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Artist Accuses Domino’s Pizza Of Plagiarism, And The Evidence Is Hard To Deny

Companies have been caught multiple times plagiarising artworks for their own gain, but this story is different. When Weinye Chen, a 30-year-old cartoonist from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, noticed that Domino’s Pizza Chile branch was using her funny comics on their Facebook page, she took action right away. After the initial silence, however, the company sent some messages that were a bit passive-aggressive, to say the least.

“I was shocked at first,” Chen told Mashable. “I’ve dealt with plagiarism before but usually by small, random social media accounts or unknown websites. Nothing like this. This has been my biggest copyright infringement encounter yet.” Chen, who has over 123,000 Instagram followers, shared a screenshot of the whole ordeal with her fans and it quickly went viral.

“I knew I needed as much support as I could get as I’ve never been in this position before,” Chen explained. “There have been many other cases where big corporations have stolen artwork from indie artists, and most of the time, the cases never get resolved, leaving the artists defenseless and helpless. So, I was really concerned about that.”

Scroll down to check out how the story of a villainous pizza restaurant and unpaid royalties unfolded!

More info: Facebook | Instagram

Artist Weinye Chen confronted Domino’s Pizza for plagiarism

dominos-pizza-stole-itsweinye-comic-plagiarism (3)

After Domino’s posted ‘their’ illustration on social media

dominos-pizza-stole-itsweinye-comic-plagiarism-(4)a

Looks familiar? Here’s the original work by Chen

dominos-pizza-stole-itsweinye-comic-plagiarism (2)

dominos-pizza-stole-itsweinye-comic-plagiarism (1)

Weinye took it to Facebook to explain that she wasn’t asked for permission

dominos-pizza-stole-itsweinye-comic-plagiarism-(4)ab

And when the company was confronted by her, their response was the worst

dominos-pizza-stole-itsweinye-comic-plagiarism-12

The internet wasn’t happy about it, too

domino-pizza-stole-itsweinye-comic-plagiarism (5)

domino-pizza-stole-itsweinye-comic-plagiarism (2)

domino-pizza-stole-itsweinye-comic-plagiarism (6)

Until Weinye finally took matters into her own hands

domino-pizza-stole-itsweinye-comic-plagiarism (4)

Let her explain how it unfolded

dominos-pizza-stole-itsweinye-comic-plagiarism-5

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People had more to say about the ordeal

domino-pizza-stole-itsweinye-comic-plagiarism (1)

domino-pizza-stole-itsweinye-comic-plagiarism (3)

domino-pizza-stole-itsweinye-comic-plagiarism (7)

What’s your take on this situation?

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What do you think ?

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stellermatt 6 years ago

totally thought the girl in the cartoon had a massive moustache... can't not see it now.

44points

Ross Carter 6 years ago

Great! Now I can't unsee it!

16points

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Paul K. Johnson 6 years ago

Thanks a lot. Now I can't not see it either.

7points

Liz dJ 6 years ago

I can’t either, now! Thanks a lot... xD

7points

Aahzmandus Pervect 6 years ago

Oh, yeah! I see it!

6points

mbergen 6 years ago

I saw the same thing lol!

4points

Justin Dodson 6 years ago

SAME!!!!!!! I had to look at it again and again

2points

Echo 6 years ago

Alright I went back and check. Now I can't not see it now as well. Hehe. ;)

1point

Ed Brandon 6 years ago

Interesting that at least two of the people supporting her intellectual property rights stole someone else's images to make their points. Dominos should know better of course, but...pot... kettle...black.

5points

Jill Rhoads 6 years ago

I think the difference is that Dominoes was actually making money from her content. A true meme however is a derivative work (where there is no money involved and the artwork itself is not co-opted) that is created to make a point and therefore can be considered free speech.

7points

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Sandwich Lover 6 years ago

Ohhh man hahaha now I see it 😂😂😂😂

5points

Gayle Bynum Cardosa 6 years ago

This happened to my brother. He is a professional photographer and I happened to see Asus cell phone using one of his photos in their ads on a Japanese website. After obtaining a lawyer they paid him a fairly measly sum and that's that. Now I see his photo everywhere on the internet being used for phone wallpaper and he was never really compensated. He said live and learn. wider.png

3points

Gayle Bynum Cardosa 6 years ago

Oh, I should add that his work wasn't on FB. It was on Weebly and I believe it even had a watermark.

2points

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Beth 6 years ago

This is so pointless. Dominoes could easily have posted the original artwork, with a credit for the artist and been completely fine.

3points

Aunt Messy 6 years ago

Not without permission, and NOT without paying for it. If you think all you have to do is post a credit for the work you steal, prepare to get sued. NO ONE has the right to steal the intellectual property of others.

15points

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Eduardo Del Mañsfiéld 6 years ago

Technically... the cartoon strip is a plagiarization of the original photo meme. As such this artist legally doesn't own her cartoon strip... and actually owes the original photographer a license fee.

2points

Rat Face Roy 6 years ago

As long as it's royalty free, stock photos are for free use by the public...

3points

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Jill Rhoads 6 years ago

I don't think you can say that it was a "direct copy of the original photo meme" since the author furthered developed a concept in order to add her own point of view ("parody"). If she had used the original image then you might have had a point here, but since she actually drew everything herself, she didn't even come close to copyright infringement. If she had used the actual image, then it too would most likely fall under "fair use" for the same reason since it is being used as parody.

1point

Wendy 6 years ago

Yeah, I’m interested to see how she is going to feel when the stock image company sends her a cease and desist...

-2points

Dragonet 6 years ago

Dominos pizza isnt even good. It tastes like sh*t

1point

Rainbow screen 6 years ago

They just got *Puts on sun glasses* Memed yyeeaaaaaaaahhhhhhh

1point

Derpicorn 6 years ago

I hate when people take credit for other people’s work... The creator might have worked for hours and someone just takes it in three minutes.

1point

Tmntgirl3 6 years ago

Jees... I mean, what the heck?! They could have just asked her for her permission and offered to pay!

1point

Jared West 3 years ago

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

0points

Cenk Karaferya 6 years ago

Money shuts everyone up...

0points

Aleksandra Sylwestrowicz 6 years ago

There were to many stuff concerning Dominos Pizza, might just as well quit buying those? Stealing artwork is horrendous. As a corporation they could make it their poster or commercial... Making it a stolen mem made them look stupid.

0points

Aleksandra Sylwestrowicz 6 years ago

Pizza is life, pizza is my favorite.... But the thing they did to the artist .... Speechless.

0points

JustAYugiohFan 6 years ago

That employee had issues...at least the artist got mula out of it

0points

Rob Chapman 6 years ago

I can't believe I just wasted my time reading that whole thing

0points

Echo 6 years ago

Going back to look so I can can't not see it now. :)

0points

iblowsheep 6 years ago

well maybe stylistically it's similar but the idea came from a meme that;s been around awhile so it's not liek it was really original to start with

0points

Финикс Дэ Лионь 6 years ago

This is why you never post your work on FB. Nobody reads the fine print! Yes, Dominos should have given credit where due, but remember, Copyright regulations in your country may not be applicable in another country. Facebook Statement of Rights and Responsibilities A.Sharing Your Content and Information a.When you publish content or information using the Public setting, it means that you are allowing everyone, including people off of Facebook, to access and use that information, and to associate it with you (i.e., your name and profile picture).

0points

Jonathan Eatsalot 6 years ago

Lesson: stop posting your artwork on the internet without embedded watermarks & copyright

-2points

Monika Rhodes 6 years ago

Legally- it's still your work and therefore it's protected. Even without watermarks and as you see here the work wasn't 100% the same and it's still stealing if not asked for permission etc.

4points

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Lin Jun Lee 6 years ago

She had embedded watermarks though

2points

SweetMamaP 6 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Sam Kunz 6 years ago

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Lazy Panda 6 years ago

Nowhere is there any proof that artist has ever copied that and the Domino's one is obviously the same just take off the words, most people can do that

0points

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Sykz 6 years ago

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Jonathan Eatsalot 6 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Anthony Talak 6 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

POST

stellermatt 6 years ago

totally thought the girl in the cartoon had a massive moustache... can't not see it now.

44points

Ross Carter 6 years ago

Great! Now I can't unsee it!

16points

Load More Replies...

Paul K. Johnson 6 years ago

Thanks a lot. Now I can't not see it either.

7points

Liz dJ 6 years ago

I can’t either, now! Thanks a lot... xD

7points

Aahzmandus Pervect 6 years ago

Oh, yeah! I see it!

6points

mbergen 6 years ago

I saw the same thing lol!

4points

Justin Dodson 6 years ago

SAME!!!!!!! I had to look at it again and again

2points

Echo 6 years ago

Alright I went back and check. Now I can't not see it now as well. Hehe. ;)

1point

Ed Brandon 6 years ago

5points

Jill Rhoads 6 years ago

7points

Load More Replies...

Sandwich Lover 6 years ago

Ohhh man hahaha now I see it 😂😂😂😂

5points

Gayle Bynum Cardosa 6 years ago

3points

Gayle Bynum Cardosa 6 years ago

Oh, I should add that his work wasn't on FB. It was on Weebly and I believe it even had a watermark.

2points

Load More Replies...

Beth 6 years ago

This is so pointless. Dominoes could easily have posted the original artwork, with a credit for the artist and been completely fine.

3points

Aunt Messy 6 years ago

15points

Load More Replies...

Eduardo Del Mañsfiéld 6 years ago

2points

Rat Face Roy 6 years ago

As long as it's royalty free, stock photos are for free use by the public...

3points

Load More Replies...

Jill Rhoads 6 years ago

1point

Wendy 6 years ago

Yeah, I’m interested to see how she is going to feel when the stock image company sends her a cease and desist...

-2points

Dragonet 6 years ago

Dominos pizza isnt even good. It tastes like sh*t

1point

Rainbow screen 6 years ago

They just got *Puts on sun glasses* Memed yyeeaaaaaaaahhhhhhh

1point

Derpicorn 6 years ago

I hate when people take credit for other people’s work... The creator might have worked for hours and someone just takes it in three minutes.

1point

Tmntgirl3 6 years ago

Jees... I mean, what the heck?! They could have just asked her for her permission and offered to pay!

1point

Jared West 3 years ago

0points

Cenk Karaferya 6 years ago

Money shuts everyone up...

0points

Aleksandra Sylwestrowicz 6 years ago

0points

Aleksandra Sylwestrowicz 6 years ago

Pizza is life, pizza is my favorite.... But the thing they did to the artist .... Speechless.

0points

JustAYugiohFan 6 years ago

That employee had issues...at least the artist got mula out of it

0points

Rob Chapman 6 years ago

I can't believe I just wasted my time reading that whole thing

0points

Echo 6 years ago

Going back to look so I can can't not see it now. :)

0points

iblowsheep 6 years ago

well maybe stylistically it's similar but the idea came from a meme that;s been around awhile so it's not liek it was really original to start with

0points

Финикс Дэ Лионь 6 years ago

0points

Jonathan Eatsalot 6 years ago

Lesson: stop posting your artwork on the internet without embedded watermarks & copyright

-2points

Monika Rhodes 6 years ago

Legally- it's still your work and therefore it's protected. Even without watermarks and as you see here the work wasn't 100% the same and it's still stealing if not asked for permission etc.

4points

Load More Replies...

Lin Jun Lee 6 years ago

She had embedded watermarks though

2points

SweetMamaP 6 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Sam Kunz 6 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Lazy Panda 6 years ago

Nowhere is there any proof that artist has ever copied that and the Domino's one is obviously the same just take off the words, most people can do that

0points

Load More Replies...

Sykz 6 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Jonathan Eatsalot 6 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Anthony Talak 6 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Related on Bored Panda

Artist Accuses Domino’s Pizza Of Plagiarism, And The Evidence Is Hard To Deny

Artist Weinye Chen confronted Domino’s Pizza for plagiarism

After Domino’s posted ‘their’ illustration on social media

Looks familiar? Here’s the original work by Chen

Weinye took it to Facebook to explain that she wasn’t asked for permission

And when the company was confronted by her, their response was the worst

The internet wasn’t happy about it, too

Until Weinye finally took matters into her own hands

Let her explain how it unfolded

People had more to say about the ordeal

What’s your take on this situation?

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