In September of 2002 this website unveiled a brand new
layout. Since the change in design we've recieved many compliments
from viewers on the easy viewing, navigation and appealing
layout. Evidently some have found the layout and colors
so appealing that they have felt the need to use them in
their own websites. No one has been as blatant in their
lack of creativity than the Champagne Horse Association.
On November 5, 2003, Stephanie
Clatterbuck, web designer and Vice President of CHA,
announced on the CHA
Yahoo E-Group (message #8120) that the website had undergone
a redesign. As you can see from the screenshots of the CHA
website to the right, the layout is amazingly similar to
the layout of this site and the colors are identical. Coincidence?
It's highly unlikely.
They say imitation is the finest form of flattery. Well,
this is technically copyright infringement and we're not
flattered. We have a clearly defined Copyright
Statement which can be accessed at the bottom of each
page of this website. Clearly Ms. Clatterbuck and CHA have
no understanding of exactly what being copyrighted means.
Or perhaps copyright applies only to CHA and websites Ms.
Clatterbuck designs.
Placing a copyright notice on a website that contains infringing
materials does not transfer ownership of the material to
the person, company or organization doing the infringing.
