The SpecWatch Papers

An dated anthology of SpecWatch Twitter bulletins and news reports. Online version.

Winning logo in design contest is auto-traced image from iStock. Final artwork still contains iStock watermark.

Free vector icon entered into 99designs & Crowdspring contests. Icon wins logo contest on Crowdspring.
2:38 PM Dec 23rd from web

"The contest holder has decided not to award a winner" When paying designers for their work is optional
2:03 AM Jun 23rd from web

"Sorry guys!!" Logo design contest is suspended after 9 designers have already submitted entries
1:12 AM Jun 23rd from web

Logo design contest timeline. Closed. Extended. Closed early. Past due.
12:53 AM Jun 23rd from web

"Currently investigating this project for suspicious activity" More Credit Card fraud on crowdsourcing sites
12:27 AM Jun 23rd from web

"I'm not entirely convinced that my design is a legit copy" Stock art wins logo design contest. Then doesn't
12:25 AM Jun 23rd from web

"Today, we sent the buyer 48 hours notice concerning this project" 48 hours turns into 3 months.
12:17 AM Jun 23rd from web

"Hope you feel the wrath of everybody who worked for nothing" $750 logo contest. 72 entries 37 designers No winner
12:12 AM Jun 23rd from web

Big logo design contest and crowdsourcing sites vulnerability: Credit card fraud. Designers pick up the tab
9:19 AM Jun 22nd from web

"Maybe there should be a new category: 'Guaranteed - Sort of" 99designs logo contest. 91 entries. 36 designers
8:46 AM Jun 22nd from web

"this contest holder is obviously not playing by the rules" Held 5 contests on 99designs without any winner
8:29 AM Jun 22nd from web

We're not going to debate the ethics and/or morality of design contests and crowdsourcing. So why SPECWATCH?
7:52 AM Jun 22nd from web

Horror stories of spec work? Examples of copied work being submitted to design contests or crowdsourcing sites? Hit us up @specwatch
7:48 AM Jun 22nd from web

"images were found online in the Google Images. They may be subject to copyright. Not sure."
7:45 AM Jun 22nd from web

Inspirational! Crowdspring used 99designs to design their logo http://99designs.com/contes...
7:19 AM Jun 22nd from web

"We hear you loud and clear" 99designs logo design contest. 518 submissions. 179 designers. No winner listed
7:14 AM Jun 22nd from web

"Will there be a decision on this anytime soon?" Crowdspring web design contest. Closed April 24.
7:03 AM Jun 22nd from web

"it's just a coincidence" 99designs logo design contest. 346 entries. 118 designers. No winner. CH taking ideas?
6:42 AM Jun 22nd from web

SPECWATCH propaganda - logos, banners and internet graffiti.
6:13 AM Jun 22nd from web

"It's past due. We're on it" Crowdspring logo design contest. Ended May 21 w/55 entries. As of June 22, no winner
6:08 AM Jun 22nd from web

We're not going to debate the ethics and/or morality of design contests and crowdsourcing. So why SPECWATCH?
2:16 PM Jun 21st from web

"They make a fake account and sumit a design in their own contest so they don't have to pay! haha."
1:01 PM Jun 21st from web

Spec Work is Evil | Why I Hate Crowdspring by Andrew Hyde
Jun 21st from web

"Amount is too low for amount of work required" Package design contest withdrawn AFTER 64 designs are submitted
12:27 PM Jun 21st from web

"Am paying in total $230 for a logo and don't need to settle" Logo contest. 65 designs. 15 designers. No winner
12:10 PM Jun 21st from web

"I can't select a winner and I've wasted my money" "99designs. $350 logo design contest. 54 entries. 25 designers
11:52 AM Jun 21st from web

"funds will be held until a chargeback is no longer possible" How poss. credit card chargebacks hold up payment
11:27 AM Jun 21st from web

T-Shirt design contest. Ended April 28 w/122 submissions. As of June 21, contests remains "past due, we're on it"
11:15 AM Jun 21st from web

Horror stories of spec work? Examples of copied work being submitted to design contests or crowdsourcing sites? DM us @specwatch
3:03 PM Jun 20th from web

Accusation of logo plagiarism on Crowdspring http://snurl.com/crowdsink Submission removed but creative still active
3:01 PM Jun 20th from web

"I BEG OF GUYS TO PICK A DAMN WINNER ALREADY!!!" $600 Logo contest. 79 entries. 44 designers. No winner http://99designs.com/contes...
2:53 PM Jun 20th from web

Crowdsourcing sites respect designer's time? $700 logo contest. 346 entries. 118 designers. No winner. http://99designs.com/contes...
2:46 PM Jun 20th from web

Winning logo design entry on Crowdspring http://tinyurl.com/mhbcl7 Similar clip art everywhere http://tinyurl.com/m4yqbq
1:42 PM Jun 20th from web

First SpecWatch Tweet
Design Crowdsourcing, Contest & Spec sites told graphic designers to "Evolve or Die". Let's take a look at what that evolution means.
1:37 PM Jun 20th from web