What an awkward two weeks this has turned into.
I don't even know how to go about this, this time.
One of the first commissioned keycaps I made was for one of my gasmask designs. I loved making it and the
client enjoyed it as well (sometime in early '10). But it was a closed/private sale, however, after a conversation with that client around December '11, I asked if I could redo the masks as a series (some fun new ideas) if they were different than the one he had. He was fine with it and was interested in getting some of the new ones as well. I sent out some prototypes earlier this year for review, some found new homes but most came back. interestingly one of the last to go out a few months back in the series looks a bit similar to the one you have here. it's clearly not mine but It makes my mind wander... (never a good thing, lol).
Now I don't doubt that it's possible you could have made this key without seeing my key(s) but it's a bit weird. The transformer keycap posted earlier was not similar to my Mechkeys and no where near the time it came out so, again, I can see the possibility (plus it was much different) and the same goes for the Legends (comic characters). The real issue might come up when my Toxic keys are finally out of the preproduction run. I can understand that these ideas and icons are popular which is why they are made to begin with. But, I just received three different emails of people saying WTF and directing me to this thread that I cannot ignore. I am busy and bothered already this week so I'm posting this here as opposed to sending multiple private responses now and in hopes of stopping a healthy portion of responses later. I also get a lot of emails asking and/or criticizing why don’t I speak up. The answer by the way is- it's often too time consuming, upsetting/stressful, or makes more problems. And many times unfortunately it's easier to suck up the financial hit and loss of time so as to not rock the boat.
If you independently came up with this key, congrats, but regardless of how it came about please do note that I'm still coming out with mine. Unless I just want to eat it on my time, money, and promises made (I'm tired of doing this). BTW, for those who don't know or who have not seen me write something like this before, let me just say it's very tiring and I have to do it more than you probably will ever know. It's also discouraging and many works have died by it's hand. It's a byproduct of having countless prototypes and designs backed up now and a varied group of people (some new) who get to check em out early. I brought this on myself, but, I get to spew forth my thoughts every once in a while.
If you feel like I have in some small way stolen your thunder, I'm sorry, I truly am, but rest assured the feeling is mutual and excruciatingly, infuriatingly, and depressingly common. Welcome to the club.
... of course if you did this to torment me (lol) or because you lifted my work, then I hope a large elephant trunk #!@%$ you up a tree.
(that was from an email, I thought it too funny not to use here)
Otherwise good luck. =)
/wallet
p.s. I have some upset customers right now. Hoping this is just an impressive and unfortunate coincidence.
p.p.s ... and if you were in my shoes?
For the TL;DR crowd-
Take a guess and move along.
