Association, they collect the money by stealing from others.
[Reply]
I’ll be pissed too. Just an email to ask for permission is not hard ma.
Anyway by linking this post to theirs… hehe
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
[Reply]
Wow? That really happened? Goodness. 🙁 Sorry to hear that.
[Reply]
i think you should have watermarks on your photos..
smth that has your link to it.. =)
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
September 16th, 2010 at 10:22 pm
Thanks Ken. Thought about it, but then again … the watermark will somewhat spoil the picture? Not good with watermark. Maybe I will do a translucent one in the future.
[Reply]