The Copy Machine, Mel Fabregas from the "Veritas show" exposed as a thief who stole to get started
Mel Fabregas from Veritas Show is a hypocrite, a liar and a thief. In this exposé I will show you why.
redicecreations.com is a website that has been online since 2003 (it was first under the domain name red-ice.net and a few years later we changed over to redicecreations.com). We started our radio program in April 2006. A theme, design and "feel" for the program was created to go along with it.
When Mel Fabregas started the "Veritas Show", his "own" website and radio show in December 2008 (almost 2 years after us) he stole the ENTIRE design from redicecreations.com. In this article you'll see the proof of this theft. I'm reluctant to use the word plagiarization becase that implies "imitation". This is not about trying to "look like" redicecreatons.com and Red Ice Radio, this is straight up theft. "Right-click" - "View Source" "save as" - "Copy & paste"
See, that wasn't that difficult Mel, was it?
He has stolen the design, he has stolen the code, he has stolen the images and he has stolen the layout.
This theft not only included the design itself, but the entire code in most instances. Also, almost ALL the images tied to the basic layout were stolen and simply a Hue/saturation change in photoshop or similar editing software was done to the images go give the appearance that they were "different". Much of the text in many parts of the website was completely copied. "Red Ice Creations" was replaced with "Veritas Show" in all the places - that is the ONLY change in many places as you will see. In other words he either downloaded the whole website, did a search and replace on the names, and then tweaked a few images and uploaded it to his own server or he copied the source code and the images manually and then later uploaded it to his own server. Nonetheless, the result is the same: theft. He even used the same font "Century Gothic" (I wonder if that is becase he didn't know how to change it?), he uses the same black/dark color scheme, he used the same jpg's and gif's in many places (with a slight hue/saturation change). He even stole our original logo, an eclipse straight off - he completley ripped off our first verion of our logo that we used.
This article will reveal this in great detail.
I was contacted by a listener sometime in 2009 who said that there was a website out there "looking just like yours". I also got a few thank you emails saying: "Awesome that you helped Mel to design his website!" ?!??
Since I never allowed anyone to use our design nor did I helped anyone to design a website identical to ours, I had to go check it out. I couldn't believe it when I did. The entire website was a COMPLETE rip off from the designs on Red Ice Creations. The design, the layout and even the format of the radio show (down to the file structure and file name of the html pages, php pages and jpg's and gif's).
We first sent him an email confronting him on the issue anonymously. Immediatley he went into defence mode and threatened to turn to his lawyer on the sender and taking legal action for "slander."
When I (Henrik Palmgren) later sent him an email telling him straight up that we were aware of his theft, he emmediatley backed down and said that he thought we were on "the same page" doing the same thing ... he said something to the effect that he was: "benchmarking."
Later, in an email he said to me that he had gotten help with the design and that it was "borrowed" from a few different sites. Well, I can only see one site that he (or his "designer") "borrowed" the layour from, as you will see in the following images.. If this is true or not I don't know, and I do not care. Putting blame on someoneelse in this case will not work, he is responsible. Ultimatley, he was aware of what was done and choose to do nothing about it.
We sent a few emails back and forth and at some point in all of this he also offered to "buy" the design from me. Yes, that's right, after first ripping off the content completley, stealing it, then challenging to call his "lawyer" on the person who wrote to him tell him what was going on - he then turned around and offered to purchase the design from me and also credit me with the design. This was acctually something that he did for a while too as you'll see below. Wow!
I refused for OBVIOUS reasons to have it this way. I said I was not interested in his money or having my name on "his" website. This is our design and our website. Something that has taken much effort, inspiration, creativity and hard work over the years to compose, design and code. I've developed it myself from scratch and I did this for a reason. I wanted it to look UNIQUE! Not like everyone elses. Yes, there are still people in this world that want to be unique and original. Who would settle for copying something straight off like this? Well, there are some who do as we will see.
After I sent him the content that you'll see for yourself below, he "gave up" and said that he was going to change the design. He said: "give me a few weeks." I said fine, but fix it!
After looking back at his website a few weeks, a few very small details had been modified. On his program pages he had duplicated a html table and placed it both the right and left side, instead of just on the right side, like we had it, very minor details like that. I though, ok I'll give him some more time. I was patient and generous. Kind, all things considering, I've given him plenty of time to change his design.
The content below is what I sent to Mel along the way for him to see. There was no need to turn this into a "public issue," in an attempt to demonstrate to his listeners the nature of his "moral compass." so they can understan what kind of person they are supporting and listening to.
I want to be clear about one thing. This has NOTHING to do about the fact that we do radio programs on similar topics or in some cases the same guests, on our programs. Although there have been a tendency on his part to completley mimick our guest list, with a few weeks delay. I think it's great that more people start their own shows and help spread the word about these topics ...but NOT this way! Not by stealing the whole damn website and format that we have developed for the show. Namely: the first hour for free and the second hour for members, this he has also completey rip off. I have not seen anyone doing it this waty before we started with it. Whitley Strieber from Unknown Country did a subscriber portion of his radio show, but this was often a different guest and much shorter segment. Mel took it all from us! Design, logo, format, code and images. This was a 100% clean cut theft. What a guy!
So, I've been very patient and given him PLENTY of time to change his design ...but since he hasn't done anything about this I have nothing left to do but to share this insight with you - so that you now can know for yourself on what foundations his "truth" (Veritas, yeah right!) show is built.
It's been probably over 4 years now since I contacted him the first time, he's consequently done nothing to change his format or website design. He has in fact CONTINUED to steal our updates. Yes, that's right. New updates that we've implemented on the website has consequentley been copied straight straight off from our website (code and all - as usual). I'll show you these examples as well, towards the end.
You deserve to know the "Veritas" about the "Veritas show" with Mel Fabregas. It's so funny that he calls his show "Veritas" .. or truth. I can't get over that one. If he had any truth and honesty in him, he would first of all not doen what he has to begin with, but at the very least recognized my requests and CHANGED his website and come up with somethign creative on his own.
We at Red Ice Creations have consequently done MANY updates and design changes during these four years to begin to "move away" from the screaming "similarities" in design and look, because of his theft. To develop something like this not onlu takes work, sweat and sacrifice, but also time, creativity, dedication, money and energy. So to see this work being completley stolen by someone who now is riding the wave of what you've created and spits in your face when you point it out, is very dishartening. Also to see the lack of design changes and continued theft AFTER communication established with Mel, is just plain wicked and disrespectful. A level of understanding was established along our communication and he has hardly done anything to respond to our requests. Mel is an unbelivabley sly character. An opportunist and a parasite with wicked intent who thinks he can steal from other people, get away with it and then call it his own. I have no words to describe the audacity, the psychopathic behaviour and the ZERO respect for another "fellow" truth seeker!
During this process he has shown no understanding to our perspective, no kindness or empathy, no remorse or shame for what he has done. These are all sociopathic tendencies! You should know all this as you listen to his "truth seeking" program.
Let's look at the comparissons - you you can judge for yourselfWhat we'll begin to look at is the old design that we had and how it originally looked on our website. As I said before, we've consequently been forced to do major updates and changes to our website alsong the way to begin to dissasociate from Mel's stolen material. So if you go to the websites to compare them today there will be differences - but not because he did anything, but because we were forced to make them. We've had to do our work two or three times. We do NOT want our website to look like someone else's, that's why I built them from the ground up myself.
Have a look for yourself and we'll see what you think. What you'll see below is the most clear period showing the theft from sometime around 2009 when Mel had copied everything from us and the sites looked identical. This is what happens when you stealing all the source code, the images, the text and everything else that goes with it.
You can click on ALL images - to make them bigger in size
They are high-resolution so you can zoom in if you need to. The images will open in a new window.Page One - the Radio info pages - copied straight off
Page Two - Subscribe
Page Three - Members login
In this instance he of course used the same IDENTICAL protection system. php protected pages. Why bother, when someon has already done the work for you?
"Key to the Truth," Hahaha!
Page Four - Info overview page
THE ENTIRE TEXT THAT WAS WRITTEN FOR THIS PAGE BELOW WAS STOLEN BY MEL
(he simply copied the entire page and then he searched for "Red Ice Creations" or "Red Ice Radio" and simply replaced it with "Veritas Show")
What a guy, huh? It's unbelivable when you think about it. Look closely at the text, examine it and you'll realise that he went straight into the source code on our website and copied the whole damn thing without hardly changing a word. He then put it up as "his own". He even has COPYRIGHT notices on this website!!! Haha, can you believe that? What a stellar "truth seeker" and fellow researcher friend, don't you think?Go ahead, click on the image and zoom in - have a good look at this page.
Page Five - The Player
You can click on any of the images to make them larger
Page Six - The File Structure
Oh this one is a good one. Look at this. This is actually proof that he has copied the entire website down to the file structure of WHERE THE FILES ARE LOCATED ON THE SERVER!!!
What more can you say? Even the way the show is shortend "VS" instead of "RIR", the date format is IDENTICAL (although "Americans" do it Month-Day-Year not like we do in Europe Year-Month-Day. Also the first name letter of the first name "m" for Michael followed by the full lastname "tsarion". What the hell is this guy DOING? From what dark and "creativeless" cesspool did this guy crawl out from?
Also keep in mind that the never sent us an email to ask if he could "borrow" designs, hear if we would approve his copying or even just what suggestions we might have when it comes to building a website. He did nothing to initiate contact. Speculating for a moment, he most likely figured that "Ahh, what the hell, they are over there in that Sweden thing over at that Euyyyrup. I can just copy it, set it up over here in the good of US of A and and no will ever know ... no one will find out."
Page Seven - Alternative Payment
Further Updates done on Red Ice Radio in May 2010
I don't know exactly WHEN Mel stole this design update, but I first saw it January 28th 2011 on the Veritas Show website.
It's the IDENTICAL player, with an IDENTICAL formated image inside with the show name up top (with a water/mirror effect) an image in the middle and then the Website URL at the bottom. The same font is used. The text underneath the player was also copied straight off! He sure doesn't make any effort does he? "Ahh, WHY BOTHER WHEN I CAN JUST LEECH OFF OF OTHER PEOPLE! TAKE, TAKE, TAKE!
"I'm sure he means well." "Oh it's alright." "It's ok, Henrik." I've all kinds of explanations from people trying to justify his behaviour. They come up with all kinds of excuses without never having looked at the evidence on this page. They think I'm exaggerating when I tell them, they do not understand the extent of his copying. "You should just present the other cheek." (the butt cheeks, that is!?) Yeah, have at it Mel! I'm so enjoying this.
Further Updates - a "carousel" or "slider" was put on redicecreations.com in the radio archive and on the front page in July 2011 - within about two weeks this was copied 100% IDENTICAL by Mel over to "his" website
Here is the player source code - so that you can see for yourself that the ENTIRE CODE was just ripped off. It wasn't like "Oh what is that player, that looks nice. I'll go download that myself and install it myself on the website" ... Nope, this was just copied straight off from the source code from redicecreations.com to the website of a troll. It happend as soon as he got wind of it! he probably even took the swf and the js files from our server too, without checking who built the player.
Update early 2012 - Google search enginee embeded
This is nothing remarkable, anyone can embed a google search on their website - we did. But my point is this: Mel goes on our website regularly and copies straight off the updates that he consider to be cool stuff for "his" website.
Email Correspondence from July 18th 2011
This exchange took place AFTER we've been in contact - and Mel has at this point offered to buy the design from me, credit me for the design and change the design. I told him to change it, and at the end and he did NOTHING about it.
First email is first, last is last (so you understand the order of this)
From: Henrik Palmgren [mailto:henrik.palmgren@bredband.net]
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2011 5:49 PM
To: members@veritasshow.com
Subject:
I just want you to know that I’m saving these “design updates” of yours.
__________________________________
Mel Fabregas [mailto:mel@manticore.com]
Sent: den 16 juli 2011 04:45
To: 'Henrik Palmgren'
Subject: RE:
Henrik
I don’t know about your country, but in the United States no one owns the copyright to the CENTURY GOTHIC font or the color BLACK. Are you afraid of the competition? If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen. If you want to bring attention this way, go for it!
Comment: No Mel, you got it all wrong. In Sweden they all copy eachother. They are collectivists and there are no originality among the masses, hence my desire to not be like everyone else, unlike you - in fact, you should move here, you'd fit right in!
Very mature of you to badmouth me to my friends at ECETI. They told me in person. You’re also staying busy badmouthing me to some of my subscribers too, who happen to have subscribed to you after they heard of your show at my forum. I have the e-mails. No worries, I’m also keeping score. I never held a hostage posture toward you, but I don’t think it’s necessary to allow the free advertising at my forum any longer.
Comment: Oh joy, included in the forum - what an honor. Listen, I told the ECETI guys the TRUTH about the origins of the Veritas website that is all - this is not "badmouthing" this is called being HONEST and telling the TRUTH. Why do you have such a problem with that? Truth = Veritas ... Do you get it? Oh, also thank you so much for not holding a "hostage posture" against me ... What did you think we were going to become "buddies"? ...after you STOLE everything we've built up you. There's a dark, evil soul in there if you even have one!
We may discuss similar topics but our styles are very different. For you to say to my subscribers that Veritas is Red Ice with the name Veritas is pathetic. If you think you’re becoming more popular that way, think again.
I never said this in reference to the radio program itself Mel, on this front I agree - there are HUGE differences in quality between our programs.
For you to think that another show discussing similar topics, subscriber-based, and with no commercials interruptions would never come along, it’s unrealistic and immature.
Haha, yes I should have anticipated that some sociapathic corporate "marketeer" would come along and STEAL THE WHOLE WEBSITE and radio program format from us. Should have seen that one coming! No Mel, I don't think that way, but it reveals how you think.
Is there a conscience and a soul in there at all?
Oh, I will sleep very well tonight.
Thank you. You seem to be the one losing sleep.
Yes, becase a psychopath sleep real tight at night, no matter how many people they walk all over, no matter how much they lie, steal and deceive.
Regards,
Mel
_______________________________________
From: Henrik Palmgren
[henrik.palmgren@bredband.net]
Sent: den 18 juli 2011 17:29
To: 'mel@manticore.com'
Subject: RE:
(I sent him these images in response)
I’ve said this before to you – but since you seem to lack memory and consciousness, I’ll say it again:
I have NEVER EVER complained about your radio program, the choice of your topics or the guests.
That’s not what this is about and you know it.
To clarify: What I’m complaining about is your blatant STEALING OF OUR WEBSITE DESIGN.
And you are CONTINUING TO DO IT – DESPITE OUR LAST EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE – WHEN YOU SAID YOU WHERE GOING TO CHANGE IT!
It’s amazing how you justify your behavior.
That you have no originality, you steal from other people and you are trying to justify that behavior as “COMPETITION”.
There’s nothing healthy about it buddy, you’re a parasite. Wake up!
The reason I think you’re using the CENTURY GOTHIC font is because you didn’t know how to change it when you stole the original source code.
As stated previously: I’m collecting the above examples in a LONG LIST of design items, layouts and texts that you have copied straight of from our website.
This won’t stand and you KNOW the “veritas” about the matter.
You take care now.
/Henrik Palmgren
www.redicecreations.com
END OF EMAIL
I didn't hear back from the jerk after this.
It's just astonishing what this guys thinks "competition" is. I don't know in what "kitchen" he was plopped out in, but one thing is sure Mel, stealing is not compeating! It has nothing to do with eachother, it's two seperate things. How more Orwellian can you get?
It's amazing what this guys does to justify his actions. He doesn't semm to understand the slightes or have any empathy about the matter either. These are the traits of a sociopath! To steal from others, then walk all over them and justify the behaviour as "competition."
I don't know if this is true but I've heard that Mel has a background in marketing. Now, if that IS true, then it makes perfect sense. This is a blood sucking slug who never in his life came up with an original idea - but he spent all his time looking for things to ripped of from hard working creative people, then turn around and "re-sell" it. Bill Hick's got it right.
This is a design that we've worked years to develop and improve. The audacity and shameless theft by Mel of our design, code, text, images and format speaks volumes about the quality of this "truth seeker". He has done nothing to change it despite recognizing that he acted wrongly and he has continued to steal updates STRAIGHT OFF from our website despite a request to stop, remove and build something on his own.
Further copying
He's also tried to emulate the "composite" style images that we do for each individual program ... obviously ...with varying success. Some images he has taken from us when we've had the same guest on. For instance, check out this program with Santos Bonacci:
Here is the original image for the program posted on Red Ice August 11, 2011 Link
Here is "Mel's" image for his program with Santos October 3rd, 2011 (so about 7 weeks after ours):
Neat, how that night time shot of the Vatican in the background just happens to match huh? Sure nothing of this is remarable on it's own, but when you take in the WHOLE PICTURE of what he's involved in, then you'll realize the quality of this guy.
But wait there's more!
From where did Mel get that composite image of the pope with the kids and all that? Hm, I wonder? Oops, yes I recall, now I know. It's from a Red Ice Radio program that we did with William Kennedy from April 4, 2010 http://www.redicecreations.com/radio/2010/04apr/RIR-100404.html and here is the image that we did for that program:
See any similarities?
Whoops, it's just a litle "competition." In true spirit of Frank Luntz, Mel has just managed to redefine the word "theft," it now means "competition."
Now you've seen some of it for yourself. What do you think?
Is this what a "fellow" truth seeker does to another? Especially if one is respectful, kind, honest and genuine?
They say that immitation is the highest form of flattery, right? Oh, ok - so what is theft then? The highest form of "piss off" in the most disrespectful way?
So these are the severely immoral foundations that this so called "truth-seeker" (Veritas, ha!) has built his little empire of dirt on.
Is it ok? Is it the right thing to do? Is it honest?
The answer is NO, NO and NO!
Something is WRONG with Mel, but he doesn't seem to understand it. If he comprehends the english language he doesn't even understand my position of disagreement with his theft.
There is no kindness or respect for another mans work. Mel is pathetic parasite, that lives of the hard work of others.
It's one of the most disgusting and appalling things that I've seen up close and personal in many years!
Who is this guy? Really?
See more for yourself
There are MANY more additions coming to this so far short compendium of examples if the theft, but in the meantime I invite you to click around the "Way Back Machine" and compare the websites and see for yourself. You can go back in time at various dates and compare.
http://web.archive.org/web/20100104053244/http://www.veritasshow.com/
http://web.archive.org/web/20100112200342/http://www.redicecreations.com/
