Awkward Letter To Ellen Show
September 9th, 2010
Dear Ellen Show,
It was a little awkward when we saw some of our photos appear on your show last season and now, thanks to a member of the AFP community, it’s been brought to our attention that you’ve actually borrowed the name of our sister site. We want to thank you for providing us with this awkward moment and look forward to seeing what wonderful ideas will inspire you in the future.
Best,
AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com & AwkwardFamilyPetPhotos.com
Sad world when the positioning of words that creates a sentence is felt to be “owned” by another and that there are people in search of the “stealing of word order” and finds them in the form of a sentence. Guess the thing to do is research the word order of every sentence you want to post on your blog or await the jacked up ego of someone who feels they have exclusive rights to those words because they chose that word order for their llc purchase. It’s used as a sentence on her site not as a title. I better send out the word order nazis-maybe I can make some extra cash on those who dare use my chosen words in any of their sentences!
Um, I actually own the paragraph you just wrote, so please do not use it again. Thank you.
OMG there is a sister site?!?!?!?!? YES! Now, even more ways to waste time in completely unproductive ways every day! Now, my dishes will never get washed! Thank you AFP, thank you for reminding me why I get out of bed everyday!
Oh geeeeez people relax. So her site has a section for awkward photos and people with pets. Seriously, the concept of collecting these photos isn’t some brilliant cure or discovery. It’s a blog. There are several “fail” sites as well and although there’s an obvious more popular one, I still enjoy the other ones too. Your site seems to be the first, the more popular, and obviously more respected so who cares if she has a segment of her show for stupid pics, its funny. Haven’t you heard that imitation is the best form of flattery?
What I think is hilarious about this WHOLE ordeal is that everyone is making such a HUGE deal about it. Is it really THAT serious?! Your website still seems popular, it’s not like they are leaving AFP and going to Ellen. Be happy that someone liked your idea enough to put it on Ellen.
It’s not too late for the show to team up with you and give you some free marketing . . . everyone can win.
So I guess This website is the only one that can use the term Awkward photos. Are you people for real? Getting all hot and bothered because Ellen used the same name as this site is comical. I think you all need to find something to do other than rip on Ellen. Wow. If you don’t like her show get the remote and turn it off. Find something constructive to do.
moderation… of course.
So… obviously you have to start asking your readers to submit their “The Ellen Degeneres Show” photos…
You know what’s REALLY funny is that Awkward Family Photos ripped off Sexy People. It’s just the circle of plagiarism that is the Internet.
Considering that these photos have been used in your freaking BOOK, which is a pretty damn copyrighted thing, and your name is copyrighted.. sue her ass off. Someone on her team knows. She has no right.
Ellen. Ick.
That is such a terrible thing for her or her writers to do. Urgh. Just because she’s big and famous doesn’t mean she has the right to rip off other people’s stuff. This site is incredible, it makes me laugh so hard that I forget about all the crap around me…and I visit it religiously. I find it really offensive that she’s taking advatange of it. I’ll take advantage of her next, grrrrr……
Something I learned the hard way and now live by: quickly trademarking your site name is a fantastic idea.
The most egregious offense: that people who frequent this site (or…anyone, really) actually think Ellen is funny and/or talented. Ick.
Really? Because I think the most egregious offense is smug and self-righteous people who feel the need to dictate what is and isn’t funny and then look down on anyone who disagrees with their own narrow-minded opinion.
Love the response, Dazrik… Classy but right on, rare these days in comments sections.
Well said Dazrik, have been thinking the same thing many times on various sites along these lines (i.e Lamebook etc)! Nothing worse than smug people picking apart other people’s differing opinions! Yay you
I agree with your opinion as well, despite hating ellen myself… however, I have to point out the smug and self-righteous tone of your own comment.
Hypocrisy’s a b****, ain’t it?
I didn’t get that out of his comment at all. I think what he said was very well put and MUCH more mature than most of the other comments on this page. He doesn’t state personal opinion at all, in fact, from reading his comment you can’t tell what he feels about this whole Ellen situation, he kept it unbiased. BUT in every single one your comments, it’s very clear that you hate Ellen and you feel the need to point out how stupid people are…if everyone else – to you – seems stupid and wrong, maybe there is something you need to check about yourself. BUT what do I know, I’m just a housewife.
I was sitting in the dentists’ office once and Ellen was on the dentists’ TV. Maybe it was the nitrous, but I L’dMAO. She had her audience dancing for some reason and there was one guy doing a break-dance move, where you spin around on your back on the floor. She called him “The Human Swiffer.” I lost it. Best day at the dentist EVER. I hope this was an oversight on the part of her writers.
What a b****. Why would she think she can get away with that?
Do you really think you came up with this concept yourself? Really? Like Ellen couldn’t think
of the words Awkward and Photos on her own? You didn’t invent this concept.
Wow, really? There are LOTS of things we can think of on our own, but once someone else has already done it, copyrighted it, etc, then back off.
I know, right? Please, people. Ellen is awesome and has been awesome for the past 8 years. I don’t know how long this website has been around, but there is enough awkwardness with families and their pets for everyone. And besides, the real title of the segment is “Bad Paid-For Photos” and the awkward family pet photos is just a category.
Sue her unless she promises to bring you on the show to promote your sites.
ellen, it is not a good move to get the internets against you…
Personally I think some of you are overreacting. I watch Ellen on occasion and she’s usually pretty good at crediting sites, youtube videos, etc. There’s a good chance that it was an honest mistake or just a bad decision by her writers. I doubt that she personally is stealing material to boost the popularity of her show/website. Wait to see her response before reacting. If she’s apologetic and gives credit where credit is due – no issue. If her people tell this site to eff off… then let the hate begin!
I completely agree. Some people here are acting like Ellen herself stole the idea, when it was most likely one of the writers.
Overall, its the BRAND. The ellen degenares show and one of the writers, via a lack of creativity, riffed on something they saw on the internet. if for some reason ellen looks bad over this (maybe, maybe not), the writer her show is paying money to is the one to make HER look bad.
Perception is everything.
People who think ellen LITERALLY stole the bit and the people who are so defensive that “hey, its a writer, not ellen!” and still don’t get the overall picture are both so out of touch with reality. Please don’t vote.
It’s like when Leno stole the Jaywalking idea (asking stupid people on the street easy questions) from Howard Stern.
She takes AFP stuff,but it will come back. It’ll go to Ellen back.
ROFLMAO!
Alan is the King of Puns; Alan ounce it to the world!
wha? Ohhhh….
Don’t worry. Ellen can’t ever come as close to what this site and the book have already done for awkwardness.
She can try, but no one can come close to such classics as “He felt he was carrying them for too long.”
C-Unit
May I suggest the “Dellen Egeneres” website you can start…
Comedians rip stuff off from each other all the time. 99% of Jay Leno’s bits on the Tonight Show were ripped off from bits done by Letterman 25 years ago. Carlos Mencia steals from everyone. Not saying it’s right…just saying it happens.
Embarrassing for Ellen. No way she knew about you or how popular you are. She’s got writers – apparently, bad writers with good taste.
LOL.
Am I the only person who has heard of people referring to photos as “awkward” long before this site existed?
I love this website but the title isn’t like an invented name or something, people use phrases like this all the time. I’m not sure what other adjective they could use in lieu of “awkward” and “family”. Those seem pretty standard. What alternatives do they have? Something like “Send us your weird, personally owned animal pictures”? But like I said, maybe it is just me. I guess people run out of options when words in common vernacular are trademarked.
One of her employees stole the whole concept, not just the title. As you can see on her website, the photos and the website name were copied from this website. At least give credit where it’s due.
Come on, “Awkward Family Pet Photos?” That is not a common phrase. It only makes sense as being derived from Awkward Family Photos. Otherwise they would call it “Awkward Pet Photos” or something.
So, by Clark’s logic… one of my GF’s friends has this crazy dragon tattoo that goes from her stomach to her back (I’m not making this up, I’m for real here).
But I was thinking about writing a story about her.
I think I’ll call it… mmmm… The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.
Hey now… its just a bunch of words that are used all the time, what do you mean I can’t name my book that???
Classic. I love you guys.
I’m surprised that a group of writers does not use a good fact checker of some sort. I hope it was an oversight and she will correct it.
Your letter is awkward and funny but does not breach the line of poor taste. It doesn’t seem bitter or vengeful. Her use of the words will only bring more traffic to your site anyway.
I love you guys! When I am having a bad day, I check in here either to find something new or check out my favorites. Thanks and keep on with a tasteful, professional website of very awkward moments in people’s lives. We all have them!
Once could be considered an oversight. Now it’s just theft.
When you’re unfunny and talentless theft is your best bet for getting laughs from the [redacted] that watch your show
Excuse me, Ellen is not unfunny and talentless. Just in this case, unethical and dishonest.
What, no one is allowed to have an opinion other than yours about comedy, probably the most subjective thing ever? Some people like toilet humour too, doesn’t mean it’s funny to everyone. To me the woman has always been an unfunny hack and this doesn’t surprise me at all.
I do agree with you, ellen is NOT funny. She couldn’t cut it in prime-time and has had little to no career outside of a daytime feel-good talk show.
But like geekgirl said, different strokes for different folks. Or rather, one man’s garbage is another man’s treasure. See also: O’donnel, Rosie.
I mean, you should just contact her show/producers directly, right?
I don’t think they have to – obviously, the writers come here often enough to rip off photos and ideas that simply posting the letter here should be enough – they’ll see it, and I’d wager they’ll see it sooner rather than later! Admin – keep us posted on what results!
My guess it’s all about the ratings and $$. You don’t make a thing off of your site and I think that’s admirable!
@Valentine: Um, AFP must make *some* money off of the site. I mean, those ad banners below and to the right aren’t free. You also may have heard of this book they put out? And oh yeah, sponsored contests?
Not that any of that is wrong. But Ellen cribbing your stuff w/o proper attribution isn’t cool either. But as @JB asks, did you try contacting her? Especially after the first offense?
Ellen seems somewhat Net-savvy, so I’d be surprised (and disappointed) if she didn’t correct the wrong and in so doing, throw a lot of traffic your way. And a good point from @El Bretto that stealing jokes is generally considered poor form amongst comics.
Uuuuugh. Stuff like this is why I don’t watch Ellen. Her show just kinda makes me shrug my shoulders. I hope you guys have lawyered up & are pursuing the trademark violation.
Maybe Ellen can borrow from this site as well
… http://youthoughtwewouldntnotice.com/blog3/
Good for you! This is the second internet/blog plagiarism incident I’ve read about in 24 hours. Even though the ‘net is huge, you have to realize that copying without credit will be discovered eventually. Love Ellen, but someone on her team should have given credit where credit is due–YOU.
That was a wise and noble statement.
Agreed-
she has gone into the music biz – why not the awkward photo biz too!
Thank you!
She is such a D that rhymes with OOSH
I would have to agree with that one. She is the big “D”. But like Letterman in this she has quite literally been caught “with her pants down”. ha ha.
Legal or not, it just looks so tacky. As if Ellen were some struggling business. Wonder how she’d react to someone appropriating her material. It’s like Oprah checking a pay phone to see if someone left loose change in the machine. Ellen should be above that.
Well-said!
Maybe put this photo up on your site: http://laladoggy.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/ellen-1.jpg
Matching your outfit to your dog = awkward
That is truly painful.
I think its cute! You people are trippin’!
I’m confused. Are you suggesting that you took these photos and are responsible for their existance in the first place? I was under the impression that people voluntarily submit their photos to this site. Is it impossible that the same person who submitted to this site also submitted to Ellen’s? Even if the photo was taken from this site … what claim do you have over a copy of a photo that you received from a third party? A very confusing fail indeed.
that is obviously not what they’re annoyed about. it’s a concept, not the content of the site.
absolutely correct, aubrey. these photos are not ours, but in the case of the photos that appeared on Ellen, they were not submitted by the photo’s real owners, who not only submitted to us but signed releases for our book. we are very proud of our content and while we were frustrated by that, never felt it was worth mentioning. then, when we saw the post on her website about awkward family pet photos, we felt that they crossed a line. there are no rules on web and yes, they can do whatever they want, but we try and operate by the honor system. if we knowingly borrow something from another site, we credit them. period.
The problem they have isn’t w/ the photos per se…. it’s the use of the name of their sister site, Awkward Family Pet Photos. It’s the NAME… not the photos….
I don’t think this site is arguing over a copyright issue regarding the photos. Rather, as the letter to Ellen would suggest, they’re simply pointing out how hack it is for a former comic/”comedy” show host to go around ripping off a bit from a pretty well-known site.
This site came up with a very creative idea that just happened to require a collective effort of people sending in photos. The material may be borrowed, but the context that makes it funny is original. Ellen thinks she can pass this off as her own bit to the housewives and elderly that watch her show simply because they’re not as media-savvy, but the rest of us know better and she should be called out. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to her next episode where she does a top 10 list, humorously misspelled headlines, and videos of people “not succeeding.”
excuse me? “housewives” are not as media-savvy? Good grief. We don’t all stand around chatting over our back fences with neighbours and swing on mops all day long. Some of us do actually know our way around the internet. Amazing concept, I know.
Housewives. Don’t get me started on housewives.
Tell me about it. Sheesh.
You are pretty stupid El Bretto.
As a “housewife” with a college degree and the ability to use a computer quite competently, I find the implication that women who choose to stay at home and raise children (an extremely demanding job) aren’t informed to be insulting.
Stay-at-home parents are not housewives. If you are taking care of a small child not yet in school, then you are doing an important job. Housewives are people who just happen to be female and married, and think that this combination gives them a magical pass to be intentionally unemployed, regardless of children.
Wow, you’re an a**. As if any housewives need your approval to justify theiry choice of lifestyle. Get over yourself, SaraBerry.
here’s the irony: You find the comment insulting, yet you don’t find complete mindless garbage like Ellen, which is strictly and carefully designed for ‘your demographic’, insulting? You do realize there is a *reason* why certain shows, and certain types of shows, are blocked together and are on around the same time of day, right? And that the TYPICAL viewers of these shows, who LABEL themselves mind you, are the ones you really need to be upset at for giving the rest of you a bad name?
How you gonna be mad at a misconception when at least 90% of it is driven by your peers? Silliness. Get over yourselves.
HOUSEWIVES AND ELDERLY?? Okay, you won’t be a housewife, but you WILL get old– IF you’re lucky! I don’t believe you’re anywhere near as intelligent as you think you are.
May want to rephrase that El Bruto… (yes I meant El Bruto!)
I’m LOVING all the housewife defenders :p Clearly these people have never heard of population studies, postcode-data or target audiences.
As it happens ladies, yes; housewives are GENERALLY not very tech and web savvy. Generally being the operative word.
I’m sorry to say, but that’s fact; it’s also not an insult, so don’t get your panties in a twist.
Thank you… people are stupid, aren’t they? Rather than be offended by stereotypes, you should be proud of your exceptions. Getting mad only means someone hit the truth nerve somewhere.
umm. No.
The notion that people only get mad when “the truth nerve” is hit is just silly. I’m offended by stereotypes because they are lazy and generally false.
And I’m neither elderly nor a housewife.
Ellen is the queen of awkward cool – you should just team up!
this might have to be posted on passiveagressivenotes.com hmm, crossover! (That sucks that Ellen stole your stuff, I hope it just gets you free advertising!)
yep, we’ll be the first ones to admit this was passive aggressive
Now that was funny. Ahhahahahahahahahahahahahah!!!!!!
Very good.
Love it, Admin-
I just watched her show a half hour ago and was surprised to see a segment titled “‘What’s Wrong with this Photo’ Photos” and she then asked viewers to submit more. It was nowhere near as awesome as this site.
It’s all starting for you guys…ask Mark and Mark over at the WeirdNJ website. They had to go national to stop the ripoffs. Now they have Weird books for almost every state and a WeirdUS website.
ellen FAIL
I think yuu FAILLL!!!!!!!!!
can’t you sue for that?
They should definitely sue. They could contact Howard Stern too.. he hates Ellen. He’d totally call her out on it.
jeez that’s awkward.
Hahahahahaha that’s awesome! I love when people get put in their place.
Wow. Imagine if anyone were to “borrow” something from her site.
Right on, Lisa
EXCELLENT point. Idea theft and plagiarism…they’re so original.
Ouch, I feel awkward just reading that.
Ok…Ellen MUST know about the site. She even showed the book on her show. Pretty sure.