Deja View: cummins&partners apologises to AFL and Aussie designer Tyson Beck for plagiarism

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AFL-Plagiarism.jpgThe Herald Sun in Melbourne reports that the AFL and its creative agency has apologised to an Australian designer Tyson Beck after it blatantly plagiarised his art work to help promote the AFL’s multicultural round.

The Herald Sun says Beck’s design of Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James has a striking similarity to the AFL’s artwork promoting this weekend’s round.

The Herald Sun does not mention the creative agency but it has been confirmed to CB that it is the AFL’s agency of record, cummins&partners, Melbourne.

When contacted by CB cummins&partners released this statement: “As soon as we found out what happened we contacted the artist and apologised. He’s been complimentary about how we’ve handled the process and we are compensating him and he is satisfied with how it’s been managed.  He’s also acknowledged that inspiration comes from multiple sources, and indeed this particular grid-style montage design occurs in many forms around the world – and has done so for many years. However, in developing our mood boards and reference, we acknowledge that this is way too close a representation.”

FRIDRICK-ART.jpgHowever, Beck’s work seems to be strikingly similar to a campaign (left) created by American artist Blaine Fridrick, who is the graphic designer of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Since this story has been posted one CB commentator believes the original use of this technique was for the poster promoting the 2008 feature film, Vantage Point (pictured bottom).

Vantage-Point.jpg