Flattery or fraud?

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but where do you draw the line? Being inspired by someone or wanting to be like someone else is one thing, but if you just take their idea and pass it off as your own isn’t that fraud?

You watch brilliant movies come out of the US and think ‘where do they come up with these ideas?’ Funnily enough they’re remakes of movies made in other countries. They do mention that in the credits. Songs, over and over, the same song sung slightly different by someone else and topping the charts. They do mention that in the credits too.

It’s hard to be the little guy and watch someone else making mileage off your idea. It’s hard to decide whether to be flattered or offended. You had a thought and shared it and someone else takes it and runs with it then gets to lap up the credit for their apparent creativity just because more people can hear them than can hear you.

Austin Kleon says to ‘steal like an artist’ but he doesn’t mean plagiarise, skim or rip off. I’m still at the ‘show your work’ like an amateur stage so I’ll just be flattered for now. To quote that rotten ecard I saw on the internet once: “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but you lack my personality, talent, & creativity so just stop it before you hurt yourself.”