Perth creative agency called out for claiming other agencies’ work on its website
A storm is brewing in Western Australia, as CEO and chairman of WPP’s The Brand Agency, Steve Harris called out another anonymous agency (now found to be independent Wildling Creative) for claiming other agencies’ work as its own.
That agency claimed work created by Marketforce, Wunderman Thompson, and The Brand Agency as its own on its website – however it has been removed overnight.
Wildling’s website showed work created by employees while working at other agencies.
This is far from uncommon. I know of many staff that have left agencies I’ve worked with over the years that have used their prior work to kickstart their own agency or consultancy. I’ve seen it in credentials sometimes with or without the fine print disclosure ‘experience and work created at previous agencies’.
Now, as a marketer I recognise there is a fine balance between hiring the agency and hiring the team. It’s 50-50. But creatives that feel the need to stake sole ownership of work without recognising the contribution of their former client, agency and the team it took to produce the work — unacceptable.
The only ones you’re fooling are yourselves.
My read of above article is that this wasn’t just not crediting people, it was taking work that another agency had done (with that individual involved) and then promoting it as the work of the new agency.
Have you ever seen a freelancer receive credit for their work from network agencies like The Brand Agency… Those who live in glass houses really shouldn’t throw stones. He’s been around long enough to know how it works.
Big guys going after little guys. Go Wildlings!
Yes agree…let’s get those web pages back up for the whole world to see and make their own judgement.
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